Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe said on Tuesday he was confident the newly elected ANC top officials were capable of leading the party.

“I have full confidence in our leaders that indeed they will out-do themselves in leading us to undo these challenges [of poverty, unemployment and inequality],” he told delegates at the ANC’s national conference in Mangaung.

“The leadership were elected by the entire membership of the ANC. We are doing our work [as the ANC], under the watch and guidance of a very capable leadership we have just elected.”

President Jacob Zuma was re-elected as party leader earlier on Tuesday afternoon. He was challenged by Motlanthe.

Motlanthe’s previous position as deputy president was filled by Cyril Ramaphosa.

Motlanthe said he wanted to thank the newly elected leadership.

“I want to thank the president for letting me speak after he had spoken [after being re-elected],” he said.

“Protocol does not allow that, and I feel very grateful.”

He said he still believed in the integrity of the ANC.

“One thing needs to be said and I want to say it with all the conviction of its truth,” Motlanthe said.

“The African National Congress is the epitome of democracy. We must continue to campaign for democracy in our country and the world over.”

He said the ANC must “continue to sharpen its ability to hear the cries of our people”.

Motlanthe was given a standing ovation by the delegates as he took to the podium to speak.

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