Numerous African National Congress (ANC) heavyweights were milling inside the Saint George Hotel on Friday, where the top structure of the governing party, the National Executive Committee (NEC) was holding a “special meeting”.

A media advisory issued by the party said the meeting will deliberate on the road map ahead of the December conference.

“This Special NEC meeting is called to deliberate on the road map to the 54th National Conference of the ANC to be held on the 16th to the 20th December, as well as the outcomes of the court case brought against the ANC and members of the ANC Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) in KwaZulu-Natal province,” according to the advisory.

When journalists were allowed near the venue, the members of the NEC were having a short break, and some were casually chatting in small groups.

Before 4pm, it was not clear when an official of the party, would come and address the numerous news crews who had set up in another room. The briefings are usually done by African National Congress (ANC) Secretary General Gwede Mantashe.

The part had cautioned about the delay: “The media is further advised that any delay in the conclusion of the meeting will result in a delay in the commencement of the post-NEC briefing and as such is requested to kindly exercise patience in this regard”.

Television news channels had brought their outside broadcast vans, setting up their equipment, preparing to cover the post-NEC briefing live.