The African National Congress (ANC) and the business sector in South Africa were "together", with President Jacob Zuma describing the relationship as "wonderful".

"Politics and business go together. Once business steps closer to the political party in power, it means things are going very well," Zuma said after a walkabout at the business exhibition at the National General Council.

"Again the ANC is the only organisation that at its conferences can have a city [the business exhibition] like this.

"They [business and the ANC] are together, it's wonderful."

Zuma told media that he decided to tour the business exhibition in order to get a sense of how the business community felt to be part of the ANC's national general council (NGC).

Police at first refused to allow journalists into the venue. A contingent of security then surrounded them as Zuma made his way to the exhibition centre.

Amidst much pushing and shoving, journalists were given strict instructions to "stay inside the police", a reference to the ANC muscle and police surrounding them.

The ANC is currently holding its NGC at the venue.