Change in the African National Congress (ANC) is imperative and it must go beyond a rotation of leaders, Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale said.

"So far, the debate [on change] seems to be dominated by a conversation over a change of leaders," he said in the excerpt presented at a colloquium on Friday and published in the Sunday Times.

"...However, a mere rotation of leaders...would not only be pointless, it would be an encouragement of the perpetuation of the deterioration of our movement."

He said a change in attitude, conduct, behaviour and discipline was needed to win back public trust.

"We need change to restore the credibility of the ANC within society and the government..."

He said the real test was the 2014 elections.

"Our conduct at Mangaung and thereafter will determine whether confidence in us is restored, or whether electoral support will continue to shrink."

Change was summed up as "renaissance", he said.

"The ANC needs to slaughter its own ghost and undergo soul searching, introspection and critical analysis based on the fundamentals of its own democratic norms

"We have a choice between decline and demise, or renaissance and renewal."

Sexwale's father, Frank, was not happy about the recent shooting at Lonmin's Marikana mine where 34 striking workers were shot dead by police.

"The conversation with my father over Marikana has weighed heavily," he said.

"He said to me: 'No son of mine should become part of a government that kills its own people with rifles...Take a stand and leave the cabinet...' "