The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) is not opposed to an early African National Congress (ANC) elective congress, its general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali has said.

Ntshalintshali was speaking after the trade union's central executive committee (CEC) meeting last weekend.

"The CEC noted the calls from some quarters for an early conference of the ANC. Cosatu is not violently opposed to that call, but we will continue to listen to reasons put forward."

Ntshalintshali said the union federation's CEC would also consider the last ANC national general council organisational report, which stated the ruling party was "riddled with factionalism, gatekeeping and slate politics".

Ntshalintshali said the workers were not neutral in the matter. He said the CEC had resolved that it was the right time for a succession debate.

"In our congress, we said we will enter into this debate at the right time and the CEC agreed that this is the right time.

"We agreed that all related discussions will be properly concluded at the special CEC which will be convened soon."

Cosatu was responding to a call by the ANC Youth League for an early elective congress to bring in a new generation of leaders after the party lost three metros to the DA during the local government elections.