A three-hour meeting between ANC veteran Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and ANC secretary general Kgalema Motlanthe on Wednesday has been described as "positive", the SABC reported.

The talks, held in Johannesburg, attempted to find common ground in the race between the ruling party's two top contestants for the presidency. They were part of efforts by Madikizela-Mandela to end what she has termed the vindictiveness of President Thabo Mbeki's and ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma's presidential campaigns.

Madikizela-Mandela and Motlanthe would not talk to the media because of the "sensitive" nature of the issue, SABC said. In a statement issued by her office earlier, Madikizela-Mandela proposed Zuma become South Africa's president in 2009 and that a "solution" be found for the legal difficulties confronting him. She spelled out her "intervention proposal aimed at breaking the leadership impasse facing the ANC".

In a letter to Motlanthe, Madikizela-Mandela said she believed there had been a near-total breakdown in the historical discipline and focus of the movement. "There has been an unprecedented level of self-indulgence in
out-of-turn public utterances, attack and counter-attack and the apparent normalisation of un-comradely behaviour and rhetoric at levels and intensity not before seen in the long history of our movement," she said.

"To resolve this impasse", Madikizela-Mandela proposed "six pillars" towards a solution.

Firstly, ANC president Thabo Mbeki and his deputy Zuma retain their positions and be returned as such at the ANC's national conference at Polokwane.

Secondly, that "the deputy president after Polokwane will be the firm and assured candidate of the ANC for the presidency of the country in the 2009 election and that conference shall pass a resolution instructing the list committee accordingly".

Thirdly, "that a solution shall in fact be found for the legal difficulties that confront the deputy president".

Fourth, that the "top six of the party should be accommodative of all viewpoints", and fifth that the top six should include a 50:50 gender balance.

Finally, that the additional members of the NEC coming out of Polokwane "shall reflect the diversity of opinions and views of all sections of our movement".

In the letter, she also appealed to Motlanthe to facilitate meetings between herself and Zuma on Wednesday and Mbeki on Thursday, to discuss the suggestions. She also asked that the suggestions be formally placed on the agenda of the ANC national executive committee for discussion and possible
adoption.