"We didn't support him (Mbeki) for president of the ANC. We believe as a past president of the ANC he has a special role to play, " said ANC youth League President Fikile Mbalula.

"It is not a position that we are eradicating him. We believe he has played his role. He has got nothing to lose, nothing to win, he has nothing to prove."

Mbalula said: "We believe he must give others a chance -- one leader at a time." He said the League called for a special protocol to be developed to define the positions and duties of past presidents to draw on their experience.

After Zuma on the list, the League has nominated ANC secretary general Kgalema Motlanthe for Deputy President, Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosanzana Dlamini Zuma for national chairperson, Gwede Mantashe for secretary general, Baleka Mbete for deputy secretary general and Mathews Phosa for treasurer.