EMBATTLED South African President Jacob Zuma has made the case for his re-election, telling ANC members they will see meaningful economic change, as he seeks to face down a leadership challenge from his deputy.
Zuma wooed delegates at the African National Congress's five-yearly conference, which opened on Sunday, with a robust defence of his much-criticised term in office, a promise of change and his trademark ebullient charm.
After securing democracy, the country, he said, was ready to "move into the second phase in which we will focus on achieving meaningful socio-economic freedom".
The ANC meeting in the central city of Bloemfontein will go a long way towards deciding who will lead South Africa until the end of the decade.
Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe is hoping to wrest control of the party from Zuma, who has been president of the African economic powerhouse since 2009.
Should he succeed, the ANC's commanding electoral standing means he is almost certain to become the country's next president.
Zuma, marred by a series of personal financial scandals, has been pilloried for his handling of the economy, with millions of black South Africans wallowing in poverty 18 years after the ANC took power.
Acknowledging that the road to prosperity will be "long and hard", Zuma insisted however that "the ANC remains the only hope for the poor and marginalised".
Zuma acknowledged there had been problems, not least in the economy.
South Africa has faced a slew of credit ratings downgrades as unemployment remained stubbornly high around 25 per cent and growth slowed to the slowest rate in three years, while the vital mining sector has been hit by waves of violent unrest including the killing of 34 miners by police in August.
In the fight of his political life, Zuma turned on his famed charisma to win over the 4500 delegates who are attending the five-day conference.
Zuma opened his speech by leading thousands of ANC members clad in party colours and regalia in an a cappella tribute to ailing former president Nelson Mandela.
The 94-year-old elder statesman and Nobel Peace laureate has been in hospital for more than a week, undergoing surgery to remove gall stones and getting treatment for a lung infection.
Despite his troubles, Zuma is expected to prevail when delegates vote later in the week.
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