ANC attempts to regroup as Nelson Mandela recovers in hospital Supporters of Jacob Zuma at the 53rd ANC national conference in South Africa. Photograph: Mike Hutchings/Reuters As Nelson Mandela lay in hospital for a second week, the movement he led in the struggle to liberate South Africa gathered in an attempt to bury bitter divisions and rekindle his vision. President Jacob Zuma opened the 53rd conference of the governing African National Congress (ANC) to a vociferous reception as many delegates sang, stomped and raised two fingers above their heads to signal his second term, implying his position in this week's leadership contest is secure. In a sweltering marquee of white and the ANC colours of black, green and gold, Zuma led thousands of supporters in a Zulu rendition of a struggle song: "The road we are on is long, Mandela told his followers, we will meet on freedom day." The president then delivered some unusually stark warnings to a 100-year-old party that many feel is losing its moral compass. He suggested this year's Marikana mine tragedy, in which 46 people died during a wildcat strike, showed the risk of losing touch with party's grassroots. "We need to avoid the danger of distance between leaders and members, both at the workplace and in the communities," Zuma said. It is important for the ANC to maintain ongoing contact with the masses at all times. We should explain to people when services are coming to them, and if there is going to be a delay, they also need to be told. We should engage our people more, even on the question of unacceptable violence that accompanies some of the strikes and protests, which we condemn in the strongest terms. The ANC has endured infighting and even assassinations as members scrap for rewards, threatening its future. Zuma chided: "Other alien tendencies to be eliminated from the movement as part of renewal [include] the negative lobbying for positions, which includes smear campaigns in the media as well as gossip and rumour-mongering about one another. Also common are the disrespectful public spats as well as hurling insults at other comrades or members of the public, thereby bringing the ANC into disrepute. More seriously, we have experienced the shocking occurrences where armed comrades disrupt ANC meetings. This then raises the question what exactly could be so much at stake, that people would go so far to get their own way in the organisation. Zuma, himself no stranger to corruption allegations, called for it to be purged from the party. Comrades, we must also frown upon other alien practices such as the use of money to buy the support of ANC members. We should not allow a situation where those who have money turn members of the ANC into commodities. Speaking for more than 90 minutes against a backdrop with the slogan "Unity in action towards socio-economic freedom," Zuma insisted that the ANC has a plan for economic growth and job creation. "We want to dismiss the perceptions that the country is falling apart," he said. The leadership elections will take place during the five-day conference in the city of Bloemfontein, in the municipality of Manguang, Free State province. It was reported on Sunday that Cyril Ramaphosa, a former mineworkers' leader and now one of South Africa's richest men, has agreed to run for deputy president. Mandela, 94, remains in hospital in Pretoria after suffering from a lung infection and undergoing gallstone surgery.