50th National Conference of the African National Congress
National Chairperson
### National Chairperson

Although it was understood that senior leadership backed Minister of Sport and Recreation [Steve Tshwete](/wiki/Steve_Tshwete "Steve Tshwete"), an ally of Mbeki's, for the party chairmanship, the branches nominated two other candidates: [Mathews Phosa](/wiki/Mathews_Phosa "Mathews Phosa"), Premier of [Mpumalanga](/wiki/Mpumalanga "Mpumalanga"), and [Terror Lekota](/wiki/Mosiuoa_Lekota "Mosiuoa Lekota"), Chairperson of the [National Council of Provinces](/wiki/National_Council_of_Provinces "National Council of Provinces"). Phosa declined the nomination, leaving a two\-horse race between Tshwete and Lekota, who were known to be on poor terms. Lekota had the support of six of the nine provincial branches, as well as the [Congress of South African Trade Unions](/wiki/Congress_of_South_African_Trade_Unions "Congress of South African Trade Unions") (COSATU) and the [South African Communist Party](/wiki/South_African_Communist_Party "South African Communist Party") (SACP). Tshwete had the support of the other three provinces, the [ANC Youth League](/wiki/African_National_Congress_Youth_League "African National Congress Youth League"), and, at least initially, the Women's League – after the nominations phase, Tshwete was involved in a public dispute with Madikizela\-Mandela, the Women's League President, over government service delivery. At the conference, Lekota won the vote by an overwhelming margin.


Who won the vote at the conference?