At the same time, Ramaphosa has acknowledged the party has often failed to implement its policies, leading to a breakdown in trust between it and the people.

"Where our policies remain relevant and appropriate, we need to be more focused on ensuring their effective and full implementation. Where our policies are inadequate or have shortcomings, we need to do things differently.

"At the core of the tasks identified by the conference in December is the need to restore our relationship as a movement with the people of South Africa. Our duty as the ANC is to mobilise our people, but more importantly, as clearly set out in our constitution, it is to serve the people of South Africa.

"We have stated that we must earn the position of society's leader through our work among our people, as well as regain the confidence and trust of the people of this country; our duty as the ANC is therefore primarily to serve the people."

eNCA