ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma kept a low profile ahead of the upcoming Polokwane conference, preferring instead to spend yesterday with relatives in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands.

ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma kept a low profile ahead of the upcoming Polokwane conference, preferring instead to spend yesterday with relatives in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands.

Zuma, who was originally reported to have started the day handing out food parcels to orphans, spent most of the day with members of the Zuma clan at Impendle, about 70km northwest of Pietermaritzburg.

Media were kept at a distance and one source told Sapa that "he (Zuma) is having a traditional ceremony with family".

Members of the Zuma clan from Nkandla had apparently also attended the ceremony.

Sapa learnt that one cow was slaughtered on Tuesday while another two were slaughtered yesterday.

Zuma's movements ahead of the Polokwane conference were a closely guarded secret with local media scrambling in a bid to keep tabs on him.

Dumisani Mthalane, a South African National Civic Organisation national executive member, said Zuma was expected to attend a 10am prayer meeting organised by Sanco and the KZN branch of the SA Council of Churches at the Pietermaritzburg City Hall on Thursday.

The Umsunduzi municipal traffic department confirmed that there was a prayer meeting planned for the Pietermaritzburg City Hall area, but they could not confirm Zuma's attendance.

l Meanwhile, ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma was set to hand out food parcels to orphans before meeting with the Zuma clan on the outskirts of Pietermaritzburg yesterday. - Sapa