EFF leader Julius Malema claimed that South African voters continue to vote for the "corrupt" ANC because they don't trust new ideas.

Speaking yesterday at The Gathering, a high-profile event called The Gathering, held in Sandton, Johannesburg, Malema said the ANC was not contested in the rural areas.

"People love the ANC. People think that the elections is the ANC," Malema said. But he predicted that things may change in the 2019 general elections.

"The watershed moment for the country will be in 2019 when we have the opportunity to choose a leader that is best for us," Malema said. The EFF and DA have vowed to wrest the ANC out of power in the 2019 general elections.

Malema called on the South African white women who had been excluded by Afrikaner males in the means of production to join the EFF. He also took aim at Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, saying he was like other ANC leaders.

"I have never seen Ramaphosa open a case against corruption."

Pravin Gordhan, the former finance minister now serving as an ANC MP, said the economy could turn around quite quickly if Ramaphosa succeeded President Jacob Zuma next month at ANC elective conference.

Gordhan also lashed out at the current ANC leadership under Zuma, saying it has failed the people.

Maimane said he was unhappy The Gathering was about the upcoming ANC national elective conference next month but none of the presidential hopefuls had graced the event despite being invited.

Those who were supposed to attend included ANC treasurer-general Zweli Mkhize, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and Lindiwe Sisulu.

The organisers of the event said they had pulled out at the eleventh hour. Maimane also said the ANC was dead.

"It never successfully transitioned from a liberation movement into a governing party. Most people have figured out by now that Zanu-PF and the ANC bear a striking resemblance to each other, both in terms of their history and their attitude to power," he said.

Former ANC MP Makhosi Khoza said it was appalling that the mainstream of the ANC was captured.

"I don't think the ANC elective conference is going to deliver the results we need. We need to find a new model."

Khoza also revealed details of the formation of a new political party. She said the party would be a coalition of disgruntled ANC members and civil society organisations.

ANC veteran Mavuso Msimang said: "We are here because the manner in which the ANC elects its leaders is so faulty and ancient. It allows factions, and if you have more money you have more influence."

Former Zimbabwe finance minister Tendai Biti said Zimbabwe would have to approach the West with a begging bowl to get the economy back on its feet, adding the country must go back to the international community.

"We have to make peace with London, Washington and Brussels. We have to make peace with boys and girls with money in New York, San Francisco, Chicago and California. We have to find a new relationship with New Delhi. India is important to us."

Biti said Zimbabwe's new administration under Emmerson Mnangagwa would not be able to function without major budgetary support from the international community.

"The international community, including South Africa, must know that someone needs to pay for Zimbabwe's stability. Zimbabwe is too important to be ignored in the region." He said Zuma and SA disengaged from Zimbabwe in 2013.

"The price of that withdrawal is being felt in the streets of Zimbabwe. People must know there is no such thing as inaction. I hope comrade Gwede (Mantashe, ANC secretary-general) is listening."