Free State followed in the footsteps of ANC Women's League and the ANC Youth League by officially nominating Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma for the ANC top job during the provincial general council meeting in Parys last night.

Mpumalanga premier and ANC provincial chairman David Mabuza was announced as Dlamini-Zuma's deputy, while his Free State counterpart Ace Magashule was nominated for the secretary-general position.

Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa is favoured for the position of national chairman. In addition to Dlamini-Zuma, the province threw its weight behind two other women.

Jessie Duarte was nominated to retain her position as ANC deputy secretary-general while International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane is favoured for treasurer-general.

The provincial leadership refused to divulge the figures. However, Sowetan understands that Dlamini-Zuma was supported by 206 branches while 44 branches backed Cyril Ramaphosa.

Magashule attacked some ANC leaders for "behaving like Hollywood stars" and of "disrespecting the ANC leadership" under President Jacob Zuma.

Magashule told delegates without mentioning the leaders by names that "these peacetime heroes" are going to vanish after the next moth's conference.

"The ANC in this province is solid and united. You have never seen us attacking any leader ... we are not cowards. We are just disciplined. You can be a leader in parliament, make noise and think you are better," he said.

Duarte said all ANC presidential hopefuls have made a commitment to Zuma that they would support whoever wins.

ANCYL president Collen Maine slammed those in the ANC who he said were agents of the West.

"The ANC is highly infiltrated. There are agents of white monopoly capital in the ANC. We must not allow those people to lead the ANC because we will reverse our gains."

Maine said the ANC policy as adopted in Mangaung was radical economic transformation and not the new deal proposed by Ramaphosa to grow the country's economy.