[5] However, it was not clear until 13 December – days before the conference – that Motlanthe intended to stand for the presidency,[6] and he appeared a reluctant candidate.

[15] Ultimately, voting at the conference preceded with different-coloured ballot papers for the North West and Free State delegates, for convenience in the case of the anticipated legal challenges.

The consistently large margin of support for Zuma's slate of candidates was taken to indicate that the party's factions had voted in blocs on the top positions.

[3] Zuma was presumably bolstered by the high number of delegates from KwaZulu-Natal, his home province and central support base.

The other 80 members of the NEC were elected from 230 nominees,[22] following delays due to errors on the ballot paper,[23] and the results were announced at the end of the conference.

Motlanthe and Modise withdrew their names from the ballots, and Sexwale, Phosa, Mbalula, and Mashatile failed to secure enough votes.

[27][28] By the end of the conference, the National Prosecuting Authority had publicly alleged that the four men had been planning to attack the venue with mortar bombs and then to conduct a ground assault, with the intention of executing Zuma and other senior leaders.

[30] In November 2014, Johan Prinsloo was found guilty of high treason and possession of illegal arms, though he was cleared on charges of conspiracy to commit terrorism.