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South African President Jacob Zuma said on Saturday that anything under the sun can be debated at this year’s African National Congress (ANC) National General Council (NGC). He, however, was less forthcoming on whether a succession debate for the ruling party would happen.

The governing party’s leadership succession has been a hot topic over the last few weeks, with Mr. Zuma’s former wife and chair of the African Union Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma being lobbied by some members of the party as its next leader when his term expires in 2017, according to BDlive.com.

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa is the other possible candidate to succeed Mr Zuma.

The emergence of the two likely contenders has set tongues wagging and points to possible factions in the party.

Ms Dlamini-Zuma is alleged to have the support of what has been dubbed the "Premier League" — a faction said to be led by Free State premier Ace Magashule, Mpumalanga premier David Mabuza and North West premier Supra Mahumapelo.

Mr. Zuma, however, was on Saturday quick to quell talk of a succession debate during the conference.

He said although delegates were free to debate anything they wanted to and people in a democracy had the freedom to make their own choices, he hadn’t heard any of them speak about a succession debate.

However, he appeared amenable to the party discussing succession.

"There’s no debate which is worrying (in) succession, we are a democratic party in a democratic country. Democracy means there is competition, it means that people have got free choices.

"I don’t know why people get scared when people are saying, ‘we think so-and-so is better than so-and-so’ — that’s part of a democratic culture … (At) this conference we’re discussing and evaluating the half mark of our term, how have we fared in terms of implementing our policies and everything, what then can we do now in the last portion that is remaining."

ANC officials have been at pains in recent days to emphasise that the council will not discuss leadership succession.

On Friday secretary-general Gwede Mantashe said while some delegates might discuss this informally, "there is no voting here".

However, leadership succession and the ANC’s 2017 national conference will be an undercurrent, with delegates looking for other ways — through the loudness of their cheering and songs — to show their support for prospective contenders.

The NGC entered its second day on Saturday with delegates breaking up into commissions to discuss the organisational report. The economy, health and education will be discussed in commissions or small groups on Saturday afternoon.

With report by South Africa’s Business Day Live