ANC members wrapped in scarves and heavy jackets strolled towards the conference centre, where the ANC is holding its four-day policy conference.

The main hall was decked out in the ANC's colours of green, gold and black, and the party's flag.

The hall, which will accommodate about 3500 delegates and 300 reporters, was empty.

The delegates consist of branch representatives, national executive committee members, the ANC's leagues, its alliance partners, deployees and business representatives.

Tuesday's session would start with an address by President Jacob Zuma, who is also president of the ANC.

The conference would then have a closed plenary session.

Inputs would be received on Tuesday on three of the ANC's main policy documents: organisational renewal; strategy and tactics and the state intervention in the mining sector; and the national development plan and commission guidelines.