Some African National Congress members wanted Gigaba to become deputy president if Kgalema Motlanthe challenged President Jacob Zuma for the party's presidency, City Press reported.

Most wanted him to be elected as deputy secretary general at the ANC's elective conference in Mangaung in December, and as secretary general or president at the party's elective conference in 2017.

Zuma will stand for a second term as ANC president in Mangaung, but some have called for change and want Motlanthe for president.

On Friday, ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe said branches had started holding general meetings to select their delegates at the conference and to nominate candidates for the ANC leadership positions.

Once this was completed, each province would hold a provincial nomination conference to consolidate all branch nominations.

However, a number of ANC provincial executive committees (PEC) and leagues have already made known their nomination preferences.

According to City Press, Gigaba, who is a former ANC Youth League leader, is associated with the Zuma campaign, but also has backing in the Motlanthe camp.

Lobbyists told the newspaper that Gigaba was an ideal candidate for the youth, as Sport Minister Fikile Mbalula's campaign was failing.

Mbalula is an ANCYL favourite to take over the position of secretary general from Mantashe.

The ANCYL has been calling for generational mix within the ANC leadership.