While the members were in support of Zuma they could not officially nominate him as ANC president due to only 100 of the branch's 494 members being present by lunch time at the nomination meeting.

The Sunday Times reported that KwaZulu-Natal North Coast regional secretary Sboniso Xulu told the branch members present that the meeting would not be cancelled due to concerns that it would reflect badly on Zuma.

"We are willing to stay here until midnight if we have to. This is President Zuma's home. If this branch fails to meet, that will be all over the newspapers," Xulu told the members.

He appealed for those present to help get absent members to the meeting.

Minibuses, taxis, bakkies and cars were deployed to collect missing branch members.

The paper reported that the SUV of Nkandla mayor Zandile Mncadi-Mpanza was also drafted into the effort.

It was only at 8.15pm, 10 hours after the meeting began, that a quorum of 248 members was reached.