Netshitenzhe, once the brains in former President Thabo Mbeki's administration, is highly regarded by party members.

His inclusion on Gauteng's leadership slate is expected to cause debate across the country.

But the biggest surprise is the omission of Fikile Mbalula from the executive list. Mbalula, has been nominated by the ANC Youth League to take over from the incumbent secretary-general, Gwede Mantashe.

In his address to the committee yesterday, ANC Gauteng chairman Paul Mashatile said the party should avoid taking "voting fodder" to its elective conference in December. Businessman and current Housing Minister Tokyo Sexwale and African Union-bound chairwoman Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma have both been nominated for deputy president.

The inclusion of Dlamini-Zuma is a surprise as the ANC veteran is unlikely to accept the post following her successful campaign to lead the African Union.

President Jacob Zuma, together with current treasurer general, Mathews Phosa and Baleka Mbete have not made the list.

Gauteng's proposed list: president Kgalema Motlanthe, deputy president Tokyo Sexwale and Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, secretary-general Joel Netshitenzhe and Gwede Mantashe, deputy secretary-general Febe Potgieter, Thandi Modise and Naledi Pandor for national chairman and Paul Mashathile for treasurer general.

Mashatile said unity in the ANC was key to taking the ruling party forward.

He said the members should use the organisation's document "through the eye of the needle" to evaluate and elect leaders.

"To become an ANC leader is not an entitlement. It should not be an easy process to which merely status is attached.

"It should be informed first and foremost by the desire and commitment to serve the people, and a track record appreciated by ANC members and communities alike," Mashatile said.

Gauteng will send 500 delegates to Mangaung and Zuma's home province, KwaZulu-Natal, 974. Mashatile, however, said their choice was about quality.

"Our focus on membership recruitment has always been based on recruiting quality membership as opposed to just getting people to join the ANC."

Gauteng branch nomination process started today and the lobbying is expected to be intense.