As the Limpopo ANC conference got under way at the weekend, behind the scenes Danny Msiza held horse trading talks with an Eastern Cape lobby group to forge alliances ahead of the party's December conference.
Police Nyalas and vans stationed at the main gate of the East London International Convention Centre and heavily armed officers at every door of the conference venue.
Whoever emerges as the new leader of the ANC in the Eastern Cape will have won a closely contested conference where no faction was completely assured of its electoral might.
"Take the money but do the right thing and remain focused."Addressing his supporters in the early hours of Friday morning, ANC Eastern Cape chair hopeful Babalo Madikizela said they should not to be swayed by bribes, instead they must take the bribe but vote the right way.
This weekend, the stakes are much higher for the party as premier Oscar Mabuyane will face off against former ally and MEC Babalo Madikizela for the role of provincial chair.