Gauteng provincial secretary David Makhura is likely to replace Premier Nomvula Mokonyane.
Zwelinzima Vavi, the suspended boss of the trade union federation Cosatu, and Irvin Jim, the general secretary of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa), might have fallen out of favour with the ANC top brass at party headquarters at Luthuli House, but branches in Gauteng want them to be included on the list of those who will represent the ANC in Parliament after next year's elections.
The province – which has been at loggerheads with supporters of President Jacob Zuma because of the perceived hostility by some provincial leaders towards the ANC president – has also nominated former president Thabo Mbeki for the national list.
But Gauteng ANC branches have also overwhelmingly nominated Zuma to serve for a second term as the country's president after the elections. Cyril Ramaphosa is nominated at number two after Zuma and Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula's popularity is also evident – he was nominated at number three.
Gauteng did not support Mbalula's failed attempt to replace Gwede Mantashe as the ANC secretary general at the ANC's elective conference last December. But branches in Gauteng and other provinces want him to continue to serve as a member of Zuma's Cabinet.
It is unlikely that Vavi and Jim would accept a nomination to serve in the National Assembly, as they believe this would compromise their independence as union leaders. They declined nominations to serve on the ANC's national executive committee in December last year.
However, Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini and the general secretary of the National Education, Health, and Allied Workers' Union, Fikile Majola, who have been nominated by ANC branches in Gauteng, are likely to accept nomination, as they believe that having more communists in government and the Cabinet serves the interests of the working class. Dlamini and Majola were elected ANC NEC members last year.
Mbeki is unlikely to accept the nomination.
ANC provincial secretary David Makhura is number one on the province-to-province list, meaning he will probably replace Nomvula Mokonyane as Gauteng premier. It appears the majority of ANC branches want her to serve at a national level.
The Gauteng national-to-national list also features former Gauteng mayor Amos Masondo, former Reserve Bank governor Tito Mboweni, former police commissioner Bheki Cele, former local government MEC Humphrey Mmemezi, former communications minister Siphiwe Nyanda, Zuma's spokesperson Mac Maharaj, and former ANC Youth League leaders Zizi Kodwa and Pule Mabe.
In North West, the one thing opposing ANC factions agree on is that Zuma must serve a second term.
Lobbying lists that were thrashed out at its conference on Thursday show that, despite a fall-out in the Zuma camp, no faction wants to be at odds with the ANC's national leadership by demoting Number One to a lesser position.
However, the divisions in the provincial leadership in North West are deep and clear.
On the list of a bigger North West faction, provincial chairperson Supra Mahumapelo sits at the top for a possible premier position, while the current premier, Thandi Modise, is at number 27.
However, an opposing provincial list, headlined "inclusive and non-factional", retains Modise in the province's top spot. Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe also gets resuscitated by this faction, which wanted him to take over as ANC president last year. His name also features high on the Gauteng list. Even former human settlements minister Tokyo Sexwale will make a comeback as an MP if this group gets its way.
In a sign of some level of inclusiveness, Gordon Kegakilwe, who is this weekend standing against Mahumapelo for the position of North West provincial secretary, also made it to the top 10.
So did social development MEC Collen Maine, the provincial convener of the youth league's task team.
South African Communist Party provincial secretary Madoda Sambatha's inclusion higher up will appease the communists and Cosatu. Sambatha's name also features prominently on the Gauteng list.
The ANC Women's League provincial co-ordinator, Susan Tsebe, also made the list and former public works MEC Mahlakeng Mahlakeng is likely to make a comeback as one of the province's legislators.
The chairperson of the provincial standing committee on public accounts, Hlomane Chauke, who has ruffled feathers since he began heading the committee last year, appears on both the provincial legislature and national assembly lists, but stands a better chance of being sent to Parliament.
ANC sources said putting Chauke higher up on the National Assembly list – in fourth position – was intentional because the plan is to remove him from the province.
All provinces were required to hold their list conferences by Thursday this week. The ANC will hold a national list conference this month to consolidate the lists from the nine provinces, in preparation for a full-blown election campaign.