Activists at the ANC conference will have a chance today to "cushion" Winnie Mandela after the near-humiliation she faced yesterday. Having pulled out of the race for deputy president under huge pressure from the ANC establishment, Mrs Mandela is expected today to offer herself as a candidate for the party's national executive. And as our Southern Africa correspondent Jeremy Vine reports, the move will give party members a chance to register support for her:

Last night one election official described the activists here as still preoccupied with what is happening to Winnie Mandela. Some are happy that she didn't go for deputy president, he said, but some are very sad and her supporters feel intimidated.

Today those supporters will have the chance to register their backing for the ANC's most controversial senior figure when she stands for a place on the party's national executive. She already has a seat as head of the ANC's Women's League, but is thought to want to be elected directly.