Johannesburg - As proceedings at the 54th ANC National Elective Conference finally got underway, a small group of the Khoi San liberation staged a peaceful protest calling for recognition due to them as South Africa's first citizens.
The group had earlier this month marched to the Union Buildings to hand over a memorandum of demands to the Presidency.
The group were demanding that President Jacob Zuma or Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa receive their memorandum, having walked more than 1000km from Port Elizabeth.
Ruben Rustoff of the Khoi-San mass movement outside of Nasrec where the 54th ANC National Conference is taking place. Johannesburg. 16 December 2017. Video: Karen Sandison/ANA
Leading Saturday's group was Anthony Williams, who explained that they came to the conference to highlight the plight of marginalised indigenous Africans.
"They are sidelined and standing on the periphery while a few guys in the higher echelons of politics and business are just making a mockery of the economy.
"We want the government to ratify the UN Convention 169, that gives statutory recognition to the Khoi San people as the first indigenous people of South Africa.
Chief Joseph Marble, president of the Khoi-San mass movement. Video: Karen Sandison/ANA
Additionally, the group called for Zuma to meet with the chiefs at Union Buildings, adding that the group would remain there until the president sees them.
Furthermore, the group was planning a walk from Johannesburg to Cape Town to raise funds for funding.
Deputy president of the Khoi-San mass movement Chief Glen Bennett. Video: Karen Sandison/ANA
Williams also had a message to delegates at the conference, urging them "sober up and help" the marginalised group.
Video: Khanyisile Ngcobo
"We want them to come together... to reject racism, especially institutionalised racism," he said.
The conference kicked off at Nasrec, Johannesburg, on Saturday, hours after it was scheduled to begin.