The ANC is likely to increase the number of elected officials from the current six to boost capacity at Luthuli House, regardless of which grouping wins in December.
The expansion of the top six is also seen as an opportunity to accommodate backers of both Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and his opponent, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, in an attempt to avoid a bruising leadership contest.
Most structures agree on a larger leadership structure, so the debate is likely to be about how many positions should be added. The new positions being punted are that of a second deputy president, a second deputy secretary-general, and a third deputy secretary-general.
The push to expand the leadership structure is seen as a move to allow for more representation of provincial leaders. Such leaders who spoke to the Sunday Times said the idea was seen as a "compromise solution".
The ANC in the North West and Northern Cape have formally decided that the top six leaders should become the top nine. North West provincial secretary Dakota Legoete said it was decided that for the "good of the organisation there should be nine top leaders of the party".
The two provinces are likely to get support from the Western Cape, Mpumalanga, Gauteng and Free State.
Western Cape provincial secretary Faiez Jacobs said members were not against having more leaders. "We are open to be convinced about the model of nine leaders."
Gauteng ANC chairman Paul Mashatile expressed his support for the proposals when he addressed the provincial general council on Friday.
The resolution would see one deputy president being deployed to the state and one based at Luthuli House to focus on party matters. Those supporting the idea of three deputy secretaries-general want specific tasks and mandates allocated to each of them.
Northern Cape ANC provincial secretary Deshi Ngxanga said they wanted a deputy secretary-general for campaigns, elections and membership, a second for cadre development and discipline inspection, and a third to deal with communications and the battle of ideas.
Currently, the position of deputy secretary-general is a full-time position and, according to the ANC constitution, the holder shall "assist the secretary-general, deputise for him".
But the two factions are expected to slug it out over the country's economic direction. The phrase "radical economic transformation" is likely to ignite heated discussions at the meeting as both factions seek to claim the tag-line as their own.
The Dlamini-Zuma grouping is expected to push for more radical policies, including expropriation of land without compensation and changes to fiscal policy.
ANC Youth League president Collen Maine told the Sunday Times the issue of land would be at the centre of the push for radical economic transformation.
"We are forging ahead with expropriation of land without compensation. The constitution must be changed. If the constitution is an impediment, it must be changed," he said.
North West provincial secretary Legoete said his province wanted a new financial and fiscal commission formula to allow for more funds from the National Treasury to be directed to rural provinces.
But ANC Eastern Cape provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane, a supporter of Ramaphosa, said there was nothing wrong with existing ANC policies.
Another Ramaphosa sympathiser, ANC Northern Cape provincial secretary Ngxanga, said his province would oppose the ANC youth league's version of radical economic transformation.
The two factions are expected to lock horns over another battle, the provision of free higher education. While Dlamini-Zuma backers want a blanket approach, those of Ramaphosa want only the poor to qualify.
