Hi Internet: The African National Congress (ANC), the party of Nelson Mandela that polls at least around 70 per cent in elections, is in the process of choosing its leader. It's the first time in more than 50 years that there has been a race for leader. The presidency has been passed down to a successor, chosen and groomed by the outgoing leader.

Thabo Mbeki, the successor to Mandela and son of Govan Mbeki, a revered ANC elder, is trying to hold on to the leadership of the party even though after two terms as president he is ineligible to lead the party into the next general election in 2009.

Mbeki has face criticism for failing to do enough to pull the majority of South Africans out of poverty. On the international stage, he has taken hits for not taking a harder stand on Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe and stating doubts that HIV is the cause of AIDS.

So, while it may be time for a change, the options are not exactly appealing.

Mbeki's chief rival is Jacob Zuma (check out a nice little doc about him here). Mbeki booted him from his perch as deputy president after Zuma's financial adviser was convicted for corruption. Zuma fought off the corruption charges, though new charges are expected to be brought against him. Zuma also was acquitted of rape charges that were laid against him by a family friend. Zuma's defense was that the sex was consensual, but he landed in more controversy when it came to light that the sex was unprotected despite his knowing the woman was HIV-positive. He said he took a shower afterwards as a health precaution.

At the leadership convention, the momentum belongs to Zuma. He is by far the favorite. After a 2-hour speech, Mbeki received a short bout of polite applause before the crowd launched into Zuma's theme song, "Bring Me My Machine Gun."

Zuma sings his theme song.

If Zuma is forced to step down as leader because of corruption charges, he won't be able to run. The party deputy president would step in to take the party's nomination.