 Motlanthe was elected Deputy President of the African National Congress at the party's 52nd National Conference in Polokwane in December 2007, defeating the Mbeki camp's choice of Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.The new ANC leadership, dominated by supporters of Jacob Zuma, applied pressure on Mbeki to appoint Motlanthe to the cabinet.He became a Member of Parliament in May 2008 and in July was appointed to the cabinet by Mbeki as Minister without Portfolio.