Watch the full briefing in the gallery above.

JOHANNESBURG – African National Congress (ANC) stalwarts said they were concerned with the trajectory of the party.  They were responding to the party's 8 January statement delivered by President Jacob Zuma.

IN PICTURES: ANC supporters fill Orlando Stadium to capacity

Zuma has in the past been dismissive of party veterans, who've expressed concern over the direction the ANC is headed.

He has said the veterans see themselves as being above ANC structures.

But a paragraph of the NEC statement that didn't make it into Zuma's final speech, describes veterans as "a repository of years of organisational wisdom and knowledge" that can only be of benefit to the ANC.

The stalwarts and veterans say their aim is to ensure that the principles and values of the party are not destroyed. 

The reverend Frank Chikane says the ANC exists to serve the people and that it's the responsibility of party stalwarts to make sure it does.

He say the party must re-evaluate certain policies and processes.

The briefing comes days after the party’s 105th anniversary celebrations at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto.

Morobe; 'There's more than us who are here as a group, who have an interest in the correction of the ANC' #ANCStalwarts

— Thulasizwe Simelane (@ThulasSims) January 10, 2017

Mufamadi; 'We don't know if these lists we're seeing are generated by people who actually exist' #ANCStalwarts

— Thulasizwe Simelane (@ThulasSims) January 10, 2017

Mufamadi; 'If ANC elects leaders of dubious character - that will obviously not augur well for self-correction' #ANCStalwarts

— Thulasizwe Simelane (@ThulasSims) January 10, 2017

Chikane; '#ANCStalwarts is a collective of wisdom of people who have impeccable service to this organisation'

— Thulasizwe Simelane (@ThulasSims) January 10, 2017

Chikane; 'OR Tambo is a reference point if you want to see what this movement should be like' #ANCStalwarts

— Thulasizwe Simelane (@ThulasSims) January 10, 2017

Chikane; 'We will be arranging meetings with ANC leagues - ANCWL, ANCYL, ANCVL' #ANCStalwarts

— Thulasizwe Simelane (@ThulasSims) January 10, 2017

#ANCstalwarts Frank Chikane addressing the briefing. Talking about the intervention. LIVE on DStv 403 now pic.twitter.com/9bs8ROKiVd

— eNCA (@eNCA) January 10, 2017

eNCA