During the ANC's first national conference held in Durban in 1991, Hani received the highest number of votes, and a public poll put him as the most popular leader in the ANC, after Nelson Mandela.
Ngengqungquthela ye-ANC ngoZibandlela kowe-1991, u-Hani wathola amavoti amaningi kunabo bonke kanti ucwaningo olwenziwa ngaleso sikhathi lwaveza ukuthi nguyena umholi oweyethandwa kakhulu emva kukaNelson Mandela.