Tripartite Alliance partners can still find each other: Analyst
Tension among the alliance partners surfaced at the COSATU national congress earlier this week.
Political analysts maintain that the Tripartite Alliance, comprising the ANC, COSATU, and SACP, can still be saved despite recent tensions. The alliance's future hangs in the balance as municipal polls approach next month. A source of discord emerged during the COSATU national congress, where ANC National Chairperson Gwede Mantashe walked out in protest against the ANC speaking before the SACP and SANCO.
Mantashe insisted on speaking last, citing tradition. COSATU President Mike Shingange has vowed to lead the alliance, challenging the traditional passive role. Shingange warned the ANC and SACP that the federation intends to take an active role rather than follow passively. The three-party pact, lasting over three decades, appears strained due to disagreements over reconfiguration.
The SACP has decided to field its own candidates in the upcoming local elections, exacerbating the rift. Some leaders are frustrated by the order of speaking at events, while the high-level ANC delegation failed to attend COSATU's congress due to speaking last. However, analysts believe the alliance can be reconciled through compromises and negotiations, as the differences between the partners are not substantial.
Despite the challenges, there is hope that the alliance can withstand the test of upcoming elections, with the SACP likely contesting separately and the ANC anticipating a historically low performance.
Written by urgent.news from SABC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
