The Congress of the People will fail because its leaders only know how to jostle among themselves for higher positions, the SA Communist Party said on Wednesday.

"Cope is falling apart precisely because those who broke away from the ANC continue to do what they know best, that is, elevating fighting for leadership positions above the national interests of our country as a whole," SACP spokesman Malesela Maleka said in a statement.

The SACP knew from the start that Cope was "not sustainable" because no party "can exist and sustain itself purely on the basis of having lost leadership positions in another political party."

Maleka also dismissed the Inkatha Freedom Party as not being able to survive beyond the apartheid regime and "its dependent tentacles of the bantustan system".

The Democratic Alliance was a party which mobilised minority fears, he said.

"Therefore the public posture by the DA as champions of our Constitution, is nothing more than a smokescreen of trying to hijack our democracy and Constitution to serve the interests of the privileged white minority."

"The year 2010 has proven beyond any reasonable doubt the bankruptcy of all opposition parties."

Maleka also wished South Africans a happy festive season.

"In particular we wish the workers of our country a deserved break from the grinding mill of capitalist labour."