The South African National Civic Organisation's (Sanco's) national executive committee (NEC) has called for an urgent Tripartite Alliance political council to address the decline in support for the ruling African National Congress (ANC).

This would also be in preparation for the 2019 general elections, Sanco said in a statement on Sunday.

Following a two-day NEC meeting, Sanco general secretary, Skhumbuzo Mpanza, called on alliance leaders to "sober up" and realise that it would be a huge betrayal to be in denial about what needs to be done to save the national democratic revolution.

“We have collectively paid dearly for the arrogance and corruption that we should have dealt with decisively and not cowered and retreated at their advance. It is now time for a gear-changer,” he said.

Mpanza said areas of discontent that were raised by communities and those that influenced them not to vote for the ANC had to be confronted and resolved.

If the ANC lost power, he said, South African communities, especially the poor, would bear the brunt of policies that were not pro-poor.

Undermines governance

Concerns were also raised about the public spats between Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and the Priority Crime Investigative Directorate, known at the Hawks.

The spat was not in the interests of the country’s economic recovery plan, Sanco said.

The Hawks have accused the minister of corruption and called on Gordhan to present himself at their offices on Thursday last week.

Gordhan defied the order.

“Although we subscribe to the principle of equality before the law and believe that Gordhan's non-cooperation could set a bad precedent, misinformation as well as blow-by-blow investigation through the media undermines confidentiality, co-operative governance and professionalism," Mpanza said.

"We appeal for due processes of the law to be followed and for the minister to cooperate with the investigation."