African National Congress (ANC) President Cyril Ramaphosa has assured the party’s Tripartite Alliance partners – the South African Communist Party (SACP) and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) – that the ANC will conclude discussions on the reconfiguration of the alliance.

Ramaphosa was speaking during the SACP’s fifteenth national congress in Johannesburg, on Friday, where he acknowledged that there was significant anxiety within the SACP and Cosatu that the ANC had not fully concluded its own discussions.

There has been discontentment in the alliance, with calls for a reconfiguration in the relations between the ANC, the SACP and Cosatu.

“I can say that as President of the ANC I do support that we should have a thorough ongoing discussion on the reconfiguration of the alliance. We must discuss in depth precisely what our roles, what our responsibilities are as we chart the way forward. So we are going to devote time to conclude that discussion,” he said.

He promised that the ANC would speed up discussions so that when the Alliance Political Council met it was able to finalise its discussions.

Ramaphosa spoke of the ANC and SACP’s “tightly interwoven relationship” which has spanned many decades. He said the ANC remained firmly committed to its alliance with the SACP and remained convinced that the role of the SACP in advancing the fundamental transformation of the country’s economy and society was key to the future of the country.

The ANC supports the SACP’s cause: to build a powerful socialist movement of workers and the poor.

However, Ramaphosa admitted that it was not enough for the ANC to state its commitment to the alliance. He said it needed to work hard and to continuously ensure that the movement remained united, cohesive and effective.

“We recognise that there have been weaknesses, there have also been lapses and shortcomings in how we have managed this relationship and how we have approached the common tasks and responsibilities that are at hand,” he said.

Alliance structures at national, provincial and regional levels have not worked as they should have and have not responded to the challenges facing the movement, he added.

He said the alliance ought to be able to develop a common view on crucial areas of social and economic development.

NZIMANDE LEADERSHIP

Meanwhile, Ramaphosa commended SACP general-secretary Blade Nzimande, who is stepping down from the helm after 24 years.

“The party has grown in membership, it has also grown in strength and indeed it has also grown in influence. We applaud you [Nzimande] because by growing the party you have contributed to strengthening the democratic progressive movement in our country. I think you are to be applauded for continuing to lead the party over the many years and you have seen it grow into the organisation that it is today. I take off my hat to you and applaud you for the excellent work that you have done,” said Ramaphosa.