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ANC and alliance partners promise unity to win elections

ANC and its alliance partners have moved swiftly to paper over tensions among them, pleading to work together to win this year's local elections.

Leaders of the SA Communist Party, Cosatu and Sanco threw their weight behind the ANC, promising to help it score a decisive victory at the polls.

But SACP general secretary Blade Nzimande warned against infighting in the ANC, saying it would distract it from delivering on its promises. 

Nzimande also took a pot shot at detractors of the Communist Party and Cosatu in the tripartite alliance.

"Any of us who think that time for the alliance is up is gambling with the revolution," he said. 

Nzimande was speaking at the ANC's 104 anniversary  bash at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Phokeng outside Rustenburg.

He appealed to alliance leaders to unite instead of being involved in factionalism.

The SACP is embroiled in a protracted battle with the so-called Premier League, the premiers of North West, Mpumalanga and Free State.

The party believes that they were anti-communists and we're planning a take over of the ANC at its conference late next year.

Cosatu and SACP were also  unhappy with Zuma's failure to act against the Premier League.

Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini called on alliance partners to close ranks.

"This is no time to look for scapegoats when things don't go right. When things fall apart we should not look at each other for blame," he said.

President Jacob Zuma also told thousands of supporters of the ANC that infighting, corruption and arrogance among ANC leaders had no place in the ANC.