The South African Communist Party is calling for the establishment of a coordinating council within its alliance with the ANC and Cosatu, SACP general secretary Blade Nzimande said yesterday.

The South African Communist Party is calling for the establishment of a coordinating council within its alliance with the ANC and Cosatu, SACP general secretary Blade Nzimande said yesterday.

Nzimande said the council would comprise senior officials of the tripartite alliance.

"This senior body would sit regularly as a key coordinating body that will drive the alliance's common programmes," Nzimande said.

SACP deputy general secretary Jeremy Cronin said the ANC had discussed renewal of the alliance because it was aware of the "highly unstable" manner in which the alliance had been functioning .

Commenting on recent events that led to former president Thabo Mbeki's resignation, Cronin said the SACP felt vindicated since it had initially called for Mbeki's recall in May.

"We made the call in May on a political judgment," Cronin said.

"We had many differences with Mbeki over the years.

"Hopefully now we can put the issue behind us and focus on bigger issues." - Sapa