The tripartite alliance is dead and whoever believes otherwise is delusional‚ former president Kgalema Motlanthe said this weekend‚ the newspaper reported.

In an exclusive interview‚ Mr Motlanthe told Business Day that the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the South African Communist Party (SACP)‚ formerly independent ideological partners of the African National Congress (ANC) had lost their way and the alliance only existed in name.

Mr Motlanthe lashed out at the ruling party‚ saying it was presently made up mostly of members and leaders devoid of the kind of political ability and consciousness required to maintain a united and nonracial society — a key ideal articulated during the liberation struggle.