JOHANNESBURG - ANC chairperson Gwede Mantashe says the SACP leaving the tripartite alliance is political suicide.
"It is not tension it is a reality. The party wants to walk of the alliance and contents the elections. They will either commit suicide or weaken the ANC," he said.
ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa warned SACP not to go alone in the elections emphasising this move could threatens the alliance and risks confusing voters.
Despite this the SACP which has always campaigned alongside the ANC confirmed it will run independently.
SACP spokesperson Mbulelo Mandlana said, "The alliance is not built on a guarantee that the Communist Party will never contest elections."
"We've been discussing this matter since the end of last year, the fact that up to now the Communist Party persists on its position should mean the ANC should accept this position and re-organise itself so that it can deal with an alliance partner that will be on the ballot," he said.