South Africa: Tripartite allies unite for poll battle

The SACP and Cosatu have shelved damaging rifts in the tripartite alliance over the Jacob Zuma affair with calls to vote for the ANC in the municipal elections, reports Independent Online. They presented a united front at Sunday's launch of the ANC election campaign by President Thabo Mbeki in a packed Athlone Stadium. The two alliance partners had openly backed the beleaguered ANC No 2 after he was axed as Mbeki's deputy in the government.