Johannesburg — THE African National Congress's (ANC's) contemptuous rejection of the suggestion by Frans Cronje, deputy CEO of the South African Institute of Race Relations, that the party should dump its alliance partners is to be expected.

Far from triggering disunity, Cronje's suggestion is likely to achieve the opposite. It is likely to remind alliance partners of their historical role and the need to address the unfinished business of transformation. The party will point out the persistent poverty and the socioeconomic inequalities to galvanise the troops into action.

The suggestion of dumping the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the South African Communist Party (SACP) is not new. Addressing the central committee of Cosatu in 1998, Thabo Mbeki said: "Given the practical politics of our day, the question must arise: when we speak of this strategic alliance, are we speaking of something that continues to exist or are we dreaming dreams that reflect the past? Does a congress movement still exist?" The same message was delivered to the 10th congress of the SACP. We know who got dumped.

Having just emerged from bruising elections, the ANC is not only stronger, as Cronje correctly observes, but it can buy time should it decide to dump its partners. The formation of the Congress of the People means the "broad church" has one less strand to manage .

And what about suggestions that President Jacob Zuma should ignore the ANC headquarters? Zuma correctly points out that accountability is broader than some would suggest. He told Parliament that "the ANC cannot disappear for five years. It must perform its own oversight functions to ensure that the government it formed stays true to its mandate." This oversight function is not limited to the ANC. It applies to all of us. Indeed, we may differ in how we understand this oversight function, but we can agree on the principle of oversight as a form of accountability.

The ANC dumping Cosatu and the SACP is unlikely. First, the alliance is strategic, based on common principles, goals, values, and objectives regarding the kind of society that needs to be built.

Second, the alliance is tactical. No party can win elections without the support of the workers. In a country where the majority is poor, each worker supports on average three or four adults who then become potential voters for the ruling party. The ANC understands this winning formula.

Third , unions play a countervailing force in a system dominated by one party. On key issues, Cosatu and the SACP have been correct most of the time. They took issue with Mbeki's support for Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe. They endorsed the Treatment Action Campaign to provide antiretroviral medicine to those living with HIV. They remained critical of the arms deal and challenged attempts to stifle debate within and outside the alliance. They challenged the manner in which black economic empowerment and affirmative action are implemented.

In The Audacity of Hope, Barack Obama points out that he would not have made it to the White House without the endorsement of the unions. For Obama, corporate lobby groups, which use their economic power to magnify their political influence, subvert democracy. Organised formations -- such as unions representing healthcare workers, teachers, and food service workers -- are the essence of democracy. Obama writes: "So I owe those unions. When their leaders call, I do my best to call them back right away. I don't consider this corrupting in any way; I don't mind feeling obligated towards them ... I got into politics to fight for these folks. "

Obama understands full well that there will be times when his obligations to unions will collide with his other obligations. When that happens, Obama writes, "I hope that I can always go to my union friends and explain why my position makes sense, how it's consistent with both my values and their long-term interests." Indeed, there is nothing untoward about Zuma and the ANC being at odds with their union partners. But, as Obama points out, dumping your friends for political expediency is a bad idea. When asked to dump his friends by the US government, Nelson Mandela refused.

Seepe is a higher education and strategy consultant.