A high-level bilateral meeting about the booing of senior ANC leaders - including Julius Malema - ended amicably with an apology from the communists and President Jacob Zuma admitting to "mistakes" on both sides.

This followed a report submitted to the ANC's national working committee after Malema and Billy Masetlha were booed by delegates at the SA Communist Party conference last year.

The national working committee met the SACP in Cape Town yesterday to discuss tensions between members of the two parties, as well as their "common programme".

According to a joint statement on Thursday, Zuma "indicated that mistakes have been made on both sides".

"The SACP, in the context of the discussions, reaffirmed its regret at the booing" at its special congress in December last year.

"Both parties agreed that there would be no further personalised public attacks on each other," the statement said.

The booing was discussed by the national working committee two weeks ago, after an initial report was drafted by Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale, but was not accepted by the ANC's national executive committee.

After it was referred back to the working committee, a row erupted between Sexwale, on one hand, and ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe and Justice Minister Jeff Radebe, on the other, about the status of the report.

A new report was drafted and submitted to the national working committee.

While the SACP and the ANC made their peace, Cosatu in Gauteng on Thursday said the ruling party should have publicly condemned Malema for his attack on Zwelinzima Vavi on Tuesday.

Cosatu Gauteng secretary Dumisani Dakile described Malema as a "lunatic", "grandstanding crazy individual" and "problem child".