A new political party would be one comprised of renegades and capitalist rich people, SA Communist Party general secretary Blade Nzimande said on Wednesday.

Speaking at a SA Democratic Teachers' Union gathering, Nzimande warned that it was essential to keep the tripartite alliance united in the wake of a proposed political party formed by former ANC chairperson Terror Lekota and former Gauteng premier Mbhazima Shilowa.

"It will be a party of rich people, a party of renegades, the challenge for us, comrades, is that we must keep our organisations united. We must protect each other... but we must be vigilant."

He said the likes of the Shilowas and the Lekotas were trying to destroy the unity and that he was not certain they were dissidents, counter revolutionaries, or both.

He said leadership was not an entitlement, it had to be earned.

"What they are doing is a continuation of what they failed to do in the ANC.

"That is why comrade [Zwelinviva] Vavi is right, when he says they are nothing more than a black DA [Democratic Alliance], they share a similar class agenda."

Congress of SA Trade Unions general secretary Zwelinviva Vavi was also expected to address the meeting later on Wednesday.

Sapa