The biggest Afrikaans church voted on Tuesday not to apologise for historical events that led to unfair land distribution.
Cosatu came to the SA Communist Party’s 11th Congress in a fighting mood on Wednesday, while the African National Congress sought to subdue tensions in the tripartite alliance.
Retired military generals and top ANC figures recently reached agreement on a form of extended amnesty.
The quest to empower blacks will be stepped up despite the pain this process might bring for some people, senior African National Congress figures said on Tuesday.
African foreign ministers were on Wednesday ready to begin refining the nuts and bolts for the launch of the African Union next week.