The South African Communist Party (SACP) has confirmed it will contest the 2026 local government elections on its own, a move that signals a potential tripartite alliance showdown and has been met with warnings from senior African National Congress (ANC) figures, including former President Thabo Mbeki.
While the SACP insists it remains committed to the historic partnership with the ANC and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), its leadership has stated it will no longer tolerate what it calls the ANC’s “arrogance” and unilateral decision-making. The decision to go it alone stems from a congress resolution and is described by the party as non-negotiable.
SACP General Secretary Solly Mapaila emphasised the party’s position at a media briefing on Sunday, stating, “We will never accept unilateralism; we need collective engagement.” He confirmed the SACP is open to talks with the ANC, but not if the precondition is withdrawing from the elections. This firm stance highlights the deep-seated tensions within the tripartite alliance.
The move has prompted concern over the potential for confusion among voters and conflict on the ground. Political analyst Dr Levy Ndou explained that the alliance partners “share to a certain extent commonalities in terms of the constituencies.” He warned that the SACP campaigning in traditional ANC strongholds “could be other sources of conflict between the ANC and the SACP.”
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A crossroads for the alliance
The decision places the SACP at a critical juncture, facing significant logistical and financial hurdles. According to Dr Ndou, the party has a “very, very huge task” ahead. This includes establishing branches across all wards, securing credible candidates, and raising the necessary funds for a national campaign. “It’s not just about contesting elections, it’s about the capacity that the party is supposed to have that will make them relevant,” Dr Ndou stated.
Adding to the internal friction, the SACP recently removed ANC National Chairperson Gwede Mantashe from its Central Committee. The party cited his failure to attend three consecutive meetings without apology as the reason, insisting it was a procedural matter and “not a political purge.”
However, the timing of the removal has fuelled speculation about deeper ideological rifts, particularly as the SACP has been openly critical of the ANC’s Government of National Unity (GNU) with the Democratic Alliance (DA).
Despite the challenges and the clear strain on relations, the SACP maintains that the tripartite alliance is not dead. Mapaila has said the party is not “preoccupied with contesting the ANC which remains an ally.” However, with the 2026 elections on the horizon, the once-unbreakable bond between the liberation movements faces its most significant test in decades.
Image via Mail & Guardian.
