ANC and SACP in critical talks to reverse election strategy shift

The African National Congress and the South African Communist Party are currently in a bilateral engagement at Chief Albert Luthuli House.

The meeting is believed to be a final push for the ANC to win over its alliance partner, the SACP, before the upcoming local government elections, following last year's announcement by the SACP that it intends to contest the elections independently from the ANC.

On Monday, the ANC confirmed that the meeting is aimed at finding ways to reverse the SACP’s recent decision to contest the upcoming local government elections independently.

The primary focus of this meeting is to address the SACP's recent announcement to contest the upcoming local government elections independently, a decision that underscores escalating tensions within the alliance.

During a media briefing ahead of the meeting, ANC deputy president Paul Mashatile articulated the importance of this engagement, stating, "The meeting forms part of ongoing efforts to consolidate the unity of purpose in advancing the National Democratic Revolution." His comments highlight the ANC's commitment to preserving the collaborative spirit that has historically underpinned the alliance between the two parties.

The SACP's decision to stand alone in the forthcoming 2026 elections marks a remarkable departure from its traditionally close relationship with the ANC. This shift has been influenced by ongoing frustrations regarding what critics describe as the ANC's perceived arrogance and its failure to honour commitments within the tripartite alliance, which also includes the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU).

SACP National spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu discussed the necessity of the meeting, stating, "We are meeting with the communist party to evaluate the state of the alliance and the resolution of the SACP to contest elections independently. More importantly, we aim to safeguard this revolutionary and historic alliance, which was established not for convenience but to ensure an end to colonialism and pursue a national democratic society."

For SACP Secretary General Solly Mapaila, the event is not just a formality but an urgent response to what he has termed the ANC's "sellout" of the revolution, particularly following its coalition with the Democratic Alliance (DA) and others in the Government of National Unity (GNU). This sentiment has intensified calls for a reassessment of the alliance's future and its foundational principles.

The key figures attending this important meeting include ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula, Deputy President Paul Mashatile, ANC Chairperson Gwede Mantashe, and Blade Nzimande from the SACP. Their presence has underscored the ongoing tensions currently at hand and the potential consequences for the broader political environment in South Africa as the 2026 local government elections loom closer.