SOUTH AFRICA — The South African Communist Party (SACP) is contesting local government elections for the first time, marking a historic shift in the country’s political landscape. SACP spokesperson Alex Mashilo addressed the media to discuss the party’s independent electoral strategy, the historical context of its alliance with the African National Congress (ANC), and pressing concerns regarding declining voter turnout.
Addressing the nature of the SACP’s electoral entry, Mashilo clarified that the party’s decision to run independently is not a “breakaway.” He emphasized that the SACP and the ANC were always independent organizations operating within an alliance. According to Mashilo, the SACP has reserved the right to contest elections since 1994 but previously favored an alliance electoral platform led by the ANC.
Mashilo explained that ideological developments since 1996 necessitated this strategic change. He pointed to a shift away from the left-leaning Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) toward the neoliberal Growth, Employment and Redistribution (GEAR) policy. This policy drift, combined with the reality of being excluded from post-election decision-making, prompted the SACP to exercise its reserved right. As a typical example of this exclusion, Mashilo cited the assembly of the Government of National Unity following the May 2024 national elections, where decisions were made without the SACP’s direct involvement or participation.
Regarding the initial voting results, Mashilo evaluated the success of citizens exercising their democratic rights. He noted that just over 1 million voters cast their ballots during the special voting period the previous day. On the main voting day, turnout figures reached between 11 million and 13 million voters by 5:00 p.m.
Despite these numbers, Mashilo highlighted a broader concern, stating that overall voter turnout has been declining significantly when compared to the total number of eligible registered voters. He noted that reversing this downward trend remains a major struggle for all political parties in South Africa.
To provide historical context, Mashilo compared current figures to the 1994 democratic elections, noting that the ANC alone secured 12 million votes with the support of the SACP and Cosatu. He argued that the current local government election turnout of 11 million represents a voting population smaller than the number of people who voted for a single organization in 1994.
Concluding his remarks, Mashilo framed the SACP’s entry into the electoral arena as a “rescue mission.” He stated that the independent campaign is designed to address both the declining electoral support for the ANC and the broader issue of voter apathy, ultimately providing a necessary alternative within the liberation movement that fought for democracy.
