PRETORIA, Gauteng — The South African Communist Party (SACP) has formally cemented its strategy to contest the upcoming November local government elections independently, signaling a bold new chapter in its relationship with the African National Congress (ANC). Rather than framing the move as a permanent exit, party leadership describes this independent local government elections bid as a necessary catalyst to force a reconfiguration of the alliance, a structural goal the party has pursued without success for over two decades.
Following a pivotal weekend central committee meeting, SACP Secretary General Solly Mapaila addressed the media, outlining a campaign centered on grassroots worker mobilization, aggressive anti-corruption measures, and crime prevention. The party has compiled a roster of approximately 4,400 candidates. Mapaila clarified that this list extends beyond traditional party members, intentionally incorporating community activists, traditional leaders, and faith-based representatives who share the SACP’s vision for municipal governance.
Independent political analyst Sipho Masigo suggests the SACP’s decision stems from a deep-seated frustration over being marginalized within the ruling coalition. According to Masigo, the communist party has repeatedly warned that the ANC fails to treat the alliance with mutual respect, particularly regarding labor rights, social welfare, and the fight against maladministration. A primary flashpoint remains the ANC’s coalition arrangement with the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus), which Mapaila has consistently opposed. Masigo highlighted recent friction, noting that the DA preemptively announced a cabinet reshuffle before the President, underscoring a lack of meaningful consultation and suggesting the coalition partners are effectively steering the government.
The analyst further noted that the ANC is navigating a complex ideological tightrope, balancing its socialist heritage with pro-capital governance. Masigo pointed to the economic policies championed by former figures like Pravin Gordhan and Tito Mboweni, which have historically drawn sharp criticism from the SACP. This ideological divergence was recently amplified by the SACP’s “Conference of the Left” in Birchwood, an initiative designed to consolidate progressive forces against rightward political shifts, including outreach to certain black organizations and the MK party.
The SACP’s solo electoral run places significant pressure on Cosatu and other alliance stakeholders. Masigo anticipates that labor federations will face a difficult choice in the coming weeks, a dynamic that risks further fragmenting the traditional black voting bloc. The political analyst also observed a conspicuous silence from prominent dual-affiliated figures like Jacob Mmamabolo and Gwede Mantashe, who have been notably absent from recent SACP mobilization efforts while retaining their government roles. Consequently, the SACP’s stance has reportedly ignited internal debates about whether members who secured public office through collective alliance campaigns should be removed from those positions.
With Cosatu scheduled to convene its Congress in two weeks to determine its political alignment, the SACP remains resolute. The party argues that this independent contestation is the only viable mechanism to resolve the current crisis of working-class representation, especially as unemployment continues to rise and workers increasingly question the tangible impact of their union affiliations.
Despite the political friction, Masigo cautioned that the SACP’s six-point manifesto may not drastically diverge from the ANC’s localized proposals. The SACP’s platform emphasizes the right to work, municipal decent employment, sustainable livelihoods, reliable public services with proactive maintenance, housing and land for social need rather than private profit, and councils free from tender corruption. While local government platforms universally prioritize basic service delivery—such as water, electricity, roads, and housing—the SACP distinguishes its approach through a heavier emphasis on minimum wage enforcement and regulatory adjustments concerning employer age demographics.
Regarding the SACP’s vocal opposition to the tender system, Masigo described the complete abolition of the process as highly ambitious and currently impractical. He noted that neither the ANC nor the SACP formally advocated for the removal of tenders at the most recent ANC conference. The reality, he explained, is that the state remains heavily dependent on private consultants and small businesses due to internal capacity deficits. Unless the government can cultivate a highly skilled public workforce capable of executing these projects internally, walking away from the tender system remains an unlikely prospect in the near future.
