Cape Town – The SACP has accused the ANC, including President Cyril Ramaphosa, of dishonesty in secretly negotiating a coalition agreement with the DA while sidelining the SACP and sabotaging efforts to form an alliance with the EFF.
According to The Citizen, SACP general secretary Solly Mapaila criticised the ANC for pursuing a DA-led government of national unity (GNU), allegedly influenced by big business, instead of a coalition with the EFF and smaller parties.
Mapaila claimed the DA’s neoliberal, capitalist agenda was incompatible with the SACP’s socialist values.
Despite tensions, the SACP said it will not leave the ANC-led tripartite alliance but will contest the 2026 elections independently to reassert its autonomy and push for a reconfiguration of the alliance to ensure equal decision-making power.
Speaking at the end of their Central Committee meeting last week, Mapaila said that the specifics of the SACP’s independent campaign will be finalised at its 5th Special National Conference in two weeks.
According to SABC, this was not the party’s first independent electoral effort, having previously fielded candidates in the Metsimaholo Local Municipality in the Free State.
Mapaila confirmed that the SACP had formally communicated its decision to the ANC and will further discuss the matter during bilateral talks in January.
“We had indicated to the ANC that we have taken a decision to contest local elections as the SACP. So, officially and formally now this has to the ANCbeen communicated,” he said.
Mapaila revealed that the decision to contest elections independently was made last year but was postponed to support the ANC and counter efforts by “imperialist forces” seeking to weaken the ruling party, IOLreported.
“We want to contest elections to win them and drive a radical social transformation agenda that can serve the interest of the majority of our people in this country and not the interest of the minority few, white racists and capitalists,” he said.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
