The South African Communist Party (SACP) says its decision to go it alone in the 2026 local government elections is a foregone conclusion, despite the party holding another bilateral meeting with the African National Congress (ANC) in January to discuss the decision.
This is according to SACP Secretary General Solly Mapaila, who was presenting the party’s Organisational Report at its 5th Special National Congress.
The congress is currently being held in Boksburg, east of Johannesburg.
The party is not mincing words on its decision to contest state power. The communist party says its move to contest the elections will foster the reconfiguration of the alliance, something the SACP has been calling for, for over two decades.
Mapaila says the alliance finds itself in this situation because of the weakness of the ANC leadership. He says contesting elections independently will free them from years of abuse by some in the ANC.
“We are not leaving the relationship but we are freeing ourselves from the abuse. We will now engage independently as an organisation. Therefore, comrades, because of these challenges that we are going through we will require maximum unity of the SACP structure, maximum unity, and respect for each other. Even those comrades who will refuse to leave and those who will not support the SACP campaigns, let’s not condemn them, allow them, that’s their choice, as long as they remain within the movement. Our struggle is one but is fought on multiple terrains and multiple fronts.”
‘No going back’
The SACP says the decision to contest alone has long been canvassed within party structures. This special congress will focus on the modalities of how the alliance will work going forward, and how to approach the 2026 elections.
Presenting his first Report at the Special National Congress since being at the helm of the party, Mapaila says his role is to implement the decision of the SACP gathering. He says there is no going back now and nothing will change the party’s position.
Mapaila cites what he calls the unfair treatment of some of the SACP leaders when it comes to deployment. He says in Gauteng Panyaza Lesufi is treated shabbily only because he is a communist.
Mapaila says their intention is not to weaken the ANC but to help strengthen it in order to serve the people. He says as a liberation movement, the ANC should improve the living conditions of the poor and the working class.
“We have no intentions to weaken the ANC. If there is anything we want to strengthen it. This loss highlights two things and the objective condition of where we have weak leadership when the living conditions of the people have worsened. When you are a liberation movement, you must use your power to improve the lives of your people.”
VIDEO | SACP General Secretary Solly Mapaila delivers the organisation’s political report:
