South African Communist Party Stands Firm Against ANC Membership Pressure Ahead of 2026 Local Elections
The South African Communist Party (SACP) has declared that it will not allow the African National Congress (ANC) to force its members to choose between the two organisations before the 2026 municipal polls. At a media briefing on Thursday, SACP General Secretary Solly Mapaila characterised the ANC’s recent directive as a form of “bullying tactics” aimed at compelling dual‑members to abandon the communist party.
Background to the ANC Directive
Following a National Executive Committee meeting, the ANC resolved to enforce constitutional provisions that prohibit members from belonging to or supporting any other political party. Letters are set to be sent to cadres who hold dual membership in the SACP and the ANC, echoing the mechanism previously used to terminate former President Jacob Zuma’s membership after he formed the MK Party.
Mapaila described the move as “regrettable” and a “serious anti‑communist political manoeuvre” that threatens the historic alliance between the ANC, SACP and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU). He argued that the directive amounts to a unilateral reinterpretation of the tripartite relationship, reducing it to a one‑sided demand for loyalty without reciprocal respect.
“It aims to reduce a strategic relationship forged in battle to a demand for sustained support without reciprocity.” – Solly Mapaila, SACP General Secretary
SACP’s Response and Electoral Plans
In December 2024 the SACP formally resolved to contest the 2026 local elections under its own banner, marking a decisive break from decades of joint campaigning with the ANC. Mapaila stressed that the party would implement this decision “without fear” and urged members to remain disciplined, avoiding resignations or public statements made outside party structures.
He added that the answer to intimidation is not paralysis, and that the SACP will intensify its independent political and electoral programme while maintaining a moderate stance towards ANC members who choose to remain exclusively in the ruling party.
- SACP structures are to convene urgent meetings in all provinces, districts and branches.
- Senior leaders will be deployed to manage the fallout from the ANC’s directive.
- Political education campaigns will be expanded to explain the party’s electoral strategy and vision for local government.
- The party will support government appointees affected by the ANC directive and document any incidents of intimidation or disciplinary threats.
Broader Concerns Raised by Mapaila
While acknowledging the immediate tension, Mapaila warned that the real danger to South Africa’s democratic project lies elsewhere. He pointed to state capture, declining public trust, low voter engagement and deteriorating local governance as the core challenges that threaten the working class.
“The greatest threat is not that communists take part in elections. The threat is the capture of the state and the erosion of the trust of the working class,” he stated, urging all progressive forces to focus on systemic reforms rather than internal alliance disputes.
Sources and Further Reading
The remarks were reported by TimesLIVE on 20 March 2025. Additional context on the ANC’s constitutional provisions can be found in the party’s official constitution (Section 9.2), which outlines the prohibition on dual party membership.
For historical perspective on the tripartite alliance, see the South African History Online entry on the ANC‑SACP‑COSATU alliance.
