ANC Declines Invitation to SACP Left‑Wing Conference Amid Growing Alliance Tensions
The African National Congress (ANC) has turned down an invitation to attend the forthcoming left‑wing conference hosted by the South African Communist Party (SACP), signalling a deepening rift within the country’s historic tripartite alliance. The decision was announced by ANC Secretary‑General Fikile Mbalula on Tuesday, who said the party had received the invitation but chose not to participate because the conference’s participant list did not reflect a genuinely left‑wing formation.
Background of the Tripartite Alliance
The ANC, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), and the SACP have formed the core of South Africa’s governing alliance since the early 1990s. A citizens’ organisation also participates in the coalition, which has traditionally coordinated policy and electoral strategy. However, recent developments have strained the relationship:
- The SACP announced it would contest the upcoming local elections in November 2024 independently, while insisting it remains part of the alliance.
- The ANC has criticised President Cyril Ramaphosa’s leadership for forming a national unity government that includes the Democratic Alliance (DA) after the 2024 national elections, arguing the party has aligned with an unsuitable coalition partner.
- The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) has accused the SACP of defending government policies that entrench austerity and has said it will not attend the conference.
Reasons Cited by ANC Leadership
At a press conference following the weekend ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, Mbalula elaborated on the party’s rationale:
“The composition itself is the political argument… An assembly that proposes gathering chambers of commerce alongside the Bolshevik Party, the uMkhonto weSizwe Party alongside Azapo and business formations alongside trade unions is not a left formation in the traditional sense.”
— Fikile Mbalula, ANC Secretary‑General
He described the SACP‑organised event as a “coalition of denial – united by what it stands against, namely the ANC in government – and unable to articulate the positive program that would see the working class and people advance under its banner.” Mbalula added that the conference amounted to a “political project in a theoretical guise.”
The ANC did, however, extend an invitation to the SACP leadership for a high‑level discussion on the underlying issues, framing it as part of the alliance’s standing discipline.
Conference Details and Expected Participants
The three‑day SACP conference is scheduled to begin on 29 May 2024 and is expected to draw more than 300 attendees. Confirmed participants include:
- Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party
- Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)
- Various trade union federations
- Think‑tanks and left‑wing activist groups
- Business formations and chambers of commerce
The ruling ANC was formally offered a short speaking slot to deliver a message of support, but declined. According to Business Day, some ANC NEC members expressed concern that attending the conference could be perceived as endorsing an opposition platform ahead of the local polls.
Implications for the November 2024 Local Elections
The public rejection of the SACP invitation underscores growing mistrust between the alliance partners as they prepare for the local government elections scheduled for November 2024. Analysts suggest that the SACP’s decision to run independently may fragment the left‑wing vote, potentially benefitting rival parties such as the DA and the EFF. Meanwhile, the ANC’s emphasis on maintaining a distinct ideological boundary aims to reassure its base that it remains the primary vehicle for left‑oriented policy, even as it navigates coalition governance at the national level.
As the political landscape continues to shift, both the ANC and the SACP will need to clarify their positions and strategies to retain voter confidence. The outcome of the upcoming local elections will likely serve as a bellwether for the future of South Africa’s tripartite alliance and the broader left‑wing movement in the country.
