ANC‑SACP Tension Over Dual Membership Ahead of 2026 Local Elections
South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) and its historic ally, the South African Communist Party (SACP), are locked in a public dispute over the status of members who belong to both organisations. The controversy erupted after the ANC issued a directive requiring dual‑card holders to declare, within ten days, which party they will campaign for in the 2026 municipal elections.
Background of the Alliance
The ANC‑SACP partnership dates back to the struggle against apartheid, with the SACP agreeing in the early 1990s to forego independent electoral campaigns in exchange for influence within the ANC-led government. This arrangement, often described as a “vote‑for‑policy” pact, has allowed communists to hold senior ministerial posts while the ANC retained electoral autonomy.
Over the past three decades, the alliance has also included the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), forming the tripartite alliance that has dominated South African politics since 1994. However, shifting political dynamics and the rise of opposition parties such as the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) have strained the traditional cooperation.
ANC’s Directive and Legal Basis
On Thursday, the ANC’s national executive committee communicated a memo to all members who also hold SACP membership. The memo cited Article 5, Section 3 of the ANC Constitution, which prohibits members from “campaigning for or publicly endorsing any other political party” while remaining in good standing with the ANC.
The directive gave dual members a ten‑day window, starting from the date of the memo, to notify the ANC’s provincial secretariats of their electoral allegiance for the 2026 local polls. Failure to comply could result in disciplinary action, including possible suspension of ANC membership.
According to a report by Business Day (24 September 2025), the ANC leadership framed the move as necessary to uphold organisational integrity and to prevent mixed messaging during election campaigns.
SACP’s Response
SACP General Secretary Solly Mapaila rejected the ultimatum, describing it as a demand for “subordination” from an ally that receives nothing in return. In a press briefing on the same day, Mapaila stated:
“The ANC is asking us to choose sides while it continues to exercise its own independence freely. We have given up our own franchise for three decades to support the ANC; now they demand electoral submission without offering any reciprocal concession.”
Mapaila instructed SACP members not to comply individually and announced that the party’s central committee would deploy cadres to districts to assist those caught in the crossfire, particularly officials holding government positions, ANC offices, or public office.
The SACP also highlighted its historical role in the liberation movement, contrasting it with opposition parties that, according to Mapaila, have “fought against the liberation struggle in the past.” This rhetoric aims to frame the dispute as a defence of the alliance’s founding principles.
Implications for Senior Officials
The directive places several high‑profile leaders in an awkward position. Notable dual members include:
- Gwede Mantashe – Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources
- Buti Manamela – Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation
- David Masondo – Deputy Minister of Finance
These officials now face a choice between potentially jeopardising their ANC standing or defying the SACP’s collective stance. Political analysts warn that the situation could affect policy coherence within ministries, especially in sectors where the SACP has traditionally advocated for stricter state intervention and labour protections.
Broader Political Context
The dispute unfolds against a backdrop of declining ANC support in recent polls. According to the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) survey released in August 2025, the ANC’s national approval rating hovered around 42 %, its lowest level since 2009. Meanwhile, the SACP’s influence within the alliance has waned, prompting internal debates about the relevance of the tripartite arrangement.
Observers suggest that the ANC’s hard line may be an attempt to reassert control over its coalition partners ahead of the 2026 elections, where the party hopes to regain lost ground in key metros such as Johannesburg, Tshwane, and eThekwini. Conversely, the SACP’s resistance could signal a renewed push for greater ideological autonomy, potentially reshaping the alliance’s future structure.
Conclusion
The ANC‑SACP standoff over dual membership highlights the evolving challenges facing South Africa’s longstanding political alliance. While both parties invoke historical loyalty and constitutional provisions, the outcome will likely influence candidate selections, campaign messaging, and voter perceptions in the upcoming local elections. Stakeholders across government, civil society, and the electorate will be watching closely to see whether the dispute leads to a negotiated compromise or a deeper fracture within the tripartite alliance.
