SACP Hosts First “Conference of the Left” to Unite Working‑Class Forces
On 29 May 2026 the South African Communist Party (SACP) convened its inaugural “Conference of the Left” at the Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre in Boksburg. The gathering brought together a range of political formations, civil‑society organisations and think‑tanks to discuss a coordinated agenda for the country’s poor and working‑class communities.
Background and Objectives
SACP General Secretary Solly Mapaila opened the proceedings, emphasising that the conference aimed to:
- Defend working‑class unity;
- Revitalise working‑class activism;
- Articulate objective, agenda‑based demands that reflect the material conditions of South Africa’s working class.
Mapaila stressed that unity should be grounded in tangible socio‑economic realities rather than “subjective factors and the interests of leaders.” He noted that the steering committee would continue to reach out to organisations that had initially declined participation, citing a recent amicable discussion with the South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) – the nation’s second‑largest trade‑union federation – which agreed to attend after expressing concerns about the original invitation format.
Key Speakers and Statements
Several prominent figures addressed the plenary:
- Solly Mapaila (SACP General Secretary)
- Called for humility among left‑wing forces, warning that no single organisation holds a monopoly on solutions to working‑class struggles.
- Julius Malema (Economic Freedom Fighters Leader)
- Described the ANC’s refusal to engage with independent left‑wing groups as a sign of “political uncertainty” stemming from the erosion of the ANC’s historical legitimacy. He warned that governing alongside parties historically aligned with white monopoly capital undermines claims to radical transformation.
- Tony Yengeni (uMkhonto weSizwe Party Deputy Leader)
- Urged participants to honour those who lost their lives in the liberation struggle, framing the conference as a living tribute to their sacrifice.
Malema further characterised the ANC‑DA relationship as a “profound ideological revelation,” arguing that it signals a shift toward neoliberal governance incompatible with genuine left‑wing principles.
Reactions from the ANC and Other Parties
ANC Secretary‑General Fikile Mbalula dismissed the conference as non‑left‑wing, asserting that its composition amounted to a “coalition of negation” united only by opposition to the ANC. He noted that the ANC’s own national executive committee had declined an invitation to a platform where it would have been allotted only five minutes to speak.
In response, Mapaila highlighted that the SACP had extended speaking time to all invited groups, countering claims of marginalisation. He urged other left‑leaning organisations to reconsider boycotts rooted in distrust, citing past instances where the SACP had engaged with the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) despite historical differences.
Outlook and Next Steps
The conference is scheduled to continue over the weekend in plenary sessions and thematic commissions. Organisers anticipate the adoption of a formal guideline by a newly formed Left Council, outlining mechanisms for future cooperation among progressive forces.
Mapaila concluded by framing the event as the beginning of a “new seriousness within the Left,” rooted in ideological clarity, strategic discipline, and a steadfast commitment to alleviating the daily violence of capitalism and imperialism faced by South Africa’s working masses.
Sources: TimesLIVE tweet (29 May 2026), statements by Solly Mapaila, Julius Malema, Tony Yengeni, and Fikile Mbalula as reported in the coverage.
