Nomvula Mokonyane defends ANC'S decision to sideline SACP from campaign talks.
A recent incident at an ANC election workshop in Mpumalanga has sparked renewed speculation about internal fractures in the tripartite alliance, after ANC’s first deputy secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane confirmed that members of the South African Communist Party (SACP) were removed from the session.
Responding to questions from eNCA, Mokonyane defended her actions and referenced the split that led to the formation of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) by former ANC president Jacob Zuma.
“We don’t want to be Zumafied,” she said. “We as the ANC appreciated the processes of the communist party to decide that they would be going alone.”
Mokonyane said the exclusion of the SACP was not unusual, and that the ANC was simply protecting its internal campaign strategies ahead of the 2026 elections.
” It’s not the first time this has happened,” she stated. “We cannot sit with people who are going to contest and target the same constituency with you. Planning with you on how to make sure that there is higher voter turnout, your candidate is the best candidate.”
Her remarks have drawn criticism and exposed rising tensions between long-standing alliance partners. The SACP’s decision to contest the upcoming local elections independently is seen by many within the ANC as a serious challenge to the traditional alliance framework.
ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has also expressed concern about the SACP’s independent campaign plans. He questioned the move during a recent press briefing, suggesting that political influence could be managed within the alliance — especially through deployment discussions.
NUM Slams ANC: “Childish and Divisive”
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), one of the alliance’s founding members through COSATU, has condemned Mokonyane’s actions. Incumbent NUM president Dan Balepile labeled the move “childish,” arguing that it betrayed the collaborative spirit of the alliance.
“It’s completely incorrect and mischievous to say we want to take power from the ANC,” Balepile said. “When you are realistic to what is happening to South Africa now, you will know for a fact there is no party who is in majority in terms of Johannesburg, eKurhuleni and Tshwane. It shows that going forward the ANC won’t get that majority again to rule.”
Balepile stressed that the SACP’s participation in the 2026 elections should not be interpreted as an act of betrayal but as a strategy to strengthen alliance representation.
“We want to occupy that space, if there is any coalition to be formed, at least it should be formed with alliance partners. Through alliance partners not the GNU set-up, including in the national government elections the ANC is not the majority, it’s a 39 percent party.”
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