ANC members, Blade Nzimande and Gwede Mantsahe during bilateral engagements with SACP at Chief Albert Luthuli House. Image: MyANC/X
ANC says it is now “in a position to communicate further” with its alliance partner, SACP. Both parties are revisiting the state of their historic relationship. They are also reconsidering the SACP’s decision to contest elections independently.
This was announced during a doorstep media briefing. ANC met with its alliance partner, the South African Communist Party [SACP], at Luthuli House in Johannesburg.
ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu said the bilateral aims to analyse the nation’s state, focusing on geopolitical developments.
“We are meeting with the Communist Party to review the state of the alliance. We will examine the position and the resolution of the SACP to contest elections independently. More importantly, we will look at how to safeguard this revolutionary and historic alliance. It was not established for convenience. Instead, it was formed out of the necessity to ensure an end to colonialism. It was also created to pursue the struggle toward a national democratic society,” she said.
SACP spokesperson Mbulelo Mandlana said the focus of the discussions is the health of the alliance.
“Our common program, the National Transformation Project—what are we doing? What positive steps are we taking? What are the challenges, and what are the weaknesses? The Communist Party has its own position on that. The ANC is expected to have a position as well,” he said.
Focus on Alliance Strength, Not Elections
Mandlana said the meetings were not about the local government elections.
“It’s about strengthening the alliance, discussing the contemporary political issues, because the alliance is not really just concerned. Of course, it may be topical for news headlines. For our operations in the alliance, we have broader concerns. We need to think beyond just the Communist Party participating in the local government elections next year. It’s also about the work we share, which involves pursuing our national revolution. So that is an important issue,” he said.
Image: @MbalulaFikile/X
He explained that the Communist Party and the ANC are already collaborating. They are working together in a smaller committee focused on shaping their election strategy. He added that this matter won’t be treated as a separate topic, since all related issues are being considered collectively.
Mandlana stated the ANC has an official position. Its members would choose a different approach to the elections concerning the party.
“They have said they respect the decision of the party. At the same time, they acknowledge the party’s path. Regarding the future of the alliance, this is a matter that we, as the Communist Party, are committed to defending. The alliance is not founded on a commonality of approach to elections. This includes the presence or absence of each of the parties on the ballot,” he said.
He added they are focused on strengthening their position for 2026. They are also reinforcing relations with allies, particularly the ANC. This aims to protect their shared program before and after elections.
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