SACP's Navigation of Complex Alliance Politics a Tough Task

Prof. Bheki Mngomezulu

The decision by the Central Committee of the South African Communist Party (SACP) to contest the upcoming 2026 Local Government Election (LGE) left many guessing about the future of this organisation.

Following this decision, the ANC has been working hard to convince the SACP to change its mind. Unfortunately, the SACP has dug its heels in, insisting that it will contest the LGE independently. This resulted in the ANC’s Secretary-General, Fikile Mbalula, conceding that the negotiations had failed. He continued to complain that this decision would lead to confusion regarding candidates.

Among other issues, the SACP complains about what it calls the ANC’s arrogance and its tendency to belittle other Tripartite Alliance partners. Secondly, the SACP blames the ANC for not consulting it as a partners when constituting the current multiparty coalition government. This is in addition to complaining about what the SACP calls the ANC’s liberal policies.

A few questions arise.

Firstly, what does the future hold for the SACP?

Secondly, what does the SACP stand for today? Does it still believe in socialism? If so, how feasible is it to push socialist ideas in a capitalist world when one has no financial backing? 

Thirdly, having been part of the Tripartite Alliance for so many years, how will the SACP market itself to the voters, especially those who despise the ANC and accuse it of having reneged on its promise to work for the people? 

Fourthly, does the party have the numbers to cause an upset in the ANC? Fifthly and lastly, will the party consider working with the ANC and other Alliance partners again after the ANC’s 2027 party elective conference?

All these are critical questions, especially since 34 new political parties have been registered by the IEC, pushing the number of registered political parties to 472. It is important to tackle each of these questions carefully since the SACP is in the limelight following the announcement of its decision to ditch the ANC in next year’s election.

On the first question, there is no simple or single answer. The future of the SACP will be determined by several factors. Among them is unity of purpose. If the party is not united, its decision could be tantamount to digging its own political grave.

Another factor is whether Cosatu will directly or indirectly put its weight behind the SACP or the ANC. Although the unemployment rate in the country is so high, there are many workers who participate in elections. Who they vote for dictates who wins the election.

The second question about the SACP’s identity is critical. Historically, the SACP has been known to be a socialist organisation. This socialist identity was overshadowed by the ANC’s capitalist approach dictated by geopolitics, global markets, and the business sector, which funds various political parties and clandestinely dictates South Africa’s economic path.

The third question speaks to the SACP’s political baggage. The party has been part of the Alliance with the ANC. If voters have issues with the ANC, will they trust the SACP now that it is going to contest the 2026 LGE alone? The SACP leadership must devise strategies on how it will defuse such a view within the electorate. This should include convincing voters that it had no power to influence ANC decisions on macro-economic policies.

The fourth question hits at the core of politics. As the saying goes, politics is a numbers game. Without numbers, there is no victory. Since the SACP does not have huge numbers, it remains unclear if those who have dual membership (ANC and SACP) will vote for the ANC or the SACP.

In this regard, the SACP might consider convincing Cosatu members to vote for it and do the same to ordinary voters who do not belong to any political party but have been voting for the ANC. Should it fail to sway voters, its mission will not be accomplished.

The fifth question regarding the post-2027 period speaks to the calibre of the current leadership of the ANC. If many of the concerns the SACP has raised have been caused by the current leadership, there is hope that the party might change its stance after the 2027 ANC elective conference. Should this happen, things would be different in the 2029 general election.

However, any change in the ANC will depend on whether the party has learnt from its mistakes or not. If it has learnt anything from the 2019 general election, 2021 LGE, and the 2024 general election, it will elect visionary leaders who place the interests of the country first, respect voters, and do not undermine those that they lead. Such a leadership would be devoid of the political arrogance the SACP accuses the current ANC leadership of.

Should the SACP decide to work with the ANC again, what would it take for it to reverse its decision? Probably, some of the current leaders will return in 2027. If that happens, the SACP will be obliged to assess them and establish the influence they had in the ANC, which resulted in them deciding to contest the 2026 LGE independently.

But even before going that far, it will be interesting to see how the ANC will handle its nomination process for the upcoming LGE. For example, will it be upfront and announce that it excludes those comrades who have dual membership just because the SACP has taken a firm position? If it does so, will that strengthen or further weaken the ANC and widen the gulf between itself and the SACP?

During times like these, astute leadership is a prerequisite. Leadership that is devoid of emotions is central. As some hint at the SACP’s existential crisis, others applaud it for its decision. Others approve of the SACP’s decision but argue that this is too little too late.

Whatever the correct interpretation of this situation is, one irrefutable fact is that the SACP must address existential questions following its decision to contest the 2026 LGE independently.      

* Prof. Bheki Mngomezulu is Director of the Centre for the Advancement of Non-Racialism and Democracy at Nelson Mandela University.

** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL, Independent Media or The African.