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ANC and SACP alliance faces critical crossroads amid calls for reconfiguration and future direction

After several days of warnings issued to the ANC over its ‘weak leadership’, ANC deputy president Paul Mashatile says the party will not stand in the way.
ANC and SACP alliance faces critical crossroads amid calls for reconfiguration and future direction

“We have agreed that no matter what happens, we will continue to work in this alliance,” said Paul Mashatile, the deputy president of the ANC on Friday 13, December 2024 in Gauteng during the third day of a special congress of the South African Communist Party (SACP). 

The SACP’s special congress has taken place over the past few days, under the theme  “Consolidate and Build a Powerful, Socialist Movement of the Workers and Poor” — but at the same time, it will discuss and debate how it will contest elections. This move has been coming for years. 

On Wednesday, the opening day of the congress, party national chairperson Blade Nzimande claimed that “no one” wanted or bargained for the Government of National Unity (GNU). 

Read more: ‘No one wanted this’ – SACP’s Blade Nzimande on GNU as crucial congress begins

After days of commentary by SACP leaders on the party’s future and the societal context — with the GNU and the SACP’s unhappiness with certain parties within it, it was finally the ANC’s chance to respond to some of the issues raised. 

“As the NEC (National Executive Committee of the ANC), we said we respect the SACP to make that decision,” said Mashatile, adding: “We will not stand in your way.”

Mashatile said the ANC’s National Executive Committee said it would meet once the SACP finished the congress. 

“We’ll have a discussion because the National Executive Committee is meeting only next year,” said Mashatile, adding that the party would meet to discuss the implications since the parties had worked together under the banner of the Tripartite Alliance alongside the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu). 

“If the SACP is going to contest separately, what does it mean for the alliance? But all we know is that the alliance must not break,” said Mashatile. “We have agreed that no matter what happens, we will continue to work in this alliance.” 

Discussions must also include how the alliance would be reconfigured, said Mashatile, who added: “I’m sure all of you will say it’s long overdue.”

Chris Hani remembered


“So comrades as I end, let’s continue on our path. We must not be deterred, we must not defer the dreams of Comrade Hani,” said Mashatile in reference to the assassination of former SACP leader Chris Hani in 1993. 

Hani’s name had been in the headlines as his convicted killer Janusz Waluś was deported after the completion of his sentence. Hani was shot and killed outside his Boksburg home on 10 April 1993, in an attempt to derail South Africa’s attempt to transition peacefully from the apartheid regime to a democratic government. Despite Waluś’ conviction and jail sentence for Hani’s murder, the SACP has called for an inquest into Hani’s death.

Read more: Hani killer to be deported as parole comes to end

Mashatile said the ANC would also push for an inquest into the famed leader’s death, as well as who was behind the killing. 

Hani’s life was lauded as a guiding light in the Struggle against oppression. On Thursday, during the political report, SACP General Secretary Solly Mapaila said of Hani’s legacy that “his revolutionary ideas still call upon us to intensify the struggle for complete liberation and social emancipation and the realisation of socialism in our country… For us, Hani will never die.” 

Mapaila said the party would not rest until his vision for a just, equal and socialist society had been fully realised.

Why the decision to contest the elections? 


On Thursday, delivering his political overview, Mapaila also alluded to what led to the SACP’s decision to contest the elections. While this had been debated and questioned for more than a decade, there was a decision taken to support the ANC in the elections despite several attempts for meetings to discuss issues within the alliance. 

During his speech, Mapaila said part of him was “bleeding” because the “weakness in leadership had led us to this situation”, which in part led to the SACP’s decision to contest elections on its own. 

“The arrogance of political power has led to this decision,” said Mapaila. DM

Comments (5)

tloulamola8@gmail.com Dec 15, 2024, 02:56 PM

If SACP stick to thier policy to fulfill what struggle meant for will definitely join forces with EFF and forget about sellout Anc especially if they don't want to change the behavior and support of white Monopoly CAPITALIST system that continue to make plp of these country poor vulnerable

Andre Swart Dec 15, 2024, 12:13 PM

The majority of the communist comrades departed from the ANC to join MK of Jacob Zuma. Those SACP comrades inside MK already voted AGAINST the ANC on 29 May 2024. Don't let the SACP propaganda fool you ... they already betrayed the ANC!!!

Johan Buys Dec 14, 2024, 09:31 AM

The communists will secure very few votes. The bigger problem for ANC is Cosatu. Look at the disparity between the average R1.4m packages of government middle management and the R150k packages of workers and explain to me how Cosatu justifies being in an alliance with the ANC?

Noelsoyizwaphi@gmail.com Dec 14, 2024, 10:04 AM

With the advent of MK, further proliferation, no matter the size, is a big headache to the ANC. Imho: Cosatu shouldn't be in alliance with apolitical party. Policies aimed at appeasing Cosatu have continued to hamstring economic growth

Noelsoyizwaphi@gmail.com Dec 14, 2024, 09:00 AM

SACP contesting elections separate from anyone, I don't think so. With all the talk about ANC having sold out by joining hand with DA, it's highly likely that SACP will jump off ANC bed straight into MKP' s bed. Individual leaders of the SACP know how to look out for their pockets.

Gugu1 K Dec 14, 2024, 10:56 AM

But the MKP are fascists! However, stranger things have happened. Remember the Hitler-Stalin Pact?

Tim Bester Dec 14, 2024, 07:51 AM

I love it when the cadres fight each other; may they all lose!

jackt bloek Jan 10, 2025, 08:02 PM

we tried this for 30 years the DA has been trying to destroy the ANC from Mandela and Mbeki years to get into power and this hurt reconcilation, developmet and now whole of South Africa is losing