SACP meeting ANC to establish blessing to contest 2026 local elections

JOHANNESBURG - The South African Communist Party (SACP) will meet the African National Congress (ANC) on Monday to find out whether it has its blessing to contest the 2026 local government elections alone.  

In 2024, the SACP congress resolved to contest the upcoming elections for the first time outside of its alliance with the ANC.  

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Since then, there have been mixed messages from its alliance partner, with ANC Deputy President Paul Mashatile saying the party respects the SACP’s decision.  

ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa previously warned the SACP that there would be dire consequences for both parties if it broke away from the alliance.  

SACP spokesperson Alex Mashilo said Monday’s bilateral with the ANC would clarify the matter.  

“So that we can continue our discussions on how best we can work together under the new circumstances, now given that the SACP has dedicated much of its political focus in electoral politics on supporting the ANC as an alliance partner and that the SACP will now be contesting elections.”