The South African Communist Party (SACP) is expected to use its 5th Special National Congress, scheduled for 12–14 December 2024, to finalize its manifesto for the 2026 local government elections.
The SACP, a key ally of the ANC and COSATU, has resolved to contest the elections independently.
The party has already informed the ANC of its intention to contest the elections independently.
In its discussion documents, the SACP highlighted a progressive agenda, including advocating for a basic income grant, expanding public employment programs, and opposing budget cuts.
The party is due to hold its 5th Special National Congress at the Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre in Boksburg on Wednesday.
Last week, ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula told reporters that the decision for the SACP to contest the elections had serious implications for the tripartite alliance.
He said the ANC would respect that the SACP was an independent organ but warned against it contesting the elections alone, adding that the parties would talk further about the decision.
“We had a bilateral with the SACP. They did raise the issue of going at it alone. We have agreed to continuously engage on this matter, including the modalities of that particular decision. A decision to contest elections is a decision of the communist party. They have got to examine it themselves and make a determination,” said Mbalula.
“In as far as how it will affect the alliance, it is a matter that we have agreed that next year we will talk about it but they informed us that they have taken a decision, and they are taking it to their congress. We will leave it there and then the ANC will discuss with them the implication of that decision in terms of its implementation.”
However, on Tuesday, NEHAWU’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) expressed unwavering support for the SACP’s decision to contest elections independently, stressing the need for a clear socialist platform that addresses South Africa’s socioeconomic crises.
NEHAWU said the CEC rejected claims that the SACP’s decision would cause divisions within the alliance.
“The CEC rejects the claim that the implementation of this SACP resolution is going to cause divisions in the name of dual membership. Our position of supporting the call for the SACP to contest elections by no means equate to a mechanical logic of ending the Alliance,” said NEHAWU in a media statement.
“Given the inherent diversity of political allegiances amongst our rank-and-file membership, the majority of whom support both the ANC and SACP, we believe that our principled stance that the SACP is our choice and the ANC is an option, would become ever more relevant in a scenario of the SACP directly and independently contesting elections.”
The CEC also called on the SACP to ensure its electoral platform and the campaign distinguishes itself from those of all other parties.
“The thrust of the party’s message must explain the root causes of the prevailing socioeconomic crises and the impossibility of the capitalist system to address its inherent fundamental contradictions without a revolution, whilst expressing the key demands of the working class and the poor and the necessity and possibility of an alternative organisation of society,” said NEHAWU.
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