ANC may accept SACP’s solo municipal election bid – Mbalula

By Simon Nare

The ANC is on the verge of conceding defeat in its efforts to discourage its ally, the South African Communist Party (SACP), from contesting state power in the upcoming 2026 Local Government Elections.

The party’s Secretary-General, Fikile Mbalula, told reporters at a post-NEC briefing on Wednesday that the SACP remains incredulous despite meetings and appeals from ANC leadership to work as partners.

Mbalula said the party may now have to accept that it cannot convince the SACP to reverse its special congress resolution.

In a special congress in December, the SACP raised frustration over its waning influence in government policy and called out the ANC for failing to select its candidates for positions in local government.

Mbalula warned that the ANC opposes the SACP’s decision to contest elections independently, saying the move could cost the party votes and further weaken its hold on power.

“All I’m saying