Despite their squabbling over the Government of National Unity (GNU), the ANC has confirmed that its Deputy President Paul Mashatile will lead the party’s delegation to the SA Communist Party's (SACP) special national congress.
The SACP is currently holding its fifth special national congress in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni, which will conclude on Saturday.
Mashatile will deliver, on behalf of the African National Congress (ANC), the message of support to the SACP, reaffirming the shared vision and commitment of the tripartite alliance to build a non-racial, non-sexist, and prosperous society.
“The message will emphasise the importance of unity and collaboration in defending democratic gains and implementing programs to address unemployment, inequality, and poverty,” the party said.
The ANC is attending the congress well aware of the agenda, which included reflections on the challenges facing the working class, the state of the alliance, and strategies to accelerate socio-economic transformation, it said.
The two organisations have been at loggerheads since the formation of the GNU, which included the Democratic Alliance (DA).
The SACP criticised the ANC for forming a GNU with the DA, the party they termed “capitalist racists” and “neoliberals.”
According to the SACP, the ANC betrayed the freedom fighters and also the black majority with the move.
In a media briefing on Wednesday, SACP general secretary, Solly Mapaila, said the party wanted the ANC-EFF (Economic Freedom Fighters) coalition instead of the ANC-DA “grand” coalition.
“The party that we said yes to was the EFF. We said no to the neoliberalism of the DA and no to the party of state capture, the [uMkhonto weSizwe] MK Party. We initially characterised MKP as the counter-revolutionary party," he said.
“We have no formal relations with the MK Party.”
Meanwhile, the SACP announced that it will contest the upcoming 2026 local government elections independently from the ANC.
The communist party said there was no turning back on this move.
IOL Politics