The South African Communist Party (SACP), which has always sided with the African National Congress (ANC), has decided to contest the 2026 Local Government Elections (LGE), independently.
At its 5th Special National Conference, which is set for the next two weeks, SACP general secretary Solly Mapaila said on Sunday that the party will finalise the specifics of its independent campaign plan.
Bilateral talks with the ANC will continue and be reviewed in January, Mapaila added, even though the SACP told the ANC of its decision during a meeting last week.
“After the Special National Congress, the Political Bureau and the Central Committee will delve into tactical details towards the 2026 local government elections.
“Following our all-important bilateral meeting with the ANC on November 24, 2024, going forward our engagement will be firmly guided by the outcomes of our Special National Congress,” he said.
He described the main conclusions of the three-day Central Committee Plenary in remarks given at a post-plenary press briefing.
As the SACP has previously put up candidates in the Free State's Metsimaholo Local Municipality, this will not be the first time it has run an independent campaign.
Mapaila told the media that the decision to contest the elections was taken last year but decided to pause the move to support the ANC and also because of how the “imperialist forces” fought to bring the ANC down.
He agreed that the SACP will be on the ballot paper in 2026.
“We want to contest elections to win them and drive a radical social transformation agenda that can serve the interest of the majority of our people in this country and not the interest of the minority few, white racists and capitalists,” he said.
The general secretary, for several times now, has expressed disappointment with the ANC for joining hands with the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Government of National Unity (GNU).
But the two organisations met last week to iron out their differences, especially on the GNU matter.
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