MBABANE:The South Africa Communist Party (SACP) says that although it intends to contest the next elections as an independent party but, will not act in opposition to the African National Congress(ANC) in the post-election phase, the Mail and Guardian reported on Friday.
It has been reported that, SACP General Secretary Solly Mapaila announced on Sunday that the party had decided to contest the 2026 local government elections, saying this would be finalised at its special National Congress in Boksburg next week.
The decision could have serious implications for its alliance partner, the ANC, which has cautioned the SACP against taking such an initiative.
SACP spokesperson Alex Mashilo told the Mail & Guardian this week that the party was not contesting against the ANC.
“The ANC is our ally. We are not contesting the ANC. We are not an opposition to the ANC. What we are doing here is just to exercise the democratic right that the SACP has as a political party, this time around to implement contesting elections,Mashilo told the Mail and Guardian.
Sacp Briefs The Media On Outcomes Of Augmented Plenary At Cosatu House Red flag: South African Communist Party general secretary Solly Mapaila. Photo: Luba Lesolle/Gall Images