ANC reaffirms commitment to SACP ministers in the cabinet
The African National Congress (ANC) has made it clear that it will not remove ministers of the South African Communist Party (SACP) from the cabinet, despite the SACP’s decision to contest the 2026 local government elections alone.
The SACP is set to endorse its central committee’s decision to go it alone at the polls at its special congress in Johannesburg, which coincides with the ANC’s national executive committee (NEC) meeting at the same venue.
The ANC has also decided to postpone its decision on the fate of the Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provincial executive committees (PEC) after their poor performance in the recent elections until the first NEC meeting next year.
The ANC’s national working committee (NWC) recently met with the Gauteng PEC to discuss strategies to regain the majority in the province. Similar fact-finding missions have been conducted in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.
Options considered by the working committee include disbanding the PECs and replacing them with task teams to strengthen the ANC’s structures ahead of the 2026 local government elections.
Speaking to the media after the meeting with the Gauteng PEC, ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula stated that the decision on the two provinces’ fate will be finalized in January.
Mbalula outlined three options for the provinces: maintaining the status quo, providing reinforcements based on their needs, or a complete overhaul through disbandment. He emphasized the need for intervention to fix the ANC’s structures in the provinces.
While acknowledging the impact of the SACP’s decision to contest the elections on the alliance, Mbalula stated that the ANC will not remove ministers affiliated with the communist party from the government as it would be “unprincipled.”
The SACP’s decision to contest the 2026 elections was announced by general secretary Solly Mapaila, with the party intending to finalize the decision at its special congress. Despite this decision, the SACP has assured that it will not act in opposition to the ANC post-election.
Mbalula expressed concerns about the implications of the SACP’s decision on the alliance and stated that the ANC would do everything possible to address the situation. He emphasized the need for further engagement on the matter.
The ANC has been invited to deliver a message of support at the SACP’s upcoming congress, with Deputy President Paul Mashatile leading the delegation. Post-congress, a bilateral meeting with the SACP is scheduled for January to discuss the way forward.
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