ANC Deputy President Paul Mashatile said the party will do everything in its power, to ensure that the tripartite alliance doesn’t collapse.
This as the South African Communist Party (SACP) said it’ll contest the 2026 elections independently from the ANC.
Mashatile was delivering the ANC’s message of support at the SACP 5th Special National Congress in Boksburg, east of Johannesburg.
The SACP is unhappy about the formation of the Government of National Unity (GNU), especially the inclusion of the Democratic Alliance.
Mashatile said the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) has been briefed by the SACP about its decision.
“As the NEC we said we respect the SACP to make that decision, and we would not stand on your way.
We said we as the NEC, once you’re done with the congress, the leadership will come to us, we’ll have a discussion.
We would then look at what are the implications, as we’ve worked together for many years in this format.
If the SACP is going to contest separately, what does it mean for the alliance, but all we know is that the alliance must not break,” said Mashatile.
In addition, Mashatile said both ANC and SACP leaders have agreed that no matter what happens, they would all continue to work in this alliance.
One of the SACP’s contentious issues, has been the reconfiguration of the alliance, which the ANC seems to have now agreed to discuss.
“After the January Lekgotla of the ANC, we would meet with the SACP to discuss how we go forward with the reconfiguration of the alliance.
I’m sure all of you would say, it’s long overdue.
The good news is that there’s no one in the ANC who’s against it,” explained Mashatile.
The Deputy President highlighted that the party had no choice, but to agree to a GNU, after its dismal performance in the May 29th elections.
He however assured delegates that the ANC will not abandon the national democratic revolution.
“We have decided that we would try and use it (GNU) to try to assist us to continue to advance the struggle to achieve a national democratic society, as envisioned in the Freedom Charter.
We want to ensure that whatever we do in this partnership or marriage, we must make sure that we stick to the manifesto of the ANC.
And I can say comrades without fear of contradiction, that the ANC will never betray our people, especially the poor and the working class,” added Mashatile.
