The African National Congress (ANC) is poised for a critical gathering this weekend as its Special National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting takes centre stage. After previous postponements, the party’s highest decision-making body will convene between Saturday and Sunday in what many are dubbing a potentially transformative event for the party and its long-time alliance with the South African Communist Party (SACP).
At the heart of the discussions will be the state of local government and the complexities introduced by the SACP’s recent decision to contest elections independently. Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has already indicated that the SACP’s new electoral strategy complicates the relationship between the two parties, traditionally united under their tripartite alliance.
Mbalula states that the current situation brings into question the dual membership of individuals in both the ANC and SACP. He emphasises that if SACP members are actively contesting against ANC candidates in the upcoming 2026 local elections, it fundamentally alters the dynamics of shared election strategies and co-operation between the parties.
“It is not merely a matter of whether the ANC expels members for holding dual affiliation,” Mbalula said.
“Rather, it’s about the reality that those who stand as candidates against the ANC do so as adversaries. The SACP must comprehend that their decision to operate independently dilutes our collaborative strengths.”
On the opposite side of the debate, SACP General Secretary Solly Mapaila has fiercely defended the presence of dual membership, asserting that SACP members are concurrently ANC members. “If the ANC chooses to expel our members, that is their own decision,” he said. “But we are committed to our alliance, and we respect the role each party plays within it.”
As tensions rise, Mbalula denounces the SACP’s independent electoral ambitions as “the most disastrous decision” in the alliance’s history. He argues that this schism necessitates a thorough examination of their future collaboration, with the ANC preparing to outline its strategic course of action at the close of the meeting.
“We will share our perspectives with our membership in the coming week and explain the implications of this monumental decision,” Mbalula said. “The SACP’s actions do not align with the principles of the alliance, and we must reassess how we navigate our shared political landscape.”
This Special NEC meeting, however, will not solely focus on the SACP; it will also include a critical review of local government performance, culminating in a roll call meeting on Monday. Here, over 6,000 ANC councillors and mayors will present their progress since the 2021 local government elections – a necessary accountability measure given the growing public scrutiny of local governance.
As the political landscape shifts and the ANC grapples with unity amidst electoral tensions, this weekend’s NEC meeting will undoubtedly be a defining moment for the party and its strategic future. Stakeholders from across the political spectrum will watch closely, waiting to see how the ANC reconciles its past alliances with an increasingly competitive electoral environment.