Cape Town – Tensions between the ANC and the SACP have escalated after the SACP decided to contest the upcoming local government elections independently for the first time.
This has led the ANC to exclude SACP members from its election strategy meetings, with President Cyril Ramaphosa urging members who may face conflicts of interest to recuse themselves.
“As we continue to persuade each other, we will need to request SACP members who have been participating in our joint elections structures to recuse themselves,” said Ramaphosa.
ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa says the NGC has resolved that SACP members serving on the ANC’s election committee should recuse themselves.
This follows the SACP’s decision to contest future elections independently.#ANCNGC2025 pic.twitter.com/gvHg0sMr6O
— Jacaranda FM Newswatch (@JacaNewswatch) December 11, 2025
“All we are saying is that as we continue to engage, particularly on our strategy and tactics for running the elections, they should recuse themselves, and may I add that a number of them themselves feel that they are going to be conflicted, and they are recusing themselves until we solve this problem.”
Ramaphosa stressed that despite the disagreement, the ANC remains committed to the tripartite alliance and called for urgent talks to restore unity, avoid confusion, and maintain cohesion among party members.
ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu said the SACP had access to the ANC’s election strategy since April and that the party remains focused on winning the 2026 elections.
SACP deputy secretary-general Madala Masuku warned that excluding SACP members could create further confusion, noting that over 300 ANC members also belong to the SACP, and called for discussions to resolve the issue.
The South African Communist Party’s decision to contest elections on its own continues to threaten the stability of the tripartite alliance. The party is now hitting back after the ANC concluded its NGC in Boksburg this week by announcing that SACP members will be excluded from… pic.twitter.com/72sLzecJeR
— eNCA (@eNCA) December 12, 2025
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
