SACP pushes back against ANC dual membership ultimatum

The General Secretary of the South African Communist Party (SACP), Solly Mapaila, has rejected the African National Congress’s (ANC) ultimatum to members holding dual membership in both alliance partners.

The ANC have given such members 10 days to indicate which party they intend to campaign for.

This comes as the SACP prepares to contest the upcoming Local Government Elections, a move it says it will pursue without fear.

Tensions between the two alliance partners escalated when the SACP rejected the Democratic Alliance (DA)’s inclusion in the Government of National Unity (GNU).

The ANC has warned that there will be consequences for members who fail to clarify which side of the fence they are on.

Mapaila says the SACP has never had a problem with the ANC contesting elections in its own right.

“The SACP has never regarded the ANC as an enemy, even for contesting elections in its own right. The SACP has never disciplined or threatened any of its members for participation in building, voting and campaigning for the ANC.

“The SACP has not only embraced the ANC contesting elections in its own right, but has also supported the ANC’s electoral contest. To the extent that the SACP even preserves its own right to contest elections directly in favour of voting for and campaigning for more votes beyond ours for the ANC within the framework of the alliance. ”

Mapaila says the ANC’s decision is a serious anti-communist political move with far-reaching implications.

“It seeks to reduce a historic strategic relationship forged in a bitter struggle for national liberation, with shared blood, sacrifice and shared battles, into a one-sided demand for subordination and permanent support from an ally, while never considering reciprocating the same support for a single moment, or literally a single second of time measurement.”

Mapaila made it clear that they strongly reject the ultimatum with the contempt that it deserves.

“We reject it not because we reject discipline. On the contrary, ours is a party of iron discipline. We reject it because no genuine alliance can be sustained on the basis of cohesion by one partner exercising its independence but coercing another against exercising its independence.”

He further reaffirmed that the SACP’s decision to contest elections will continue uninterrupted.

“No amount of administrative enforcement can resolve a political crisis whose roots lie in the lived reality of the people.”

ANC Secretary General, Fikile Mbalula, says the party’s NEC has resolved that the SACP will not participate in ANC election structures, processes, campaign activities or candidate lists.

“The NEC reaffirmed that the ANC Constitution is explicit in regulating conduct during elections,  providing that no member may stand for election, campaign or canvas in opposition to a candidate endorsed by the ANC.

“To ensure clarity, consistency and discipline across the movement, the NEC has directed that all ANC members, including those serving in leadership structures and public office,  must declare whether they will campaign for the ANC or any other political formation. Failure to do so will be interpreted as a commitment to campaign for the ANC in accordance with the oath of membership.”

Mbalula added that the election disagreement between the party and SACP does not signal the end of the alliance.

The SACP can’t expect its members who hold government posutions through an ANC ticket to not be fired for campaigning against the ANC.

They can’t have it both ways.

— Sentletse 🇿🇦🇷🇺🇵🇸🇱🇧 (@Sentletse) April 23, 2026

SACP members one down, 2 more to go🤔🤔🙈 remove yourself from ANC and be a loyal member of SACP or likewise. pic.twitter.com/oGew5UbNhC

— Judaeda Blanco (@Judaeda3) April 23, 2026

Who have thought that the SACP will dump the ANC? Pres Zuma was right!

— Stimela Ntshangase 🇿🇦🇶🇦🇲🇿🇰🇪🇷🇺 (@Stimela_Mgazi) April 23, 2026

SACP also want to control tenders and steal public funds.#ANC

— T.M (@tomasimalopa) April 23, 2026

Guys if SACP leaves ANC they getting 20% moes this coming elections

— Skattie (@Mmalenyalo_) April 23, 2026

He has some questions to answer though:

1. What is the status of the SACP?
2. What has been the contribution of SACP members in the decline of the ANC? Particularly those who serve all over government.
3. Is there a distinction in how SACP members in government behave vs ANC? https://t.co/JqMRXUebLV

— Ngwenya Nhlanhla (@NgwenyaNhla) April 23, 2026