by TINTSWALO BALOYI
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – THE South African Communist Party (SACP) has sharpened its political and electoral strategy ahead of the local government elections, saying it will use an independent electoral contest to rebuild working-class political representation while remaining committed to the Tripartite Alliance.
The position emerged from the party’s 13th Plenary of the 15th Congress Central Committee, held in Johannesburg, where the leadership assessed the political, economic and international environment and the future of the National Democratic Revolution.
The SACP said its decision to contest the elections independently of the African National Congress (ANC) did not constitute a withdrawal from the Alliance but represented an exercise of its political and organisational independence.
The party has submitted candidate lists to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), fielding 4 418 ward candidates across the country while also contesting proportional councillor seats.
The SACP said its electoral intervention was driven by what it described as a crisis of working-class representation and the failure to reconfigure the Alliance around a commonly agreed programme.
It accused the government of increasingly accommodating policy positions associated with what it termed right-wing, conservative and neo-liberal forces.
The party said it wanted an Alliance in which all partners had a meaningful role in determining policy and strategic direction, with collective accountability and a stronger focus on the economic objectives of the Freedom Charter.
The SACP also expressed deep concern over the state of South Africa’s criminal justice system, particularly revelations before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into criminality, political interference and corruption.
It described the revelations as evidence of a deepening crisis involving criminal and mafia networks and called for a fundamental reconstruction of the policing and criminal justice system.
The party cited police figures showing 5 170 murders, 6 104 attempted murders, 30 489 assaults with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm and 6 596 rape cases during the April-June quarter.
It said crime was not simply a policing problem but was also linked to unemployment, poverty, inequality, corruption, organised criminal networks and the erosion of state capacity.
The SACP further called for action against gender-based violence and femicide, improved policing and stronger survivor-centred services.
On domestic legislation, the party rejected provisions in the Municipal Structures Amendment Bill that it believes could restrict freedom of association or predetermine coalition arrangements.
The SACP also welcomed the outcome of the Conference of the Left held in May, saying it would use its position as Convenor of the Council of the Left to deepen unity among progressive political parties, trade unions, community movements and other organisations.
Internationally, the party reaffirmed its solidarity with Palestine, Cuba, Venezuela, Iran, Sudan, the Sahel, Yemen and Lebanon, while supporting democratic forces in Eswatini.
It also called for the release of Zambian politician Bishop Trevor Mwamba and reiterated its opposition to what it described as imperialism, unilateral sanctions and neo-colonialism.
The plenary followed the SACP’s 105th anniversary celebrations and the launch of its 2026 local government election manifesto, signalling a more assertive phase in its campaign to expand working-class political influence.
– CAJ News