Ramaphosa 'concerned' as SACP eyes 2026 polls amid tension

ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa says the party is struggling to understand the decision by the South African Communist Party (SACP) to contest the upcoming 2026 local government elections independently.

- SIMON MAJADIBODU

“The National Executive Committee (NEC) took time to have an in-depth discussion on the decision of the South African Communist Party to contest the forthcoming elections independent of the ANC,” he said.

Ramaphosa made the comments following the conclusion of the party's four-day NEC meeting at the Germiston Civic Centre on Monday.

“We recognise that the South African Communist Party is an independent political organisation that has the right to contest elections as it sees fit,” he said.

He added that the ANC has no desire or intention to interfere with the SACP’s decision, but “as we have indicated to the South African Communist Party, our ally, we disagree with the decision”.

“We believe that this decision has fundamental implications for the strategy and programme of the National Democratic Revolution and the alliance that has led the struggle for liberation in our country since the 1920s,” he said.