SACP’s Masuku
The South African Communist Party (SACP) SACP First Deputy General Secretary Madala Masuku has confirmed that African National Congress (ANC) national chairperson Gwede Mantashe is no longer a member of its Central Committee, after missing multiple meetings without apology.
Procedural Removal Highlights Internal Discipline
However, the party clarified that Mantashe remains a member of the SACP. Speaking at a media briefing in Johannesburg on Sunday, SACP First Deputy General Secretary Madala Masuku said Mantashe was removed due to non-compliance with the party’s constitutional requirements.
“Yes, it’s true that comrade Gwede Mantashe is not part of the Central Committee anymore. But he is still a member of the party,” Masuku said. He explained that the SACP constitution states that members of the Central Committee who fail to attend more than three consecutive meetings without valid reasons or formal apologies are disqualified from continuing in their roles.
“Comrade Mantashe consistently missed meetings. When spoken to, he explained he was dealing with a complex situation within the ANC. We understood that. But the issue was that he was not sending any apologies,” Masuku said. He added that the party made attempts to persuade Mantashe to stay engaged, but the efforts were unsuccessful.
“Even after several attempts to persuade him, there was no change. As a party, we are taught to respect the collective. Because he did not honour that principle, the Central Committee had no choice but to release him so that he could focus on his responsibilities in the broader liberation movement,” said Masuku.
The SACP said that Mantashe’s roles as ANC national chairperson and Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources within the Government of National Unity (GNU) leave him with little time. “He has a lot of challenges in the liberation movement and in government. Let’s give him that space…but this was not a political purge. We don’t operate like that,” Masuku said.
The decision to remove Mantashe comes amid growing tensions between the SACP and its long-time ally, the ANC. The SACP recently confirmed that it will contest the 2026 local government elections independently and will not support the ANC’s candidates. The party has been openly critical of the ANC’s decision to enter into a GNU with the Democratic Alliance (DA), which the SACP argues does not represent the interests of black South Africans and the working class.
According to reports, Mantashe’s removal was influenced by broader disagreements over ideology and electoral strategy. However, the SACP has insisted that his dismissal was purely procedural.
On Saturday, media reported that SACP general secretary Solly Mapaila criticised the ANC’s “arrogance” and failure to take the alliance seriously. Speaking at the Central Committee meeting in Braamfontein, Mapaila said the decision to contest elections independently was made at the party’s national congress – and is irreversible, even by him or the Central Committee.
“We had an opportunity to manage things differently, but the ANC was arrogant. Even in meetings, they didn’t take our proposals seriously,” Mapaila said. He said the SACP had been pushing for a “reconfiguration” of the alliance with the ANC and COSATU since 2019 – calling for a more equal, respectful partnership, but those calls were repeatedly ignored.
“They accused us of trying to destroy the ANC just because we wanted to change how we work together. That shows they weren’t serious about the alliance,” he said.
Mapaila admitted that contesting elections will be financially challenging for the SACP. “We don’t have money, and that’s the reality. But we’ll still run. The people will respond to this challenge. We’ll focus on community-based campaigns,” he said. He said the communist party remains optimistic that support from working-class communities will help the SACP make electoral gains, even without significant funding.
MK Party’s Role in Widening Alliance Cracks
The emergence of Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has further strained the alliance, drawing away disgruntled ANC supporters and complicating the political landscape. In the 2024 elections, MK secured 14.58% of the vote and 58 seats, becoming the third-largest party and official opposition in KwaZulu-Natal. This shift has weakened the ANC’s dominance, forcing it into the GNU with parties like the DA, a move the SACP sees as a betrayal of working-class interests.
Mantashe, a vocal critic of the SACP’s independent election plans, had warned that going solo could lead to the party’s irrelevance. His removal is seen by some as retaliation amid these ideological clashes. The SACP’s push for reconfiguration since 2019 highlights long-simmering frustrations, now amplified by MK’s success in attracting left-leaning voters disillusioned with the ANC.
For those unfamiliar, the tripartite alliance—ANC, SACP, and COSATU—has been the backbone of South Africa’s governing coalition since 1994. However, policy differences, especially on economic transformation and coalitions, have eroded unity. The GNU, excluding radical voices like the EFF and MK, has deepened the divide, with the SACP viewing it as a rightward shift favouring capital over workers.
Implications for 2026 Elections and Alliance Future
The SACP’s independent run in 2026 could split votes in key areas like Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, potentially benefiting opposition parties or MK. Mapaila’s emphasis on grassroots campaigns signals a strategy to mobilise working-class bases, but funding shortages pose risks. The party has contested before, like in by-elections, but a full-scale effort is uncharted territory.
Mantashe’s ouster raises questions about dual memberships in the alliance. As ANC chair and minister, his SACP ties were symbolic, but his absence from meetings reflects competing demands. Analysts suggest this could lead to more exits, weakening the alliance further.
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