By Nkosana Khumalo
The South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) in KwaZulu-Natal has announced its decision to sever ties with the African National Congress (ANC) in the province, citing a breakdown in communication and a “dysfunctional” alliance. This move marks a significant shift in KwaZulu-Natal’s political landscape, as SANCO, a long-time ally of the ANC, steps away from its partnership with the ruling party over unresolved grievances.
In a letter dated 9 November 2024, SANCO KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Secretary, Cde Sizwe Cele, addressed ANC Provincial Secretary Bheki Mtolo, expressing SANCO’s frustration with the lack of cooperation from the ANC. The letter revealed that SANCO and other alliance partners, including the South African Communist Party (SACP) and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), have made multiple attempts since the beginning of 2023 to engage the ANC in alliance meetings. However, Cele stated that the ANC had not responded to these requests, leading to a sense of disenfranchisement within SANCO.
The letter emphasised SANCO’s position, stating, “Cde Mtolo, it is an open secret by now that the Alliance in KwaZulu-Natal is dysfunctional, thus non-existent. Numerous attempts have been made by all the other Alliance partners (SACP, COSATU and SANCO) to have Alliance meetings with the ANC KZN, since the end of the year 2023, however nothing has been forthcoming.”
Frustration Over Lack of Communication and Unity
The letter from SANCO highlighted the organisation’s discontent with the ANC’s handling of the alliance in KwaZulu-Natal. Cele expressed that SANCO had hoped the ANC would work to restore the strength of the alliance, but instead, it seemed to ignore SANCO’s efforts, straining the relationship further. “There is nothing that the ANC KZN has done to signal that it has intentions to get the Alliance working again; instead, the ANC KZN strains the Alliance relationship even further,” Cele noted.
The communication issues reached a tipping point when SANCO, alongside other alliance partners excluding the ANC, held a media briefing on 13 June 2024. This briefing, as outlined in Cele’s letter, served as a public expression of SANCO’s dissatisfaction with the ANC’s leadership in the province and its lack of willingness to address alliance concerns.
Decision to Cut Ties and End Collaboration
SANCO KwaZulu-Natal’s Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) recently held a meeting to discuss the future of the alliance and concluded that the relationship with the ANC had become untenable. The PEC felt that the ANC’s approach was “arrogant and factional,” leading to a unilateral decision to end collaboration with the ANC. “The PEC concluded that it is cutting ties with the ANC KZN with immediate effect,” Cele stated.
The letter went on to clarify SANCO’s stance, indicating that the organisation would no longer participate in ANC programmes, nor would it invite the ANC to any SANCO initiatives. This decision is expected to have far-reaching implications for both organisations, as the alliance has historically been a platform for promoting shared political objectives in KwaZulu-Natal.
Ongoing Commitment to Other Alliance Partners
Despite the decision to distance itself from the ANC, SANCO reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining relationships with other alliance partners, specifically the SACP and COSATU in KwaZulu-Natal. Cele underscored SANCO’s dedication to its “revolutionary Alliance with the SACP KZN and COSATU KZN,” demonstrating SANCO’s resolve to continue working towards common goals with other like-minded organisations.
To address the alliance challenges at a national level, SANCO KwaZulu-Natal has escalated the matter to the SANCO National Office through the General Secretary’s Office (GSO), seeking to engage with the ANC’s national leadership. This move indicates that SANCO hopes for a broader resolution, although it remains uncertain whether the national ANC will intervene to mend the fractured alliance in KwaZulu-Natal.
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