The African National Congress (ANC) and the South African Communist Party (SACP) have committed to reconfiguring and renewing their alliance following the May 2024 electoral defeat that resulted in the formation of the Government of National Unity (GNU)."

The decision seeks to strengthen the national democratic revolutionary front in South Africa.

The two parties held a bilateral meeting on Monday, led by ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa and SACP general secretary Solly Mapaila, to reinforce their long-standing relationship.

Both sides discussed how domestic, continental and global developments affect the lives of South Africa’s working class and poor minority, with an emphasis on economic and social transformation to tackle the country’s challenges.

“This strategic task requires a united, strong revolutionary movement,” the parties said in a joint statement.

“We discussed the implications for the alliance and reviewed the state of the National Democratic Revolution - our shared strategy of the struggle for liberation and emancipation, through transformation and development.”

The May 2024 general elections, in which the ANC was defeated and led to the formation of the GNU, topped the discussions.

Mapaila has repeatedly opposed the ANC-led GNU, especially its collaboration with the Democratic Alliance (DA), and has said the SACP will contest the upcoming 2026 local elections independently.

However, the parties emphasised the need to build unity among revolutionary forces and the broader democratic movement.

“The foundation of our constructive discussions is that the ANC and the SACP share common strategic objectives defined by the National Democratic Revolution and the need to defend, advance and deepen the revolution towards completing it,” the statement added.

The bilateral meeting reaffirmed both parties' commitment to the National Democratic Revolution and the alliance, a relationship forged in over more than a century of the struggle.

“The meeting agreed to establish a structured process to reassert the imperative of moving the National Democratic Revolution into a second, more radical phase - as part of our strategic objectives to defend, advance and deepen the revolution.”

The ANC and SACP agreed to initiate a joint alliance consensus-seeking democratic consultation, which included concerning alliance political council study sessions in economic policy, including fiscal, monetary, trade and industrial policy, and social policy.

These sessions are expected to culminate in the alliance summit later this year.

“The agreement to set in motion joint alliance consensus-seeking democratic consultation will cover - and thus take forward - the outcomes of our engagements on the reconfiguration and renewal of the alliance.”

The parties agreed that electoral strategy and tactics should be further considered by both the ANC and SACP, as well as the entire alliance.

They agreed first to inform their structures including the ANC's National Working Committee and National Executive Committee, and the SACP's Political Bureau and Central Committee, before the media.

This after SACP's December 2024 decision to contest the 2026 local government elections independently, citing the need for "working-class representation" in the country's economic, social, and political systems.

Mapaila has argued that the ANC's "moral and political decay" has made it uncertain whether the party will be able to form a government in the future.

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

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