Thabo Mbeki Advocates for SACP Participation in National Dialogue Amidst Tripartite Alliance Tensions

In a significant political development, former South African President Thabo Mbeki has called on the South African Communist Party (SACP) to actively engage in a national dialogue aimed at addressing key societal issues and ensuring robust representation for the working class. This appeal was made at the SACP’s fifth special national congress held in Boksburg, which saw participation from over 570 delegates.

Mbeki’s push for dialogue comes at a critical juncture when the longstanding tripartite alliance, consisting of the African National Congress (ANC), the SACP, and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), appears to be fraying. The SACP has expressed dissatisfaction with the ANC, criticizing its handling of policies and accusing it of excluding the Communist Party from essential decision-making discussions.

At the congress, Mbeki highlighted the urgency of the planned dialogue, scheduled for 2025, which aspires to include a wide array of voices from political, civil, and grassroots communities. This initiative, coordinated by foundations such as the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, aims to address pressing issues like poverty, unemployment, and racial inequality. The National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) will also play a crucial role in facilitating these conversations.

Despite agreeing to mobilize its grassroots for the dialogue, the SACP remains steadfast in its decision to contest the 2026 local government elections independently, signaling a potential shift in the political landscape. This decision underscores a growing desire within the SACP to establish itself as a formidable force in local governance, independent of the ANC’s influence.

Solly Mapaila, General Secretary of the SACP, argued that the party’s decision to seek autonomy was not an act of defiance against the ANC but a necessary step to end the perceived marginalization within the alliance. He emphasized the importance of representing the working class and the poor, whose interests the SACP vows to champion moving forward.

Meanwhile, Cosatu has shown support for the SACP’s electoral ambitions, reflecting broader discontent with the ANC’s recent political maneuvers, particularly its collaboration with the Democratic Alliance in the Government of National Unity. This collaboration has sparked concerns about ideological compromises, especially relating to labor and health policies that are crucial to the alliance’s core constituency.

In response, ANC Deputy President Paul Mashatile acknowledged the fractures within the alliance and expressed a commitment to repairing trust and unity among the member parties, emphasizing that the alliance’s primary goal remains the representation and upliftment of the working class and marginalized groups.

As the political drama unfolds, the strength and coherence of the tripartite alliance, which has been a cornerstone of South African politics since the 1990s, are being tested. The outcomes of these developments could significantly influence not just the upcoming local elections but also the broader political trajectory of the country.