ANC issues ultimatum to SACP members amid alliance strain
via The Namibian9 min read
The ANC has given members who also belong to the SACP 10 days to declare which party they will campaign for in the upcoming local elections. This directive, announced by ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula, highlights the growing tension as the SACP plans to contest independently. The move creates a dilemma for prominent figures like Blade Nzimande, the SACP chairperson and a Cabinet minister, who would face the absurdity of campaigning for one party while holding a position in the other's government. Similarly, ANC Chair Gwede Mantashe, a former SACP chair, will now campaign against a party he once led. The long-standing alliance between the ANC and SACP, which dates back generations and played a crucial role in shaping the ANC and drafting the Freedom Charter, is now fracturing. The SACP's decision to go it alone comes despite a lack of clear electoral support and opposition from Cosatu, a traditional ally. However, internal SACP support for the move, a perceived shift of the ANC away from the political left, and a generational change in SACP leadership, particularly with Solly Mapaila, are cited as drivers. The SACP may also seek greater influence in a coalition-driven political landscape by holding a balance of power.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
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