The South African Communist Party (SACP) in the Western Cape has spelt out which parties it will not go into coalition talks with as the 14-day deadline for electing councils after the 2026 local government elections draws to a close.
Speaking at the SACP’s Augmented Provincial Executive Committee meeting in Bellville South, the SACP Western Cape Provincial Secretary Benson Ngqentsu says the work of their 7 councillors elected across the province’s 5 local municipalities will be guided by their elections manifesto.
“And then develop a complete plan which is going to guide our 7 councillors who will be serving in 5 municipalities in the province and the guidance is derived from our manifesto. The communist party is not going to work with the neo-liberal DA, the communist party is not going to work with the right wing Freedom Front Plus under any circumstances. Equally, we are not prepared to work with tainted political parties who are responsible for collapsing Knsyna Municipality and collapsing TWK.”
Ngqentsu spelt out the SACP’s plans for the 2029 general election which he says they will contest, despite being removed by the ANC as its deployee to the Western Cape Legislature, weeks before the 2026 local government elections.
“Let me make this point that: I was never a casualty, that is why we describe my removal and the removal of others as a badge of honour because, we were removed based on what we stand for. For 2029: we used these elections as a moment to build what we describe as a red base for people’s power, upon which we prepare for the 2029 general elections and also the next local government elections.”
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“We are going back to the people who voted for us and take them through our programme beyond elections and prepare them accordingly for the 2029 general elections; there is no turning back. We are using this moment to reassert working class leadership and voice in municipal councils, as well as in provincial and national legislatures,” explains Ngqentsu.
Ngqentsu gave the assurance that the SACP remains in alliance with the ANC, despite contesting an election for the first time since the dawn of democracy in South Africa.
“The Tripartite Alliance – constitutive of the ANC, of the Communist Party, of Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and of South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) – is in tact and it is undergoing what we define as reconfiguration as the basis to ensure that: all organs of the alliance play a significant role in the …. national democratic revolution,” explains Ngqentsu.
The 14-day Council Constitution Window is expected to end around November 25th, which is when councils are expected to elect mayors, speakers, executive committees and ultimately conclude coalition negotiations processes.