SACP Sets Conditions for Coalition Support with ANC

The South African Communist Party (SACP) has announced it will impose strict conditions before lending support to the African National Congress (ANC) in hung municipal councils. This development comes after the SACP's surprising performance in the local government elections, where it secured 230 municipal seats. The ANC, which lost majority control in over 100 municipalities, needs support from other parties to form coalition governments.

SACP central committee member Alex Mashilo stated that the party's campaign was focused on advancing its own interests, not those of the ANC. The SACP's decision to contest elections independently was driven by differences with its ANC ally. Mashilo emphasized that the party's vote was for the workers and the poor, not for another political organization. This approach is expected to influence the SACP's negotiations with the ANC on potential coalitions.

The ANC will require support from other parties, including the SACP, in municipalities like Buffalo City metro, where it lost majority control for the first time. In this metro, the ANC garnered 42% of the vote, while the United Democratic Movement (UDM) received 18.7%. The SACP emerged as the fifth-largest party with 4.46% of the vote. Mashilo indicated that the SACP's differences with the ANC would be a factor in their approach to coalition talks.

Mashilo outlined the SACP's non-negotiables, including the scrapping of tenders and the need for a developmental state with its own capacity. The party is unwilling to compromise on these issues, which are critical to its vision for a socialist South Africa. The SACP seeks to build a government that serves the people, rather than one that prioritizes private sector interests.

ANC head of elections Mdumiseni Ntuli responded to the SACP's stance, describing it as unfortunate. Ntuli argued that the ANC is not desperate to cling to power and is assessing developments with an open mind. He added that the ANC has not approached the SACP to discuss potential coalitions, and that there is no need for the SACP to outline conditions at this stage.

Mashilo revealed that the SACP's campaign was financially constrained due to donors being threatened not to contribute. As a result, the party had to fund its campaign from its own resources and those of its members. Mashilo suggested that parties that received funding may be obliged to provide favors to their benefactors once in office, highlighting the potential risks of external financing.

The SACP's conditions for supporting the ANC in hung municipal councils reflect its commitment to its core principles and vision for South Africa. The party's performance in the local government elections has given it a stronger bargaining position, and its approach to coalitions will be closely watched in the coming weeks.

Key points

• SACP sets strict conditions for supporting ANC in hung municipal councils
• ANC lost majority control in over 100 municipalities
• SACP secured 230 municipal seats in the local government elections