SACP ‘walked away’, Mantashe says at ANC manifesto launch

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The ANC has, for the first time, left the SACP out of its official programme at its manifesto launch after a fallout over its decision to contest elections independently of the tripartite alliance.The SACP was excluded from the usual messages of support delivered by the alliance partners at each ANC event. Only Cosatu and Sanco were recognised.This could be described as the clearest indication that the decades-old relationship between the ANC and the SACP has officially collapsed.It comes after the SACP under the leadership of Solly Mapaila decided to contest the elections on its own. Historically, the SACP, along with the rest of the alliance, joined the ANC’s campaign trail. For the first time, the SACP will now be heading to the elections as an opposition party.ANC national chairperson Gwede Mantashe, who runs ANC events, said the SACP was excluded from the programme and the overall event as they decided to walk away from the alliance.Scenes at the ANC Manifesto Launch in Riverside, Diepsloot, Johannesburg.Video: Antonio Muchave pic.twitter.com/H7Yd7ipsew— Times LIVE (@TimesLIVE) August 23, 2026 “We are going to receive messages of support from Sanco and Cosatu. Many of you are old members of the ANC, you are asking the question, ‘where is the party (SACP)?’ The party has walked away. It is contesting independently, they made the choice,” said Mantashe.“But there are good communists like me who remain in the ANC because we were taught by a very important person called Moses Kotane. He taught us the basic right. But then we will get Cosatu and Sanco.”Though the SACP was absent as a party, some of its leaders attended the event. Some of them, including the likes of Buti Manamela, Phophi Ramathuba and others, have seemingly chosen the ANC over the SACP as they were absent at the SACP’s manifesto launch last Sunday.The ANC’s highest decision-making structure, the national executive committee (NEC), this year took a stance against the SACP, resolving to invoke its constitution against its members who campaign for the SACP during the local government elections. A special ANC NEC meeting resolved to invoke section 25.17.13 and 25.14.14 of its constitution against members with dual membership. The relevant sections state that a member is in contravention if they join or support an opposition party or campaign for it.The resolution means that those choosing to campaign for the SACP instead of the ANC will face a disciplinary hearing and ultimately expulsion.This is the same clause that was used in terminating the membership of former president Jacob Zuma.“What happens is that members of the SACP must make a decision whether they want to campaign for the ANC or they want to campaign for the SACP. If they choose the SACP, then that means they are in conflict with the ANC,” said a senior ANC NEC member at the time.“They can’t campaign with the SACP and be within the ANC. That’s what that decision means. If they campaign for the SACP while we expect them to campaign for us then we will take them to the disciplinary hearing.”WATCH | ANC supporters are waiting for party president Cyril Ramaphosa to outline how he plans to address service delivery as the party launches its manifesto in Riverside Park, near Diepsloot. pic.twitter.com/xsBvpmrmKB— Times LIVE (@TimesLIVE) August 23, 2026 ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa also promised consequences for those with dual membership if they do not campaign for the ANC in the lead-up to the local government elections when he addressed the Limpopo provincial conference that elected Phophi Ramathuba as its chairperson.He told the more than 1,300 delegates at the ANC Limpopo conference that those who have dual ANC and SACP memberships would have to pick a side during the campaign.If they chose to campaign for the SACP, they would be hauled over the coals.“When you have aligned yourself with another organisation, and you don’t campaign for the ANC, and we see you campaigning for another party, now you are going to get yourself into big trouble with us, and first of all with me because I expect you to campaign for the ANC,” said Ramaphosa.“So those who are in other parties are in trouble because there will be consequences, they will find themselves in hot water.”The Sunday Times reported that the ANC had interpreted the decision by senior SACP leaders to snub the so-called Conference of the Left as an indication that they have chosen them over the SACP.This came after at least four government officials with dual ANC-SACP membership, some of whom serve on the central committee, which is the highest decision-making body, indicated they would stick with the ANC and not the SACP.Sources at the time said these included ministers of higher education Buti Manamelo and of science and technology Blade Nzimande, as well as deputy minister of finance David Masondo and Gauteng MEC of Cogta Jacob Mamabolo. Mamabolo did not wish to comment while others had not responded by the time of publication.Some of these showed their hand by snubbing the so-called Conference of the Left which was organised and led by the SACP.Sunday Times has also learnt that Manamela also recently resigned as the SACP’s head of elections. Manamela serves on the SACP’s central command, and the decision to resign has been interpreted by the ANC as a sign that he is aligning himself with them.TimesLIVE