COSATU parliamentary co-ordinator Matthew Parks says the federation’s longstanding support for the ANC will be tested at its upcoming congress as the SACP prepares to contest the elections independently.
COSATU’s longstanding commitment to support the ANC at elections is facing its biggest test as the SACP prepares to contest the 2026 local government elections independently, with the federation’s final position to be decided at its congress in two weeks.
COSATU parliamentary co-ordinator Matthew Parks said the federation still had a standing resolution to support the ANC, the leader of the Tripartite Alliance, but the SACP’s decision to contest the elections had complicated its position.
“We have a standing resolution to support our ally, the ANC, the leader of the alliance, at elections. That hasn't changed,” Parks said in an interview with Newzroom Afrika.
“But what is different this time is that the SACP, our other ally, is also contesting state power and is also contesting elections. That makes it a little bit more complicated.”
