30 March 2026

The South African Communist Party (SACP) in the Western Cape condemns, in the strongest possible terms, statements attributed to ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa calling on the SACP to reverse its decision to contest elections. Such statements fundamentally undermine the independence of the SACP as a political party.

The current epoch of our revolution requires President Cyril Ramaphosa and his cohort to appreciate that the SACP is not an affiliate or a “communist desk” of the ANC. Therefore, any expectation that the SACP and its leadership should submit to such directives is misplaced and will not be realised. The SACP’s decision to contest elections is both principled and irreversible.

Furthermore, threats directed at leaders and members of the SACP who are currently serving in government will not deter the Party from pursuing its democratic mandate. President Ramaphosa and his cohort must be reminded that intimidation and coercion are the antithesis of what the ANC stands for. As a national liberation movement, the ANC is expected to embody democratic values and to respect the independence of all components of the Alliance.

The deployment of communists to the state is not a favour, but the product of collective struggle, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to our people, our revolution, and our movement. The SACP will therefore continue to advance the interests of the working class, both within and outside the state, including through direct electoral participation.

As the SACP in the Western Cape, we caution ANC leaders that the hostility they are fostering towards the Party will, over time, have damaging consequences - not only for themselves, but for the broader liberation movement as a whole, both now and in the period beyond the forthcoming local government elections.

Issued by:

South African Communist Party - Western Cape 

For Enquiries:

Benson Ngqentsu - Provincial Secretary
082 796 6400
Lizwi Gegugula - Provincial Spokesperson
078 827 2274

ISSUED BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN COMMUNIST PARTY,
FOUNDED IN 1921 AS THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF SOUTH AFRICA.
 
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