By Simon Nare
Alliance partners the ANC and the South African Communist Party (SACP) publicly traded barbs on Thursday, entrenching their opposing positions in a spat that showed no sign of easing.
Despite the escalating war of words, with ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula accusing SACP leader Solly Mapaila of being “bipolar”, and Mapaila dismissing Mbalula as a “stooge”, both leaders reiterated their parties’ commitment to the Tripartite alliance.
The two organisations held separate media briefings on Thursday in Johannesburg.
Mapaila fired the first salvo, saying the SACP would not accept ultimatums, particularly from what he described as “stooges of capital.” He also rejected the ANC’s directive requiring members with dual membership to choose between the two organisations ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections.
But Mbalula hit back in characteristically combative fashion, saying the ANC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) had in fact issued clear expectations to SACP members ahead of
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