By Johnathan Paoli
The South African Communist Party (SACP) has slammed remarks by ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula, after he suggested that the ANC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) is considering abolishing dual membership, following the SACP’s decision to contest elections independently.
SACP spokesperson Mbulelo Mandlana described such a move as wrong and sets the stage for fundamentally changing the political framework that has historically held the national transformation project together.
Mandlana further warned that attempts to undermine this tradition risk destabilising the alliance itself.
He acknowledged reports that a decision on dual membership may have been made at the ANC’s ongoing National General Council (NGC) but stressed that no formal announcement has yet been issued.
In a statement on Wednesday, Mandlana, who also heads SACP Communications, noted that the 5th NGC in Ekurhuleni is still in session, with final outcomes—including decisions on Strategy and Tactics—yet to be made public.
While affirming the ANC’s right to make its own decisions, Mandlana said the dual membership issue cannot wait until the end of the conference.
“It is imperative that a clarification be provided immediately on the issue of dual membership. To that end, this statement serves as a preliminary clarification by the SACP in response to the evolving situation,” he said.
Mbalula’s remarks, reportedly made during a report to the NGC, suggested the NEC had rejected dual membership as a “standing operational mechanism” for coordinating political work between the ANC, SACP, COSATU, and SANCO.
The comments have caused unease within alliance ranks, prompting the SACP to call for urgent clarity and unity among “all revolutionaries.”
Mandlana framed the issue not as a technical or organisational dispute, but as central to the Tripartite Alliance’s identity, cohesion, and long-term strategy.
At the heart of the SACP’s concerns is what “rejection of dual membership” would mean in practice.
The party argued that such a shift demands a prompt response from the ANC on several critical questions, including whether ANC members would be barred from joining the SACP and vice versa, whether it could lead to systematic “organisational purging” of communists within ANC structures, whether ANC deployees who are also SACP leaders might face punitive action over perceived political disloyalty, and whether ANC members could be effectively prevented from participating in SACP activities.
“These are not abstract concerns,” Mandlana said.
“Decisions taken now extend beyond the upcoming local government elections and cut to the core of whether the broader national democratic revolution remains a unified effort.”
The SACP emphasised that dual membership is not an optional convenience but a strategic pillar of the liberation movement.
For decades, individuals have simultaneously held membership across the ANC, SACP, and COSATU, reflecting the belief that national liberation, working-class struggle, and socialist transformation are interconnected.
“The organisational mechanism of dual membership recognises that the struggle to attain these objectives is a singular struggle, taking place across various terrains yet requiring collaborative efforts. This is why communists participate in the national liberation struggle, nationalists in the struggle for socialism, and trade unionists in both political organisations,” Mandlana explained.
The SACP called on “all revolutionaries inside and outside the NGC” to defend the alliance’s values, traditions, and the mechanism of dual membership.
The party warned that abandoning this foundation could weaken both the ANC’s mass base and the SACP’s ideological influence, leaving the movement vulnerable to a “systemic ransacking of the people’s camp.”
The SACP expressed hope that the final NGC outcomes would safeguard both the alliance and its historic mission.
Meanwhile, COSATU has also voiced concern.
The federation’s Parliamentary Coordinator Matthew Parks said the reported ultimatum to the SACP could fracture the alliance ahead of the 2026 elections.
“Our hope is that we remain united with our alliance partners ANC and SACP. They both have unique roles to play… We need a solution that ensures the alliance is united and coherent in its message to workers,” Parks said, adding that COSATU remains committed to resolving tensions to protect the working class from the fallout of political disunity.
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