Top African National Congress ANC officials, including President Cyril Ramaphosa and his deputy, Paul Mashatile, are set to meet with the leadership of the South African Communist Party SACP on Sunday morning for a crucial bilateral meeting. The highly anticipated meeting aims to address the strained relations between the two alliance partners.
The tensions between the ANC and the SACP have been rising in recent weeks, particularly after SACP Secretary-General Solly Mapaila's strong criticism of the Ramaphosa leadership. Mapaila has expressed concerns over the ANC's collaboration with the Democratic Alliance DA, a party he views as fundamentally opposed to the principles of the National Democratic Revolution. His public statements have pointed to a deepening rift within the governing alliance.
In response, ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula expressed dissatisfaction with Mapaila's remarks, stating that the ANC was not pleased with the tone and substance of the SACP's criticism. Mbalula emphasized that while the ANC respects the SACP as a key ally, internal disagreements within the alliance should be managed with decorum and in private. He further pointed to concerns over ongoing attacks on ANC leadership, particularly targeting President Ramaphosa, which he described as "worrisome."
"We have noted the recent public statements by the SACP which appeared to challenge the ANC leadership and particularly target President Cyril Ramaphosa. While the ANC respects the SACP as a key ally, we believe that the differences within the alliance should be managed internally with the appropriate decorum," Mbalula said. He also added that the ANC was committed to resolving the matter through direct engagement during the scheduled bilateral.
On the other hand, SACP spokesperson and Central Committee member, Dr. Alex Mashilo, emphasized the importance of the bilateral meeting, describing it as critical in addressing the disagreements between the two parties. Mashilo stressed that the SACP's decision to make their views public should not be seen as a challenge to the ANC, but rather as a reflection of their commitment to transparency. He also highlighted that the SACP could not be expected to keep its views on key issues, such as the governments actions and decisions, behind closed doors.
Mashilo noted, "If the ANC meets and makes decisions, announces and implements those decisions in public, the SACP cannot be expected to express its views behind closed doors. We also have to meet and make decisions, announce them, and implement them publicly."
The meeting, which marks the first formal bilateral between the ANC and the SACP since the May 2024 elections, will likely be a key moment in the ongoing discussions about the future of the alliance and its leadership. Both sides are hoping to clarify their positions and work towards mending the relationship, but with underlying tensions over public criticism and political direction, it remains to be seen how much progress will be made.
