The ANC and SACP met at Luthuli House on 24 November 2025 in a high-stakes discussion about their future. The meeting is part of efforts to strengthen their long-shared commitment to the National Democratic Revolution (NDR), a political agenda aimed at social and economic transformation.
Central to the talks is the SACP’s independently confirmed decision to contest the 2026 local government elections on its own banner, a move made final according to party leadership. (SABC News, SABC News) General Secretary Solly Mapaila has defended the decision as necessary for deeper working-class representation and socialist transformation. He insists it doesn’t signal the end of the alliance, but rather a reconfiguration in how the SACP and ANC engage politically.
However, this move has sparked internal concerns within the ANC. Senior figures have cautioned that breaking ranks electorally could undermine the Alliance’s broader transformation agenda. (Sunday Independent)
During the meeting, both parties reiterated their commitment to the NDR. They agreed to initiate a structured consultation process through the Alliance’s Political Council, focusing on economic and social policies, including fiscal reforms, industrial strategy, trade, and public welfare to ensure their future shared work is grounded in a common, revolutionary vision.
Despite the tension, both sides emphasised that their alliance goes beyond electoral politics. Mapaila said the SACP remains “interdependent yet structurally independent” from the ANC, with a commitment to socialism and working-class unity that predates and will outlive the 2026 elections.
If they can’t reach a deal, the evolution of the ANC–SACP relationship could reshape South African politics—particularly in how leftist and working-class interests are represented in government and society.