Coalitions: ANC ‘not desperate’ and doesn’t ‘need rescuing’
'For 30 years we lost our identity for another," says the SACP about their alliance with the ANC.
ANC Parliamentary Chief Whip Mdumiseni Ntuli has stated that the ANC is not desperate to enter a coalition and does not need rescuing. The party has lost significant ground in the 2026 Local Government Elections, with its share of the national vote dropping to 30.94% from 45.59% in 2021. Ntuli also mentioned that the ANC would meet this weekend to discuss the results and plan for the future.
When asked about the SACP's stance on coalition negotiations, Ntuli clarified that the SACP's comments were based on an incorrect assumption that the ANC is desperate to retain power at any cost. He emphasized that the ANC's approach would be based on mutual agreements and fair negotiations rather than desperation. The SACP's secretary-general, Solly Mapaila, had previously said that the party would not commit to rescuing the ANC in coalition talks.
However, Ntuli argued that such an assumption was wrong and that the ANC's stance was not one of desperation. SACP Central Committee Member Tinyiko Ntini also commented on the situation, stating that the party would not blindly follow the ANC's demand for a coalition. He highlighted that the SACP is campaigning for its own identity and that its councillors are accountable to their voters.
The SACP would wait for the final results before engaging in coalition discussions and would base its decision on the instructions received from its supporters. Ntini also mentioned that the SACP would not partner with anyone representing capitalist interests, as they are seen as "historic class enemies."
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
