By Montsho Matlala
Sekhukhune – Limpopo: Amidst threats of divorce between the ANC and the SA Communist Party (SACP) nationwide, the SA National Civic Organisation (SANCO) in Sekhukhune region has moved on this week to hug the ruling party but says the renewed love has nothing to do with possible exodus of communists from the tripartite alliance.
Delegations of the two parties were led by regional secretaries, Mathope Tala for the ANC while Mboma Matau marshalled his SANCO comrades at the meeting held at ANC Phakane Moretsele House in the area.
“We wish to inform the public and stakeholders that a strategic engagement was held with the ANC with the purpose to strengthen the working relationship to ensure alignment on key community development priorities,” explained SANCO regional spokesperson Mantladi Malata.
The engagement reflected on shared commitment to deepening community participation in governance and development as well as tackling socio economic challenges in coordinated manner and supporting local municipalities to respond effectively to community needs, according to the civic body.
However sources claim the strategic meeting aims at propping up the ANC to withstand the blowdown conditions brought by SACP’s looming divorce.
“Though the ANC has never lost significant grip in Limpopo since 1994 but the declining support is real. With the SACP serving divorce papers, the ANC will feel the pain and here SANCO comes in to provide a shoulder to lean on,” an insider revealed.
But on Friday, Malata told Timeless News the SACP departure factor is irrelevant in the strategic meeting with the ANC as SANCO has been in the tripartite alliance for a considerable time since 2004 and would continue to be productive in the relationship.
“We are inside the house; it is actually called the Tripartite Alliance plus one, referring to ANC, COSATU, SACP and SANCO. And unapologetically we stand for communities and are committed to collaborations with the ANC trough structured engagements aimed at empowering communities,” Malata explained.
ANC’s Tala was not immediately available for comment.
In another development SACP general secretary Solly Mapaila reiterated on Friday during the party’s central committee meeting in Braamfotein communists are confident to scrape up funds from members and some workers to contest the coming 2026 showdown municipal elections.
The SACP’s beefs include accusation the ANC excludes inputs from communists in crucial policy decisions.
But if recent bye-election at Ward 13 under Polokwane Local Municipality last month is anything to go by, the SACP in its debut contest without the ANC hooked just 70 votes with the EFF retaining the ward with 3370 votes. The ANC trailed behind the red berets with a load of 2404 votes.
