The South African Communist Party will host a conference of left‑wing organisations to discuss collective strategies for addressing poverty, inequality, and social justice ahead of the 2026 local elections. Picture Credit: South Africa Today
By Aisha Zardad
South Africa – The South African Communist Party (SACP) has announced plans to organise a Conference of the Left in the coming months, aimed at bringing together a broad spectrum of civil society and left‑wing political forces to discuss how to address the country’s challenges, particularly those affecting poor and working‑class communities. The announcement was made by the party’s national spokesperson, Mbulelo Mandlana, on Monday.
According to Mandlana, the conference will include not only political parties but also non‑governmental organisations, civil society groups, workers and individuals on the left of South African politics. He emphasised that the event is intended to be a forum for “poor people speaking with one voice” to explore collective action on issues affecting the nation’s most marginalised communities.
Mandlana was careful to clarify that the gathering is “not a political pact like the DA’s moonshot (pact)”, referring to a cross‑party agreement formed in 2024 to contest local elections. He said the intention is not to sign a formal political agreement at this stage, but rather to allow the conference itself to shape future cooperation and strategies for tackling South Africa’s socio‑economic problems.
Despite its broad aims, the conference exists against a backdrop of evolving political dynamics within the historic alliance between the SACP and the African National Congress (ANC). The SACP has previously stated that it will contest the 2026 local government elections separately from the ANC, while also maintaining that dual membership in both organisations should be respected. Mandlana noted that the SACP would not punish members who belong to both the ANC and the Communist Party, and that discussions have already started informally with other left‑leaning parties, including the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
KwaZulu‑Natal interim provincial executive committee member Phumlani Mthembu echoed the call for unity among the left, stressing that the notion that the SACP will contest elections against the ANC should be dismissed. Instead, he said the party intends to work “alongside the ANC and other parties” in coming elections, even as it pursues its own organisational goals.
The upcoming conference is expected to be a significant gathering of diverse progressive forces, aimed at developing shared approaches to persistent issues such as inequality, unemployment, and poverty — core concerns for many South Africans heading into an election year.
