Ramathuba says SACP decision to contest elections ‘unfortunate’; choose ANC membership

Newly elected ANC Limpopo chairperson Phophi Ramathuba says the SACP’s decision to contest elections outside the tripartite alliance is “unfortunate”. Ramathuba, who was this weekend elected the second woman provincial chairperson, said the SACP stance was rushed but agreed that the ANC could no longer delay making a final decision on its relationship with the communists. Delegates at the ANC’s 11th provincial conference made clear their displeasure, objecting to the SACP delivering its message of support.

They booed constantly and even took up the microphone to say they did not want to hear the SACP’s message. Ramathuba, who is also in the leadership of the SACP in the province, said she did not agree with the decision taken by the national leadership. “Yes, the SACP took a decision to contest; it’s an unfortunate decision, but we believe that for some of us, socialism is what we believe in, and communism, it’s who we are.

Even if you won’t be having any portfolio that you have within the Communist Party, the consciousness is never going to escape.” As far as she is concerned, the ANC was still the best vehicle to deliver the country towards the national democratic revolution (NDR). It is only when the NDR has been achieved that the SACP can then come and “take us to socialism and currently we have not arrived. We still believe we are on the right path towards that”.

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Her remarks come as the ANC is under pressure to make a decision on what to do with one of its tripartite alliance partners, the SACP, which, under its general secretary Solly Mapaila, took a decision to contest elections on its own. Previously, the ANC and its partners, the SACP, Cosatu and Sanco, have always campaigned under one umbrella. This changed in 2025 when Mapaila pronounced they would no longer support the ANC in their campaign in the local government elections, mostly over the decision to establish a government of national unity that included the DA. Ramathuba suggested that if the ANC took a decision to disallow dual membership, she would easily pick the ANC over the SACP.

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