ANC tells its members: ” Make a choice, stick with us or side with the SACP”

The ANC has instructed members holding both SACP and ANC membership to choose sides as preparations for local government elections begin The ANC has directed its members to choose between it and theSACPfor the local government election campaigns ahead of the ballot later this year. The SACP, at its national conference in 2023, took a resolution to contest the elections outside of the ANC, deviating from the historical relationship that formed the basis of their century-old alliance. At the weekend, the party dispatched all its National Executive Committee (NEC) members to meet the regions through the country to communicate the party position on the SACP’s decision to contest elections.

Although Luthuli House is expected to outline the decision in a media briefing on Monday, a regional leader in KwaZulu-Natal, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the ANC’s message was that its members, especially those holding dual membership, must choose which party they will campaign and vote for in the upcoming elections. Among the leaders who visited Kwazulu-Natal on Sunday were the party’s Deputy President Paul Mashatile who addressed the eThekwini region and chairperson Gwede Mantashe who was deployed in the Moses Mabhida region (Pietermaritzburg). The ANC insider said that those members who prefer the SACP over the ANC, would have to write letters to the leadership and excuse themselves from participating in the election teams of the ANC. They would also not be considered for deployment to positions in municipalities to represent the ANC.