COSATU to Decide Between ANC and SACP Support Ahead of 2026 Local Government Elections, Says Matthew Parks

JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng — The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is set to make a critical decision regarding its electoral support for either the African National Congress (ANC) or the South African Communist Party (SACP) ahead of the November 2026 local government elections. According to COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator Matthew Parks, the federation will finalize its stance during its upcoming congress in two weeks, navigating mounting pressure and escalating tensions within the historic tripartite alliance.

Speaking on the complex political landscape, Parks acknowledged that the federation is currently navigating a delicate moment. While COSATU maintains a standing resolution to support the ANC as the leader of the alliance, the SACP’s reaffirmed intention to independently contest municipal polls has introduced unprecedented complications. Reports indicate that the ANC has issued ultimatums regarding campaign loyalties, leaving the labor federation caught in the middle.

“This is a difficult, complex, and sensitive moment for COSATU,” Parks stated. “COSATU is basically the child, so to speak, of the ANC and the SACP. When our parents are fighting, as the reports indicate, it is the children who suffer. However, COSATU remains a large, independent organization.”

Parks emphasized that the electoral direction will not be dictated by individual leaders or the central executive committee. Instead, the decision rests with the unions and the broader congress, driven by mandates gathered directly from workers over the past year. He noted that some unions have already secured mandates to support the ANC, while others have been instructed to back the SACP. These differing positions will be debated at the congress, which may result in maintaining the status quo, backing the SACP, or finding a combined approach to support both organizations.

Despite the friction, Parks expressed confidence that COSATU will remain within the alliance and act as a mediator. “We are confident that no matter what, we will remain loyal allies to both the ANC and the SACP,” he said. The federation has actively attempted to convene alliance partners to address tensions and reconfigure the alliance for a post-majority era, though these mediation efforts have faced challenges.

Addressing the root of the current fault lines, Parks pointed to broader dissatisfaction within the alliance regarding the inclusion of parties like the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) in the Government of National Unity (GNU). While COSATU historically preferred an ANC majority government, Parks acknowledged the reality of the current coalition era. He highlighted that the federation has successfully engaged with opposition parties to advance workers’ rights in the past, citing parental maternity leave laws originally drafted by the ACDP and amendments to the PIC act that began as a DA bill.

“The fastest way to rebuild the confidence of society is to deliver what society expects government to deliver,” Parks noted, pointing to severe socioeconomic challenges, including a 43 percent unemployment rate, high crime levels in townships, and struggling municipal services. He argued that addressing these issues collectively is the most effective way to reverse declining voter turnout and re-energize the working-class base.

Ultimately, Parks stressed that the unity of COSATU workers is sacrosanct. Affiliates across the federation have agreed that any decision reached must not divide the labor movement.

“Unemployment does not care what the color of your political party t-shirt is,” Parks concluded. “Our greatest strength as COSATU and as workers is to be united. We are confident that we will go to the congress and find a mutually acceptable, win-win middle ground. We cannot afford to be divided by political parties.”