CAPE TOWN, Western Cape — Political friction within South Africa’s Tripartite Alliance has reached a boiling point as ANC-SACP tensions escalate following the controversial removal of SACP Western Cape secretary Benson Ngqentsu from the provincial legislature. The expulsion has ignited a fierce ideological debate regarding the future of the political alliance and the strategic direction of […]
CAPE TOWN, Western Cape — Political friction within South Africa’s Tripartite Alliance has reached a boiling point as ANC-SACP tensions escalate following the controversial removal of SACP Western Cape secretary Benson Ngqentsu from the provincial legislature. The expulsion has ignited a fierce ideological debate regarding the future of the political alliance and the strategic direction of the working class.
Ngqentsu, the primary spokesperson for the SACP in the province, stated that his removal from the legislature—and the potential axing of other communist councilors in municipalities such as the Garden Route—did not come as a surprise. He framed his dismissal as a “badge of honor,” asserting that if he was removed strictly due to his convictions, his commitment to the socialist-oriented national democratic revolution, and the class struggle, he stands firmly by his principles.
Addressing the nature of political deployments, Ngqentsu argued that placing comrades in the levers of power should never be treated as a “patronage scheme.” Instead, he insisted that a cadre’s loyalty must be judged entirely by their commitment and service to the people.
A Working-Class Electoral Strategy
Despite acknowledging current polling data that suggests an uphill battle for the SACP, Ngqentsu dismissed the numbers, arguing that polls in a class-divided society are largely shaped by the “dominant ideas of the ruling class.”
He vigorously defended the SACP’s strategic decision to contest the 2026 and 2029 local government elections independently. Ngqentsu emphasized that this is not merely an internal party process, but a broader “working-class process” aimed at securing direct representation in municipal councils. To achieve this, the SACP is drawing candidates from diverse sectors, including civil society, the trade union movement, and organic community activists, rather than relying solely on political elites.
A central pillar of the SACP’s agenda post-November 4 is to aggressively tackle the outsourcing of municipal services to the private sector. Ngqentsu highlighted the precarious nature of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), noting that in the City of Cape Town’s solid waste department, EPWP workers significantly outnumber core municipal employees. The SACP aims to end what it calls a “new precarious layer of workers” by insourcing services and ensuring that EPWP workers are ultimately absorbed into permanent roles wherever the party holds power or leverage.
Critiquing the ANC’s “Neoliberal Trajectory”
When pressed on why prominent SACP leaders currently serving as cabinet ministers and senior government officials have struggled to advance this working-class agenda from within the state, Ngqentsu pointed to a decades-long ideological drift. He argued that for over 30 years, the SACP has pushed for a reconfiguration of the alliance to ensure communists in the state remain accountable to workers and the poor.
Ngqentsu accused the ANC of abandoning the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) in 2006 in favor of a “neoliberal austerity agenda.” He blamed this trajectory for the current crises of unemployment, inequality, and poverty, as well as the unbundling and privatization of state-owned entities like Eskom. Furthermore, he cited severe budget cuts that have hollowed out state capacity, specifically pointing to the South African Police Service (SAPS), which he claimed is currently crippled by a lack of vehicles, personnel, and intelligence by design.
Looking Ahead to the COSATU Congress
With the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) preparing for its upcoming congress, questions have arisen regarding whether the labor federation will be forced to choose between the ANC and the SACP.
Ngqentsu urged workers and labor leaders not to divide themselves over political party lines. Instead, he advised that their decisions should be rooted entirely in class interests. He called on the working class to vote against neoliberalism, privatization, and budget cuts, noting that whichever party actively opposes those forces on the ballot will naturally earn the support of the workers.
