Latest news with #SollyMapaila
The Citizen
4 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
SACP plans solo run in 2026 as ANC faces new threat
The SACP has confirmed it will contest the 2026 local elections independently, raising concerns for the ANC. Supporters of the South African Communist Party march through Braamfontein against gender-based violence, 21 August 2022. Picture: Michel Bega As the 2026 local government elections approach, the ANC is concerned about the SA Communist Party's (SACP) move to contest separately, or potentially challenge, the ANC in the upcoming elections. However, an expert believes the SACP's alliance with the ANC could prove to be an Achilles heel for the party. The ANC's transgressions could be revisited upon the small socialist party, with voters punishing it for tolerating the ANC's neoliberal policies that adversely affected the poor. SACP alliance with ANC could prove to be Achilles heel Besides, said an expert, the party may fail to amass much support like in the 2016 election – in Metsimaholo, Free State – because voters will not take it seriously. Last week, the SACP reiterated its position, taken as a resolution at its national congress in December, that it will stand alone in the local government elections. Initially, some analysts had been in doubt about the party's intention to go it alone, arguing such a move had always been on the SACP's agenda but failed to materialise as the party always changed its mind. ALSO READ: SACP's solo election run won't hurt ANC, analyst says But following SACP general secretary Solly Mapaila's reiteration of the decision, analysts said the party was not a real threat to the ANC because it lacks the numbers. Political analyst and scholar Dominic Maphaka, from NorthWest University, said the SACP resolution to contest elections alone 'will not affect the ANC'. 'An in-depth analysis of the SACP demonstrates that the party has no constituents that can affect the ANC if they stand for elections,' said Maphaka. Party doesn't have contituents that can affect the ANC 'The SACP has spent many years defocusing and demobilising itself by aligning with the ANC, which prioritises neoliberal policies.' He said the SACP's 'socialist ideological basis to draw the hearts and minds of voters will fall on deaf ears'. 'Many South Africans will not take the SACP seriously. If anything, the party would fail to amass much support,' he said. ALSO READ: EFF slams Presidency's silence around Mashatile shooting incident Coalitions worldwide have crumbled, some as far back as the 1930s in Germany, and that this continues to this day, he said. The cause was often ideological differences, including policy implementation, something that threatens South Africa's own 10-party government of national unity, he said. The party, which renewed its registration at the Electoral Commission of South Africa, described its participation in the elections as 'contesting for power'. 'Contesting for power' In preparation for its campaign, the SACP launched 'The Peoples' Red Caravan' last week. The campaign was themed 'The People's Movement for SelfReliance and Sustainability'. The observers regard the Red Caravan initiative as a final stamp in the party's position to go it alone under its Soviet-styled hammer and circle banner, plus black star banner. Some party grassroots structures have begun to prepare the media by carrying SACPspecific messages, including election T-shirts and caps, banners, and leaflets – an indicator that the stand-alone decision will not be reversed this time around. ALSO READ: Hani family slams 'imposters' allegedly pretending to be related to struggle hero Political analyst Dirk Kotzé said the history of left-wing parties in South Africa wasn't good, as they performed poorly and had minimal following. The SACP votes would come in the major urban centres and mining areas. Rather than compete with the ANC, he said, the party would compete with the EFF, which had the best record in membership and electoral performance. 'I don't think the SACP will really be able to manage nationwide local elections, which are much more demanding as they need organisational presence in each town or place where it is contesting,' said Kotzé. Votes would come in major urban centres, mining areas 'Local elections need a local organisation and I don't think the SACP has got that.' But one thing is for sure, he said, 'any poll victory for the SACP would be a loss for the ANC, which will also lose votes to other parties'.
Eyewitness News
02-05-2025
- Business
- Eyewitness News
Tripartite Alliance pours cold water on DA's 'grudge with transformation'
JOHANNESBURG – The Democratic Alliance (DA)'s decision to take the government to court over the Employment Equity Act has irked the tripartite alliance, which has now collectively hit out at the second biggest party in the Government of National Unity (GNU). This week, the DA approached the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria to challenge a new gazette by the Minister of Employment and Labour meant to speed up transformation in some industries. The regulations set out specific racial and gender-based targets for businesses across 18 industries in South Africa to achieve over the next five years. The African National Congress (ANC), South African Communist Party (SACP) and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) responded to the DA's move during a Workers' Day, Thursday, rally in Mpumalanga. ALSO READ: SACP general secretary Solly Mapaila, who is no fan of the GNU, was the first to point out the conflicting agenda of some parties in the multiparty coalition, citing differences over transformation policies. 'The reactionary forces that want to say they support our movement are fighting against this. They are also fighting against the introduction of the Basic Education Law Amendment Act.' On the sidelines of the Workers' Day rally, ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa said this about the DA's legal contestation of the Employment Equity Act. 'I haven't heard their full complaint, but I would like them to come and explain to me what grudge they have with transformation.' Although COSATU says the DA is well within its constitutional right, the trade union federation believes the move is ill-conceived. 'The Employment Equity Act is nearly as old as our hard-won democracy and stood the test of time, including previous court reviews. It is peculiar that the DA's court challenge omits to acknowledge the well-considered 2023 amendments to the Employment Equity Act,' COSATU's Parliamentary Coordinator, Matthew Parks, said earlier in the week.'These amendments sought, after extensive engagements between labour and business at Nedlac and similar public hearings at Parliament, to strike a fair balance between easing administrative burdens on SMMEs, reflecting South Africa's demographic diversity (including regional), and equally to nudge employers to do better to ensure all employees have a fair chance to fulfil their full potential, in particular those historically denied equal opportunity. 'These changes include easing reporting requirements on SMMEs (Small, Micro and Medium Enterprises), adapting employment equity targets to take into account our regional demographic diversity and to adopt more focused targets for sectors falling painfully behind employment equity progress. The Regulations provide ample time, e.g. five years and modest targets, well below population demographics, for employers to work towards. As with all laws, exemptions are provided for employers who have tried but for a variety of reasons, cannot achieve their targets.'
Eyewitness News
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
SACP calls for GNU's downfall
MIDDELBURG - The South African Communist Party (SACP) has again spared no criticism over the Government of National Unity (GNU).The SACP and African National Congress (ANC) joined trade union federation COSATU in its annual commemoration of Workers' there are a number of rallies being held across the country, this year's national event is being held in to the podium first to deliver a message of support, SACP general secretary, Solly Mapaila, opened with a jab on a number of political issues."Down with VAT, down. Forward with the NHI, forward. Forward with the implementation of the BELA Act, forward. Down with the GNU, down."COSATU leader, Zingiswa Losi, weighed in on matters of national importance during her address to supporters gathered at the Kees Taljaard Stadium in Middelburg."The budget, comrades, must be progressive and not punishing. It must create jobs and it must tax the wealthy."In his brief address, ANC president, Cyril Ramaphosa, had this to say."Be it the BELA Act, be it the Expropriation Act, all that has happened because of you." The main event has wrapped up.
IOL News
24-04-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
'Legacy of Hope' documentary traces Africa's liberation struggles to today's geopolitical tensions
Solly Mapaila, current General Secretary of the SACP opposed the upcoming state visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to South Africa. Co-Producers Moja Multimedia and Zoetic Management have announced the release of a powerful new documentary 'Legacy of Hope – From Colonialism to Liberation.' The 43-minute documentary explores the interwoven histories of anti-colonial resistance, the global Cold War struggle, and the enduring legacy of apartheid in shaping today's geopolitical tensions. The film draws a direct line between the liberation movements of the past and the new global contests of power in a multipolar world. Featuring compelling interviews with SACP leaders like General Secretary Solly Mapaila, Ronnie Kasrils, COSATU, former MK combatants, and ANC's Khalid Sayed, the film delves into the Angolan war, the solidarity of the Soviet Union and Cuba with African liberation movements, and the ideological clash that defined a generation.
