MIDRAND – South African Communist Party (SACP) General Secretary Solly Mapaila has appointed his deputy, Madala Masuku, to spearhead coalition government negotiations following the 2026 Local Government Elections.
The polls have produced hung municipalities, including the City of Polokwane in Limpopo, for the first time since the advent of democracy in 1994.
Mapaila made the announcement while addressing the media at the National Results Operations Centre in Midrand, Gauteng, on Friday, as political parties began positioning themselves for coalition negotiations following the election outcomes.
The SACP, which contested local government elections independently for the first time after declaring the ANC-led tripartite alliance obsolete, has emerged as a significant player in several municipalities.
In Polokwane, the party secured 6.3% of the vote, while also recording encouraging support in the Eastern Cape, where it obtained 6.2%, alongside gains in other areas through ward victories and proportional representation seats in various municipal councils.
With the election results creating opportunities for new political alliances, Mapaila said the party would first engage other left-wing political formations to develop a common political and governance agenda before entering into possible collaborations.
He said the party had been mandated by various left-wing formations to convene the Council of the Left, following the Conference of the Left, with the FNCP having been entrusted with coordinating the process for a one-year period.
“We will be convening. We’ve been humbled by the various forces of the left; they’ve given us a mandate to convene the Council of the Left,” Mapaila said.
He explained that the planned engagements would bring together left-wing parties that participated in the elections to establish a common strategy, particularly around addressing the needs of poor and marginalised communities.
“The left forces primarily represent the lowest in our communities, the most downtrodden, the poorest of the poor, those that have been neglected by the democratic transition, and those that are victims of the capitalist discourse in our country,” he said.
Mapaila added that the SACP would not compromise on its core principles when considering coalition arrangements, identifying improved service delivery and direct budgeting for communities as key priorities.
He said the party’s Political Bureau would meet on Monday to finalise a framework that would guide its approach to coalition negotiations and political collaborations.
The process, he confirmed, would be led by Masuku, who will facilitate engagements with various political parties.
“Our Political Bureau will be meeting on Monday, and it will finalise the framework that we have developed to guide our processes in this regard. It’s led by our Deputy General Secretary, Comrade Madala Masuku,” Mapaila said.
He urged political parties seeking to engage the SACP on possible coalition arrangements to direct their enquiries to Masuku, emphasising that he would be responsible for facilitating the discussions. With over 87% votes having been counted, SACP obtained 2.4%.
