Gwede Mantashe, chairperson of the African National Congress (ANC), has been ousted from the SACP’s central committee. This shows that the Tripartite Alliance is growing more and more fractured as we approach the 2026 local elections. Mantashe, a prominent figure in the ANC and SACP, was formally notified of his exclusion.
He made a short statement in which he stated his intention not to challenge the party’s leadership selection and accepted the party’s right to do so. I have received and will accept the letter. According to Mantashe, the decision would not be subject to an appeal. The SACP has not officially said why Mantashe was fired.
However, some with knowledge of the political situation say that disagreements are becoming more heated over the SACP’s future goals, policies, and degree of independence from the ANC. In its most recent public criticism of the ANC-led government’s governance, the SACP has focused on energy policy failings, corruption, and economic inequalities. Analysts claim that many viewed Mantashe’s removal as a symbolic and strategic move.
He has strained relationships with the alliance’s more liberal members due to his ties to the mining and energy sectors; these individuals desire more radical economic and social reforms. If the SACP decides to exclude him from next year’s elections, it might be a move to reassert its political and ideological position. “The SACP’s growing confidence in charting its own course, even at the risk of straining relations with the ANC,” said Lindiwe Mahlangu, a professor from the University of Johannesburg.
This development also casts doubt on the stability of the Tripartite Alliance, which has been an essential component of South Africa’s democracy for many years. Experts say the long-simmering partnership tensions may be about to explode, especially because the COSATU trade union has expressed similar complaints to the ANC’s leadership. The removal of Mantashe occurs during a precarious period for the ANC.
The party is confronted with the frightening possibility of next year’s elections as the momentum of the opposition grows and public trust diminishes. Mantashe may try to minimize the political impact of his expulsion, but it does show a shift in alliance dynamics. This shift might cause realignments and ideological shifts in the months leading up to the 2026 municipal elections.
