CAPE TOWN — The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (NEHAWU) has officially reaffirmed its resolution to support the South African Communist Party (SACP) in the upcoming 2026 Local Government Elections (LGE 2026). This strategic political alignment was confirmed by the union’s newly elected national leadership, signaling a firm commitment to a progressive socialist program amid growing concerns over the country’s current economic trajectory.
The decision was formalized last month during NEHAWU’s 13th national congress, which saw over 600 delegates representing nearly 290,000 members gather to chart the union’s political path forward. The congress concluded that the current political situation necessitates drawing a definitive line in the sand to uphold socialist, pro-working-class ideologies.
A primary catalyst for this resolution is what the union describes as the African National Congress’s (ANC) deviation from the core principles of the national democratic revolution. The congress assessed the recent emergence of the Government of National Unity (GNU), noting that it reflects a shifting balance of political forces and a continued erosion of public confidence. According to the union, this decline stems from decades of neoliberal economic policies that have consistently failed to resolve South Africa’s triple crisis of unemployment, poverty, and inequality.
Nearly three decades after the adoption of the Growth, Employment and Redistribution (GEAR) policy framework, the country continues to grapple with mass joblessness, deepening poverty, widening inequality, deteriorating public services, and growing social instability. NEHAWU’s leadership emphasized that these conditions are not incidental, but rather the inevitable consequences of an economic model that prioritizes profit over people.
NEHAWU General Secretary Zola Saphetha outlined the union’s ongoing commitments, stating that the organization will continue to fight opposition to the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI). Saphetha added that the union remains dedicated to transforming the post-school education and training sector, advancing the struggle for free and quality public education, and combating austerity measures within the public service.
Addressing the ideological foundation of the decision, union leadership stated, “Ours is socialism, and that socialism is led by the vanguard party of the working class, which is the South African Communist Party.” This ideological grounding, they noted, has directed NEHAWU’s approach to revolutionary struggles both domestically and internationally. While the union has supported the SACP since 1994, leadership acknowledged an anticipated disjunction within the broader political alliance, affirming that NEHAWU will consistently choose the left side when such divisions occur.
The union stressed that quality public services, decent work, and meaningful development can only be realized through a capable developmental state driven by the interests of the working class and the poor.
Regarding its position within the broader labor movement, NEHAWU clarified that it engages with the political alliance through its affiliation with COSATU. The union emphasized that it does not need to seek approval from the ANC to declare its political stance, as the national congress serves as the highest decision-making body of the organization.
While acknowledging that there may be differing opinions among other COSATU affiliates regarding electoral support, NEHAWU stands resolute in its decision. The union confirmed that its resolution to back the SACP is final and will be actively implemented as leadership moves to mobilize its members on the ground ahead of the 2026 local government elections.