JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng — As the November elections approach, the South African Communist Party (SACP) is urging COSATU to prioritize working-class interests when deciding its electoral support. SACP First Deputy General Secretary Madala Masuku emphasized that the trade union federation must carefully evaluate which political organization genuinely serves the needs of workers, rather than defaulting to historical alliances.
Masuku noted that COSATU’s decision should not be difficult, given that the federation is composed of workers currently facing severe socioeconomic pressures, including a high cost of living and widespread retrenchments. He argued that the working class requires tangible municipal plans for decent work, prompt infrastructure service delivery, and a clear, equitable strategy for land division between settlement, industrial development, and leisure.
A central pillar of the SACP’s message is the demand for tender-free and corruption-free municipalities. Masuku highlighted community frustrations over infrastructure sabotage, particularly regarding water supply, which he attributed to tender capture and systemic corruption. He stressed that local councilors must be accountable, sustainable, and actively collaborate with communities to improve municipal well-being.
When challenged on the practical viability of this approach—citing past labor movements like NUMSA failing to translate rhetoric into actual votes, alongside current polling data—Masuku remained resolute. He explained that the SACP’s decision to contest the elections independently was driven by grassroots pressure, not top-down ego. To bridge the gap between policy and practice, the party launched the “People’s Royal Caravan,” engaging directly with residents in their communities rather than in hotels to co-create actionable, localized plans.
This grassroots mobilization has led to an overwhelming response, with the SACP preparing to contest 4,418 wards. Masuku revealed that many candidacies are being driven by community development activists and local members who specifically requested the SACP platform to effect change. He expressed that the party is deeply humbled by this support and feels a profound responsibility to deliver for these communities, noting that residents have explicitly demanded the right to supervise their elected councilors.
Reflecting on a recent Central Committee meeting, Masuku described the prevailing mood as one of sober responsibility. He noted a “fear” of failing the people, as many communities now view the SACP as their “last hope.” This sense of duty, he argued, requires a strong moral conscience and rigorous preparation to meet public expectations, moving beyond consultant-driven PR exercises to solutions rooted in daily, lived experiences.
Addressing the potential rupture in the historic Tripartite Alliance, Masuku stated that if COSATU chooses to maintain the status quo with the ANC, it would signal a profound leadership challenge within the alliance. However, he clarified that the alliance was originally founded on a programmatic commitment to the Freedom Charter and total emancipation, not merely electoral convenience. He argued that true equality and the transfer of national resources to the majority cannot be achieved under capitalism, necessitating that the SACP, rather than the ANC, take the lead in driving this socialist agenda.
Masuku concluded by affirming that there were no dissenting voices or regrets within the Central Committee regarding the decision to contest the elections independently. The party remains united in its conviction that the communities have spoken, and it is now the SACP’s duty to demonstrate how socialist principles can practically transform local government.