MBALULA: DUALISM ‘INTACT’ BUT ANC MEMBERS MUST CHOOSE BY 11 MAY — ‘YOU CAN’T CAMPAIGN FOR BOTH’
- Mpho Dube
- 3 hours ago
- 5 min read
Speaking outside Ntate Molepo funeral in Polokwane, SG says ANC-SACP cooperation possible, but warns against opposing the ANC; dismisses ‘voluntary’ legal opinion
By Mpho Dube, Editor-in-Chief
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ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has drawn a firm line on dual membership ahead of the local government elections, telling members with SACP affiliation they must declare by 11 May which party they will campaign for — and warning that “you can’t campaign for the ANC and the party. It is practically impossible.”
Mbalula was speaking to the media outside Jack Botes Hall in Polokwane on Sunday, shortly after the funeral service of Ntate Makgalemele Donald Molepo, father of ANC Limpopo Deputy Provincial Chairperson and Polokwane Executive Mayor John Mpe.
The Secretary-General said the ANC had already cautioned the SACP against its decision to contest elections independently of the African National Congress.
“Communist Party which they have taken independently from the African National Congress. We only advised against it in terms of the consolidation of the progressive force and the fact that that decision in itself might be weakened the progressive forces in a movement led by the African National Congress as a vanguard,” Mbalula said on Sunday.
“So we failed to get that advice across. Now we are dealing with the consequences of the decision and dealing with the consequences of the decision among others we’ve got to define in terms of our constitution the role of members.”
Mbalula stressed that dual membership remains ANC policy, grounded in the theory of the National Democratic Revolution.
“Dualism is not disputed. It is intact. It is informed by our commitment to the National Democratic Revolution which is a theory of our struggle,” he said.
“What we are seeking to do is to say what boundaries are there and how to avoid conflict between these member organisations. And then we have availed our constitution.”
He moved to dismiss a legal opinion circulating on social media.
“I’ve seen a legal opinion that is circulated on social media by some people who say they are lawyers of the ANC and the SACP. We don’t have such. We have never commissioned such a legal opinion. It doesn’t come from the ANC. It’s of voluntary people who are doing their own thing.”
“We are steadfast. Our decisions are informed by the constitution and that legal opinion is basing its analysis on one rule of the constitution. Not on the rule of what happens if you join another party to oppose the ANC or you are not part of the ANC campaign.”
“Our constitution then says dualism is acceptable among alliance partners but it also addresses the question of those who may contest against the ANC. It is very clear with regard to that.”
Mbalula confirmed the process now underway across ANC structures.
“So we are not at war with the party. We are focused on our work and we are preparing our structures,” he said.
“We have informed our structures that by eleventh of May all members must report at the branch level and at the regional level and then the SG will have a consolidated report.”
“So if you decide that in the campaign you will campaign for the Communist Party nothing wrong with it but you can't have them both. You can't campaign for the ANC and the party. It is practically impossible.”
He added that cooperation between the ANC and SACP during the campaign was still possible.
“Can the ANC cooperate with the Communist Party in the campaign? We will and we can and that is why we say members must not treat this stance of the party as animosity. We are just addressing practicalities of how to operate as the two formations and give guidance to members and the NEC met over this, mandated by the general council, and we have given guidance to structures and we are implementing and that's what we are doing at the present moment.”
The remarks follow a sharp exchange last week between the ANC and SACP. At Cosatu House on Wednesday, 23 April, SACP General Secretary Solly Mapaila said the party would not “submit to intimidation and ultimatums”.
He said the SACP’s 2024 decision to contest local government elections independently was born from “a sober assessment of the crisis facing local government,” the “weakening hold of the liberation movement over working-class communities,” and the need to rebuild “a direct, independent and accountable political presence of the working class.”
Mapaila cited “political deviations” from common ownership of land and wealth, declining voter turnout, a drift toward neoliberal policies, and corruption as key fractures. He accused Mbalula of orchestrating an “intimidation tirade” to isolate and censure communists.
The ANC has disputed the SACP’s claim that there was no consultation. First Deputy Secretary-General Nomvula Mokonyane said several meetings were held with the SACP on electoral outcomes.
Mokonyane said dual campaigning would confuse voters: “We must also think about members of the ANC who may be confused seeing the red caravan at 6am and seeing the black, green, and gold truck at four in the afternoon. You can’t be in both. Because remember, you are fishing in the same pool.”
The ANC, SACP and Cosatu have been in a Tripartite Alliance since 1990. But the SACP’s decision to run independently has placed that relationship under unprecedented strain ahead of municipal polls.
The ANC’s national vote share fell from 57.5% in 2019 to 40.18% in 2024. In the 2021 local government elections it dropped to 45.59%, down from 53.91% in 2016, and lost outright control of six of eight metros.
Both parties still share prominent dual members, including Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe and Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela.
Mbalula’s comments on Sunday came as ANC top officials, NEC members, PEC members, REC members, ANC Limpopo spokesperson Tonny Rachoene and ANCYL President Collen Malatji attended the funeral of Ntate Molepo. The service reflected the unity of the leadership elected at the 11th ANC Limpopo Elective Conference.
With the 11 May deadline now public, branch and regional structures are expected to compile lists for the Secretary-General’s office. The choice for dual members is blunt: campaign for the ANC, or campaign for the SACP — not both.
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