SOSHANGUVE, Pretoria — In a significant shake-up ahead of the 2026 local government elections, the Afrika Unite Congress (AUC) has officially thrown its political weight behind the South African Communist Party (SACP). The strategic alignment marks a pivotal moment for grassroots coalitions, as the SACP seeks to broaden its electoral base while running independently of its traditional allies.
Lizwi Ncwane, the President and founder of the Afrika Unite Congress—a party established in 2023—delivered the resounding endorsement during a major political gathering on Sunday. The event, held at the Tshwane University of Technology in Soshanguve, served a dual purpose: celebrating the SACP’s 105th anniversary and officially launching the party’s 2026 election manifesto.
Addressing the crowd, Ncwane offered a strong message of solidarity with the communist movement, urging voters to look past historical political loyalties and support the SACP’s independent vision for local governance.
The endorsement arrives at a critical juncture for the SACP. The party recently confirmed that it will not be backing its long-time tripartite alliance partner, the African National Congress (ANC), at the upcoming polls. By choosing to contest the municipal elections entirely on its own, the SACP is actively seeking new strategic partnerships to bolster its independent campaign, making Ncwane’s public backing a highly valuable asset.
Beyond traditional party politics, the Pretoria event also featured a massive mobilization effort aimed at religious and student demographics. Taking the stage, a spokesperson acting as the Secretary General for associated religious formations issued a cordial invitation to the millions of members of the Nazareth Baptist Church to participate in the democratic process.
The mobilization call specifically targeted influential demographic blocs within the church, including its youth formation, known as Nabashu, and its tertiary institutions student formation, Natasa.
With the municipal polls scheduled for November 4, 2026, the Secretary General urged these massive constituencies to turn out in numbers and vote strategically. Emphasizing a unified front between the two allied parties, the spokesperson delivered a clear directive to the energized crowd:
“Make sure that where you go and make a mark, you look for SACP and Afrika Unite Congress.”
As the 2026 local government elections draw nearer, this newly solidified coalition between the SACP and the Afrika Unite Congress signals a growing appetite for alternative political alliances outside of South Africa’s traditional ruling structures.
