JOHANNESBURG, GAUTENG — As the SACP 2026 election results continue to be tallied at the National Results Operations Center, the South African Communist Party is celebrating what it calls a remarkable historic milestone. For the first time in the democratic era, the over-100-year-old party is contesting local government elections independently, marking a significant break from its long-standing alliance history.
With 2.5% of the votes counted, the party has surpassed the 500,000-vote mark. SACP spokesperson Mbulelo Mandlana described the party as “ecstatic” about the performance, calling it an important achievement. According to Mandlana, the party saw particularly strong support in the Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga, and is beginning to pick up momentum in Limpopo. However, he acknowledged that the results in major metropolitan areas were not as strong.
When questioned about the 2.5% share—especially given the party’s historical membership of 110,000, immense name recognition, and the fact that smaller parties might secure more council seats—Mandlana defended the outcome by highlighting the broader political and financial context. He emphasized that the SACP entered the elections as the least funded party, receiving no financial backing from major businesses or large funders in the South African political landscape.
Mandlana noted that while the SACP has a long history, including participating in local elections in the Free State town of Metsimahole and running white-only candidates during the apartheid era, this is their first independent run in modern democracy. The party was also banned in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He argued that achieving these numbers with a “zero budget” in an environment he described as “grossly anti-communist” and dominated by neoliberal thought is a profound advance for the working class.
Addressing speculation about the party’s impact on its former alliance partners, Mandlana firmly rejected the notion that the SACP took votes away from the African National Congress (ANC). Instead, he argued that the party attracted ordinary South Africans seeking an “honest left alternative.” He attributed their support to a core base of left-leaning citizens, including the working class, rural communities, and the peasantry, who had previously been simmering under the surface.
Looking ahead, Mandlana acknowledged that the party needs to improve its direct access to the industrial and urban working class, noting that their current footprint in some urban areas could be stronger. Despite the current limitations, he stated that the SACP has built a solid foundation with representation in every district and province, setting its sights on proving its electoral strength and growing its influence ahead of the 2029 general elections.
