The South African Communist Party (SACP) and the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (Contralesa) held a bilateral meeting yesterday to solidify a shared vision for improving living conditions under the leadership of traditional leaders and the working class.
SACP spokesperson Mbulelo Mandlana emphasized the urgent need to resolve South Africa’s land question, proposing a national referendum as a potential solution. “The mechanisms employed over the past 30 years have failed to address land inequality,” Mandlana stated, highlighting the persistent disparities in land ownership between historically privileged and marginalized groups.
The meeting underscored calls for a radical policy shift on land ownership, use, and spatial development. Mandlana argued that traditional leaders and working-class communities must play a central role in shaping equitable land redistribution.
While reaffirming the SACP’s commitment to the ANC-led alliance, Mandlana clarified that the discussion was not about the alliance’s future but about accelerating land reform. He also noted the SACP’s plans to contest elections independently, focusing on reconnecting with communities on issues like development and crime.
The SACP and Contralesa aim to elevate the land debate, pressing for immediate action to address one of South Africa’s most enduring injustices.
