African National Congress (ANC), Secretary General Fikile Mbalula.
The African National Congress (ANC) has finally closed the door on the era of political double-dating. Following a high-stakes National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting and a subsequent briefing by Secretary General Fikile Mbalula, the message to those holding dual membership is blunt: you cannot serve two masters at the same ballot box. The ANC has officially issued an ultimatum that forces members to choose their colours ahead of the 2026 local government elections.
No More “Morning ANC, Afternoon SACP”
Fikile Mbalula’s briefing was a masterclass in practical politics. He made it clear that while the ANC is not “chasing communists out,” the practical reality of an election makes dual campaigning impossible. “I can’t be a Communist Party Mbalula in the afternoon and ANC in the morning,” he stated. For the ANC, this is a matter of discipline. If you are campaigning for the SACP, you cannot attend ANC strategy meetings or sit on its election teams.
The ANC is now issuing formal letters to its members. These letters come with a strict deadline—a “Monday to Monday” window—within which members must declare their loyalty. If a member chooses the SACP, they effectively remove themselves from the ANC’s campaign machinery. This is not an expulsion of communists, but a practical separation of powers.
The Perk Trap for Senior Leaders
This decision hits hardest in the corridors of power. The ANC has clarified that Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Mayors, and MMCs cannot campaign for both parties. They must choose. This creates a massive dilemma for leaders in Limpopo and nationally who have built careers on the back of both organizations.
The choice is now between ideological purity and government perks. Mbalula noted that some have already chosen to stay with the ANC, remaining loyal to the party while keeping their communist identity in name only. For those who choose the SACP, the “consequences” are clear: they can no longer represent the ANC in government or on the campaign trail.
A Friendly Contest or a Final Split?
Mbalula attempted to soften the blow by stating that the “Alliance is not broken” and that the SACP should not be viewed as an “enemy” like other opponents. However, he expressed deep concern over “vitriolic attacks” by the SACP on the ANC. He warned that while the SACP may contest for socialism, it cannot target the ANC as its primary enemy.
Despite the talk of a “friendly” contest, the reality on the ground feels like a final divorce. By forcing a declaration of loyalty, the ANC is ending the “two-room house” arrangement that allowed the SACP to influence government from within while criticizing it from without.
One Foot Out of the Grave
As the deadline approaches, the SACP finds itself in the position described by Dr. Devan Pillay: having “one foot in the grave” of the ANC. The ANC’s move forces the SACP to either pull that foot out and become a truly independent political force or watch its most powerful members abandon ship to save their government careers.
The ANC is done with the talk. “There will never be another meeting again,” Mbalula declared. The lines are drawn, the letters are being sent, and the choice is simple: stay and campaign for the ANC, or take the SACP’s path and leave the ANC’s table. For many, the “Mabahambe” order is the final bell for an alliance that has lasted a century but can no longer survive the heat of an election.