COSATU President Zingiswa Losi Issues Urgent Call for Alliance Unity Amid ANC-SACP Electoral Rift

COSATU’s Zingiswa Losi calls for Tripartite Alliance unity in Polokwane as the ANC and SACP clash over dual membership and independent election bids.

By: AXL Media

Published: May 1, 2026, 8:42 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Independent Online (IOL).

A Fragile Alliance at the Peter Mokaba Stadium

Addressing the national May Day rally at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Friday, May 1, 2026, COSATU President Zingiswa Losi delivered a stern warning to the Tripartite Alliance. With the South African Communist Party (SACP) and the African National Congress (ANC) prepared to go head-to-head in the upcoming November municipal elections, Losi emphasized that the components of the alliance are "allies rather than opponents." She called for a unified front to ensure a decisive victory, arguing that internal fractures only serve to weaken the revolutionary goals of the working class.

The "Dual Membership" Crisis

The tension within the alliance reached a tipping point following an announcement by ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula. Last week, Mbalula issued a 10-day ultimatum to ANC members who also hold SACP membership, forcing them to choose which organization they hold allegiance to before the 2026 polls. The SACP has pushed back, stating that any threat against dual membership places the alliance in "great peril." In their May Day message, the SACP maintained that there is no contradiction between contesting elections directly and remaining in the alliance, provided the partnership is reconfigured to reflect modern political realities.

Limpopo’s Stance on the Rift

Limpopo Premier and ANC Provincial Chairperson Dr. Phophi Ramathuba acknowledged the strain caused by the SACP’s decision to run independently but insisted that the people of Limpopo still "believe in the alliance." Ramathuba noted that the province’s recently elected executive committee continues to include SACP cadres, suggesting that at a provincial level, integration remains a priority. However, she echoed the sentiment that the primary focus must remain on ensuring the ANC continues to lead the alliance through the electoral cycle.