Tuesday, 1 September 2026: - The South African Communist Party (SACP) in the Western Cape has learnt, through the Office of the Speaker of the Western Cape Provincial Legislature, of a notice seeking the removal of the Provincial Secretary of the SACP, Comrade Benson Ngqentsu, as a Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL), as well as the removal of SACP members serving as councillors in several municipalities across the province, including Knysna and Overberg. In a letter addressed by the African National Congress (ANC) to the Speaker of the Western Cape Provincial Legislature, the ANC alleges that Comrade Benson is no longer a member of the ANC because he has joined another political organisation and therefore should be removed as an MPL.
Similar actions are being pursued against several SACP members serving as councillors across the province. Thus, the SACP notes with dismay and utter disgust this false pretext to purge the Provincial Secretary, Comrade Benson Ngqentsu, from the Provincial Legislature in his capacity as an ANC Caucus representative, together with SACP members and leaders serving in municipal councils.
For the records, the outcomes of the 2024 National and Provincial Elections were not the product of any single component of the Alliance. They were the outcome of the collective efforts of the ANC, SACP, COSATU and SANCO. The ANC is therefore historically bound to honour the equality and revolutionary character of the Alliance Pact.
It is fundamentally ahistorical for the ANC to act unilaterally and assume that Alliance partners are deployed to serve at its behest and at its convenience. The Alliance entrusted the ANC with the responsibility of leading the Alliance. It did not give it a mandate to dictate to its revolutionary partners.
In recent years, the ANC has increasingly transformed its role from that of a leader of the Alliance into that of a dictator of the Alliance. This explains the arrogance and gangster-like behaviour now being displayed towards Communist cadres and other Alliance partners. Comrade Benson Ngqentsu and other SACP public representatives were not removed because of any wrongdoing; thus, we described it as a badge of honour. Their targeting represents a political purge, driven by their unwavering loyalty to the SACP and their commitment to advancing the National Democratic Revolution (NDR)—our shared programme forged through decades of struggle—as well as the Alliance Election Manifesto adopted as the common platform for the 2024 National and Provincial Elections.
Comrade Benson's conduct and record in the Legislature have epitomised the political integrity, competence and revolutionary commitment expected of an SACP public representative. Our Red public representatives have not stolen public money, abused their positions to entrench patronage, or used public office to serve narrow personal interests. They have represented the working class with humility, dedication and revolutionary conviction.
Their purging must therefore be understood for what it is: another tactic in the broader offensive against Communists within the ANC and against the independent political voice of the working class. Despite the anti-communist offensive, the SACP remains steadfast in its commitment to the National Democratic Revolution and to the programme contained in the 2024 Alliance Election Manifesto.
The SACP will contest the local government elections
The SACP remains firmly committed to its resolution to contest the Local Government Elections (LGE).
It is perhaps precisely that this decision to contest the LGE wall-to-wall and the Party's achievements in preparing for these elections, including fielding 100% of candidates in the Cape Metro and 94% across the Western Cape Province, which have caused paranoia within ANC ranks.
The irrational targeting of the SACP Provincial Secretary and other Communist public representatives must be understood within this broader political context. The ANC has a political and electoral contract with all Alliance-deployed cadres arising from the 2024 elections. If the ANC wishes to review or fundamentally alter its relationship with the SACP, it must do so politically, collectively and procedurally, rather than targeting individual Communists and attempting to remove them through politically motivated dismissals.
SACP directive to deployed cadres
The SACP's directive to all deployed cadres serving in the Western Cape Provincial Legislature and municipalities across the province is clear: they must remain in their positions and ignore the ANC's dismissal letters. Our public representatives were elected to serve communities and advance the interests of the working class. They must continue carrying out their responsibilities with discipline, integrity and commitment to the people. The SACP will not allow political intimidation or administrative manoeuvres to silence its representatives or undermine the independent voice of Communists in the Legislature and municipal councils.
Build people's power where we live
The SACP calls on all Communists, workers and working-class communities to remain united, vigilant, organised and resolutely focused on the Party's LGE campaign. Attempts to weaken, intimidate or silence revolutionary voices will not derail our struggle. On the contrary, they will strengthen our determination to organise the working class and build people's power where we live. Our campaign remains centred on the material needs and aspirations of working-class communities: BUILD PEOPLE'S POWER WHERE WE LIVE! FOR THE RIGHT TO WORK, WATER, ELECTRICITY, ROADS, LAND AND SAFETY FOR ALL!
The SACP will assert its independent voice in the streets and council chambers of municipalities across the Western Cape. We will continue organising workers and communities, defending the interests of the working class and advancing the People's Red Caravan for Socialism.
ISSUED BY:
SOUTH AFRICAN COMMUNIST PARTY - WESTERN CAPE
FOR ENQUIRIES:
Anthony Dietrich - Provincial Chairperson
076 045 8407
Lizwi Gegula - Provincial Spokesperson
078 827 2274
ISSUED BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN COMMUNIST PARTY,
FOUNDED IN 1921 AS THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF SOUTH AFRICA.
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