SACP ousts Gwede Mantashe from Central Committee

Zuko Komisa

The South African Communist Party (SACP) has removed Gwede Mantashe from its Central Committee due to his repeated and unexplained absences from meetings.
This decision comes amid rising tensions within the Tripartite Alliance as the SACP prepares to contest the 2026 local elections independently.
SACP spokesperson Mbulelo Mandlana stated that Mantashe’s failure to attend meetings or provide apologies led to the decision, citing his many obligations as a potential reason.

The South African Communist Party (SACP) has confirmed it has removed African National Congress (ANC) National Chairperson Gwede Mantashe from its Central Committee.

The SACP stated the decision was based solely on Mantashe’s persistent non-attendance at important meetings without providing any explanation or apology.

The dismissal comes as the SACP plans to contest the 2026 local elections independently, a move that has heightened tensions within the Tripartite Alliance.

Mantashe, a long-time SACP member and current Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, has reportedly downplayed the dismissal.^{However, the ANC has cautioned that the SACP’s actions could fracture their decades-long partnership.}

SACP spokesperson Mbulelo Mandlana confirmed the Central Committee’s decision was based on Mantashe’s failure to comply with constitutional requirements.

“When you are required to attend a central committee a number of times, if you do not, you must present an official apology, none of which has occurred,” Mandlana said. “It has become clear to the central committee that Mantashe may be having too many obligations on his plate that disallow him to fulfil his constitutional and leadership role as a Communist Party leader.”