SACP distances itself from Cengani remarks in Komani dispute

The South African Communist Party and its youth wing in Chris Hani District issued back-to-back statements on Monday distancing themselves from comments made by their District Secretary at an ANC gathering, reaffirming that the SACP will contest the 2026 Local Government Elections independently.

The dispute centers on remarks by Jongumzi Cengani, SACP District Secretary, at an ANC meeting in Komani.

The SACP Chris Hani District said it “noted with serious concern the remarks made by its District Secretary” and moved to clarify the Party’s position.

“The Party wishes to categorically state that the District Secretary was expressing personal views as an ordinary member of the ANC and was not representing the official position of the SACP regarding the contesting of State Power in the upcoming 2026 Local Government Elections,” said
Lazola Pukwana, SACP District Chairperson.

Hours later, the Young Communist League of South Africa in the district released its own response.

“The Young Communist League of South Africa (YCLSA) in the Chris Hani District distances itself from the utterances made by District Secretary Comrade Jongumzi Cengani during the ANC Regional General Council (RGC), where he suggested that the district is divided on the decision of the South African Communist Party (SACP) to contest state power,” YCLSA District secretary Yonela Gxothiwe said.

Both organizations pointed to the 5th Special National Congress as the binding authority.

Pukwana noted that “no District Executive Committee (DEC) meeting has ever been convened to deliberate on the resolutions of the 5th Special National Congress concerning the 2026 Local Government Elections”.

He added that members “are expected to implement the resolutions of the 5th Special National Congress, which mandate the SACP to contest the 2026 Local Government Elections, Wall-to-Wall”.

The YCLSA was more pointed: “The decision for the SACP to contest elections independently is a Congress resolution, adopted democratically with his full participation. It is therefore not subject to alteration by individuals, factions, or districts. Only a duly constituted Congress has the authority to review or reverse such a decision”.

Gxothiwe accused some members of undermining the Party to protect their positions.

“We note with serious concern the emerging trend of political cowardice among certain members of the SACP who, out of fear of losing positions within government deployed through the ANC, seek to undermine the Party by using it as a scapegoat,” Gxothiwe said.

The SACP statement invoked revolutionary discipline, citing Amílcar Cabral: “members must reject opportunism, confront falsehoods, and uphold the interests of the Party and the people at all times”.

Despite the dispute, both statements stressed that electoral work is proceeding.

Pukwana said the Party is “building its electoral structures and preparing its Red Army to defend, advance, and deepen the National Democratic Revolution”.

Through the 2026 polls, it “aims to secure direct representation in municipal councils”.

Gxothiwe ended with a call to action: “The SACP has taken a historic decision to contest elections wall-to-wall across municipalities in South Africa. This decision stands and cannot be altered outside Congress. We call on Comrade Cengani to refrain from misleading statements. The SACP will contest elections in Chris Hani District and all wards across the country”.

Gxothiwe urged supporters to “Vote SACP. Vote for Working-Class Power”.