Local News
SACP claims municipality denied hall for public meeting
The South African Communist Party’s Mlungisi Cluster has accused the Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality of denying it access to the Mzingisi Skhweyiya Community Hall for a mass meeting planned for Thursday, 9 July 2026.
In a statement issued today, the SACP said it was “deeply concerned by what we view as unequal treatment in the allocation of a public facility.”
*“Not the property of any political party”*
According to the SACP, it applied to use the hall for a lawful public gathering but was refused access. The party alleges the ANC has been granted repeated access to the same venue without charge.
“The Mzingisi Skhweyiya Community Hall belongs to the people of our community. It is not the property of any political party, nor should it be treated as an ANC venue controlled by any individual, including Councillor Sphenathi Lali,” the statement read.
The SACP argued that public infrastructure is funded by taxpayers and “must serve all residents and all organisations equally, regardless of political affiliation.”
Despite the alleged refusal, the SACP Mlungisi Cluster confirmed the mass meeting will go ahead on Thursday, 9 July 2026, at the scheduled time and venue.
“We call upon all members, supporters and community residents to attend peacefully, conduct themselves with discipline and respect the law while exercising their democratic rights,” the party said.
The SACP said the issue extends beyond one organisation. “It concerns the principle that public resources must be administered fairly and transparently for the benefit of the entire community.”
The statement concluded: “Bayangcangcazela. Enough is enough.”
The SACP said it stands for “democracy, accountability, equality before the law and the constitutional rights of every South African” and rejected any conduct that “seeks to prevent political diversity or limit democratic participation through unequal access to public facilities.”
The Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality had not responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.
