South African Communist Party (SACP) general secretary Solly Mapaila says political parties can no longer take voters for granted, as he hailed the party’s performance in its first local government elections contested independently of the ANC.
Speaking to the media at the National Results Operations Centre (ROC) in Midrand on Friday, as the Electoral Commission (IEC) continued capturing election results, Mapaila said the SACP’s electoral debut demonstrated the importance of grassroots mobilisation and direct engagement with communities.
The party contested the 4 November local government elections independently of its longstanding alliance partner, the ANC, marking a significant shift in its electoral approach.
Mapaila said the SACP had managed to secure support despite campaigning without financial resources, relying instead on volunteers, party structures and direct community engagement.
“We are humbled by the expression of South Africans at the polls. We are grateful and humbled by those who voted for the SACP,” Mapaila said.
“This is a product of people’s intervention and self-reliance. We campaigned with a zero budget.”
He said the party’s success in winning wards in some communities demonstrated that voters were prepared to support political formations that responded directly to their needs.
“We have gone in directly to take over wards in communities, and this has really humbled us as the SACP. We will treat our people with the greatest respect.”
Mapaila maintained that the party’s electoral campaign had focused on practical solutions to challenges facing communities rather than making promises that could not be fulfilled.
He said SACP members had been encouraged to identify problems and ensure that meaningful interventions followed.
“As a member of the SACP, you should not be seeing a problem in communities twice. The second time, there must be a solution,” he said.
According to Mapaila, the party had prioritised community development and redirected resources towards addressing immediate challenges faced by residents.
“We were also practical to their immediate situations. We diverted funds for community development. That’s the basis we think that is why people reacted in this way.”
He said the party’s approach had been shaped by a commitment to representing working-class communities and ensuring that their concerns remained central to its political programme.
“We will be speaking for communities and the working class, no one else,” Mapaila said.
He also praised SACP members for working closely with residents, saying their willingness to put communities first had contributed to the party’s electoral performance.
“The biggest issue for us has been how comrades have humbled themselves and worked with communities.”
Mapaila’s remarks come as political parties assess their performance in the 2026 local government elections, with the results expected to influence coalition negotiations and the composition of municipal councils across the country.
The SACP’s decision to contest independently of the ANC represents a notable development in South Africa’s alliance politics, with the party seeking to establish its own electoral identity while maintaining its stated commitment to working-class interests.
Mapaila warned that political parties could no longer assume that historical loyalties would automatically translate into electoral support.
“There is no automatic support for any political party,” he said.
His remarks suggest that the SACP views its electoral debut as an opportunity to strengthen its direct relationship with voters and build a political presence rooted in community-level activism.
The party has not yet provided a consolidated national assessment of the number of votes or council seats it expects to secure, with the IEC still processing results.
Meanwhile, another party contesting the local government elections for the first time, RISE Mzansi, has welcomed its performance, particularly in Gauteng.
In a separate statement delivered at the ROC, RISE Mzansi national leader Songezo Zibi said the party expected to secure representation in Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni and Mogale City.
“RISE Mzansi made the strategic decision to contest only seven municipalities across three provinces in order to maintain and grow our core base of supporters following our debut election in 2024. In Gauteng, we contested in Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni and Mogale City. In the Eastern Cape, we were in Buffalo City; and in Limpopo, we were in Greater Tzaneen and Polokwane”, Zibi said.
“Voters have recognised and appreciated RISE Mzansi as honest, ethical and trustworthy. Our political opponents across the aisle recognise this too. RISE Mzansi is a small party, but it is effective in building a South Africa where all her people live lives of dignity,” he added.
Zibi said the party’s electoral gains demonstrated growing support for political alternatives focused on ethical leadership, accountable government and improved service delivery.
He also confirmed that coalition discussions had begun, emphasising that negotiations should prioritise the interests of residents rather than political positions.