By localnew 
JOHANNESBURG – The South African Communist Party (SACP) says it remains open to reconfiguring the tripartite alliance, but insists that its decision to contest elections does not mean the alliance has collapsed.
This comes amid growing speculation that the SACP’s move to participate independently in elections could destabilise the long-standing partnership between the party, the ANC and Cosatu.
For decades, the SACP has campaigned side-by-side with the ANC. However, tensions escalated after the ANC excluded SACP members from its election strategy meetings on Thursday.
President Cyril Ramaphosa previously warned that the SACP’s independent contest could split votes and confuse supporters.
Despite this, the SACP is standing firm.
SACP’s Madala Masuku says the party is concerned that the ANC wants to reduce the alliance to a transactional relationship rather than a genuine political partnership.
He emphasised that the SACP “is not the ANC’s buddy,” and said the focus should remain on serving the people, not maintaining convenience-based relations.
Still, Masuku made it clear that leaving the alliance is not an option, saying the SACP is committed to working within the alliance structure—provided that respect and political principle guide the relationship.