In a political development that underscores the profound realignment of South Africa’s left, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) has confirmed it remains undecided on which of its alliance partners—the African National Congress (ANC) or the South African Communist Party (SACP)—it will endorse in the pivotal 2026 municipal elections. This hesitation marks a critical juncture for the tripartite alliance, which has contested every election under the ANC’s banner since its formation in 1990.
The federation’s dilemma is a direct consequence of the SACP’s recent landmark resolution to break from tradition and contest the upcoming local government elections independently. This move has shattered the decades-old electoral pact, forcing COSATU, the alliance’s traditional kingmaker, into a position of unprecedented strategic choice.
Speaking on the sidelines of a bilateral meeting with the ANC on Monday, COSATU’s parliamentary coordinator, Matthew Parks, emphasized that the federation’s primary goal is unity, not division. “We want to continue our relationship with the ANC and the SACP,” Parks stated. “The message from our workers, delegates, and central committee is we must unite the alliance… We can’t afford to be divided.”
Despite a waning political influence in recent years, COSATU’s endorsement remains a highly coveted asset. As the largest trade union federation in the country, its 20 affiliated unions represent close to two million workers, giving any candidate it backs a significant grassroots mobilizing force and a stamp of approval from organized labor.
Parks revealed that a crucial alliance meeting between all three partners to thrash out the electoral strategy has yet to be scheduled, indicating the sensitive and complex negotiations that lie ahead. COSATU now finds itself in the difficult position of trying to broker peace between its two partners while also needing to make a choice that best serves the interests of its members. Its final decision—whether to side with the historically dominant ANC, throw its weight behind the insurgent SACP, or attempt a fragile compromise—will dramatically reshape the political battlefield in the 2026 local polls and signal the future of the alliance itself.
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