Thokozani S’Bongiseni Magwaza
In a political environment plagued by stagnation, disillusionment and widening inequality, the SACP’s decision to contest elections independently is not just bold, it’s historic.
For decades, the SACP has operated within the tripartite alliance, mostly in the shadows of the ANC, paralysed by caution and confined to a role of symbolic influence rather than genuine power. Its voice, once militant, revolutionary and people-centred, was too often muffled by alliance politics and the burden of compromise.
This paralysis, what psychologist Martin Seligman terms “learned helplessness”, saw the party trapped in a cycle of internal hesitation and external irrelevance.
Learned helplessness refers to a psychological condition where individuals, after repeated exposure to uncontrollable negative situations, begin to believe that they are powerless even when opportunities for change exist.
This concept applies not only to individuals but to institutions too.
The SACP, for years, embodied that dynamic: convinced that stepping out of the alliance would result in political oblivion, it settled for ideological footnotes instead of direct influence.
But the resolution adopted at its special congress in December 2024 marks a break from that cycle.
At last, the SACP is confronting its fear of the unknown and stepping into the light. It is choosing to act instead of waiting. It is embracing uncertainty rather than remaining shackled to predictability.
The launch of the Red Caravan Campaign, led by SACP general secretary Solly Mapaila, is more than just an electoral strategy; it’s a rebirth of purpose. It signals a willingness to trust the people directly, to meet them on the ground, and to listen without the buffer of alliance bureaucracy.
It is a gamble, for sure, but it is also a profound rejection of political elitism, of careerism and of a growing culture of distance between leaders and the people they claim to serve.
What makes this move so powerful is not merely its symbolism but its timing.
South Africa is at a crossroads. Millions of citizens, especially the working class and unemployed youth, have grown weary of promises that never materialise.
For too long, they have been told to wait for the economy to grow, for policies to align, for better days that never seem to come; wait for leaders to remember them.
The SACP’s shift to independent contestation offers a new message: the time for waiting is over. Now is the time for action – direct, unapologetic, people-driven action.
This is a chance for the SACP to reconnect with its revolutionary roots – to once again become the voice of the workers, the poor, the marginalised, and the forgotten.
But this will not be an easy path. Not everyone within the party will embrace this bold departure.
Many prefer the stability of old arrangements, the comfort of political appointments, and the predictability of alliance negotiations. The fear of losing positions and power is real.
But as Paulo Freire warned, neutrality in the face of oppression is itself a form of siding with the oppressor. Those who refuse to pick a side in the struggle between the powerful and the powerless have already chosen to defend the status quo.
The SACP now has a rare opportunity: to show the nation that real, grassroots-driven change is still possible. But it will require humility and discipline. It must not fall into the trap of top-down politics. It must not speak for the people – it must speak with them. It must not act as a saviour but as a comrade in the trenches against poverty, inequality and injustice.
Any-thing less is charity, not revolution. And the people of South Africa do not need charity. They need power.
If the SACP remains resolute, this moment could become much more than a political experiment.
It could signal the beginning of a new era – one in which leftist politics in SA are no longer synonymous with nostalgia and struggle credentials, but with courage, imagination, and accountability.
A politics where the working class is no longer a rhetorical device in campaign speeches, but a real, empowered force in shaping policy and governance.
A politics that does not fear the unknown but welcomes it as the only path toward a truly liberated future.
In the end, what the SACP has done is plant a flag. Not in opposition to the ANC but in commitment to its original values. Not in rebellion for its own sake but in service of the people who can no longer afford to wait.
And that, in this era of political cynicism, is something truly worth fighting for.
- Magwaza holds a master of social science degree in development studies from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. He is also a candidate PhD student in the same institution. He writes in his own capacity. He can be contacted on 0823036721 and kufamagwaza@gmail.com
