Why Gwede Mantashe was removed from the SACP Central Committee

The South African Communist Party (SACP) has confirmed that Gwede Mantashe is no longer part of its Central Committee, citing repeated absences from meetings without formal apologies.

Speaking at a briefing in Johannesburg, SACP First Deputy General Secretary Madala Masuku said the decision followed the party’s constitution, which disqualifies members who miss more than three consecutive meetings without explanation.

A procedural decision, not a purge

Masuku stressed that Mantashe remains an SACP member and that his removal was not politically motivated.

“Yes, it’s true that comrade Gwede Mantashe is not part of the Central Committee anymore. But he is still a member of the party,” he said.

The party said it attempted several times to keep him engaged but eventually had to “respect the collective” after no change in his attendance.

Why Mantashe was absent

Mantashe, who serves as ANC national chairperson and Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources in the Government of National Unity (GNU), has been grappling with responsibilities in both the ANC and government. According to Masuku, he explained that his workload in the liberation movement left little room for active participation in the SACP Central Committee.

Despite understanding his situation, the SACP insisted that constitutional rules had to be applied.

Tensions between SACP and ANC

The timing of Mantashe’s removal comes against a backdrop of strained relations between the SACP and ANC.

• The SACP recently announced it will contest the 2026 local government elections independently, marking a shift away from its historic electoral partnership with the ANC.

• The party has also been critical of the ANC’s decision to form a GNU with the Democratic Alliance (DA), arguing that the DA does not represent the interests of black South Africans or the working class.

While some analysts suggest Mantashe’s removal reflects deeper ideological rifts, the SACP has maintained that the move was strictly procedural.

What this means politically

Mantashe’s exit highlights the growing independence of the SACP as it positions itself ahead of 2026. For the ANC, the removal of its national chair from a key ally’s leadership structure could signal a weakening of the historic Tripartite Alliance, already under strain after the 2024 elections.

{Source: IOL}

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