SACP-ANC tensions deepen as ANC moves against Benson Ngqentsu

Benson Ngqentsu, ANC Member of Provincial Legislature and SACP provincial secretary in the Western Cape.

The gloves have come off in the Tripartite Alliance in the Western Cape amid simmering tensions between the ANC and the SACP ahead of the upcoming local government elections on November 4.

ANC Provincial Task Team coordinator Thandi Mkasi fired the first salvo when she wrote to Western Cape Legislature Speaker Daylin Mitchell, requesting the removal of SACP provincial secretary Benson Ngqentsu as the ANC Member of Provincial Legislature amid threats of litigation by his party.

Ngqentsu became aware of his removal on Sunday, August 30, 2026, when ANC chief whip Ayanda Bans notified him of the correspondence copied to her and Mitchell subsequently confirmed it. The ANC also wrote to municipalities after it summarily expelled its councillors appearing on lists of other parties.

This was five months after ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula indicated that members holding dual membership should decide who they would support between the ANC and SACP in the municipal elections.

Ngqentsu on Monday, August 31, 2026 said that when they were forced to choose between the SACP and the ANC, his choice was always the working class and its struggle.

“I, therefore, regard my removal from the provincial legislature by the ANC leadership not as a political defeat, but as a badge of honour,” he said.

Ngqentsu also said he did not steal public resources and was not entangled in the tentacles of the underworld criminal network.

“I would rather lose a position than lose my political conviction, the commitment to the class struggle, the struggle for socialism. I would rather stand with the working class than compromise my principles for parliament office,” he added.

The SACP decided to contest the elections independently of the ANC and Ngqentsu has been actively campaigning for the party.

“I am the leader of the SACP and have the political obligation to campaign for the SACP,” he said.

The SACP’s Cape Town district secretary Monde Nqulwana said they were backing Ngqentsu.

“We stand with our provincial secretary and commit to double our efforts to advance our working class campaign during these local government elections. We wish strength to the anti-working class leading the ANC now and beyond November 4,” Nqulwana said.

ANC provincial spokesperson Sifiso Mtsweni confirmed a letter has been sent to Mitchell just as correspondence was sent to councils to remove expelled councillors.