South African communists blast Trump's imperialist agenda: "We will not bow to imperialist threats"

In a statement issued on 6 February 2025, the South African Communist Party (SACP) condemns U.S President Donald Trump's threats against South Africa and defends the country's national sovereignty. 

The statement reads:

"The South African Communist Party (SACP) unequivocally condemns the right-wing conservative President of the United States, Donald Trump, in the strongest possible terms. We reject his imperialist agenda and the entire United States imperialism and its extension to our country with the contempt it deserves.

Joe Slovo: 30 years since the death of South African communist leader

Joe Slovo with Nelson Mandela

The 6th of January 2025 marked the 30th death anniversary of Joe Slovo, anti-apartheid fighter, leader of the South African Communist Party (SACP) from 1984 to 1991 and leading member of the African National Congress (ANC). He served as Minister of Housing in Nelson Mandela's first government, from April 1994 until his death.

Born as Yossel Mashel Slovo on 23 May 1926 in Obelai, Lithuania, Slovo’s journey to South Africa at the age of nine marked the beginning of his lifelong commitment to the working class and its struggles. His childhood hardships forced him to start working in a warehouse at the age of sixteen, where he encountered the harsh realities of capitalist exploitation. 

Israel: Communist lawmaker Ofer Cassif faces possible expulsion from Knesset

Seventy Knesset members signed a motion on Monday to support the expulsion of lawmaker Ofer Cassif (Hadash) from the Knesset over his support of South Africa’s petition against the Israeli government at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Cassif announced on Sunday that he would be joining the lawsuit against the war in Gaza in the Hague. More specifically, in his announcement, he claimed:

South African communist leader Chris Matlhako dies

The South African Communist Party (SACP) conveys its message of deepest condolences to the family of Comrade Chris Matlhako, SACP 15^th National Congress Central Committee member who served our Party and movement diligently. 

Comrade Chris Matlhako passed away on Thursday morning, 20 April 2023. The SACP also sends its message of condolences to the entire liberation movement which he served till he breathed his last, as well as the working-class across the world. 

10th anniversary of Marikana massacre: Statement by the South African Communist Party

On the 10th anniversary of the Marikana tragedy, the South African Communist Party (SACP) reiterates its call for workers and trade unions to unite with each other and together wage the common struggles against exploitation by capitalist bosses and for a capable and accountable democratic developmental state.

The SACP, once again, conveys its message of sincere condolences and solidarity to all the families of the workers who were killed before, during and after that tragic day, 16 August 2012, to the workers who were victimised, attacked and displaced, and to all the women workers who were sexually abused and raped. 

South African Communist Party elects Solly Mapaila as new General Secretary

Solly Mapaila (left) with former General Secretary Blade Nzimande.

Solly Mapaila, who served as the second Deputy General Secretary from 2012 to 2017, replaces Blade Nzimande as the new General Secretary of the South African Communist Party (SACP) following a vote by the 15th National Congress. 

Mapaila has expressed vocal opposition against corruption and was among the leaders who called former South African President Jacob Zuma to resign before the end of his term. 

Nzimande, the Party's long-time General Secretary since 1998 was elected Chairperson. 

100th anniversary of the Young Communist League of South Africa

In a statement about the 100th anniversary of the Young Communist League of South Africa, the South African Communist Party (SACP) points out:

"The South African Communist Party (SACP) salutes the Young Communist League of South Africa on this important occasion, the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Young Communist League of South Africa. Young Communist activity in our country, to be more specific in the centre of our economy, Johannesburg, dates back to before 1922. It dates back to 1921, just after the formation of the Communist Party. However, it was not until the 25th of May 1922 that the Party established the Young Communist League as a national youth organisation, as the scientific socialist voice of the South African youth.

On the passing of Archbishop Desmond Tutu

South African Anglican Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, who died Sunday 26 December at the age of 90, was certainly an interesting and influential religious leader. 

He will be remembered for his active stance against the racist Apartheid, as well as for his reconciliatory role as the chairperson of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Nonetheless, despite his self-identification as a "socialist" and his criticism towards capitalism, the late Archbishop was a staunch anti-communist. In 1985 he stated that he hated Marxism-Leninism "with every fiber of his being", while he used to compare the socialist countries with far-right regimes, even Nazism! 

South African Communist Party celebrates its centenary

The weekend 30 July – 1 August 2021 marks the 100th anniversary of the founding conference of the South African Communist Party (SACP) as the Communist Party of South Africa.

The SACP held a Special Centenary Central Committee meeting on Monday, 26 July 2021. The meeting discussed the current political situation in our country and the SACP Centenary Statement to be delivered by the Party General Secretary Dr Blade Nzimande on Sunday, 1 August 2021, during a hybrid rally scheduled to celebrate the 100th founding anniversary of the Party. 

South African trade union leader Khaya Xaba dies

The national spokesperson for the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (NEHAWU), Khaya Xaba, has died. The union said he had died in the early hours of Sunday morning due to "illness complications".

In a statement, the South African Communist Party (SACP) points out:

"The South African Communist Party (SACP) expresses its message of heartfelt condolences to the family of Comrade Khaya Xaba, the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu), the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), and the Young Communist League of South Africa (YCLSA). The National Spokesperson of Nehawu passed away in the early hours of Sunday, 13 June 2021 after experiencing complications from an illness. It was with great sadness that we learnt of Comrade Khaya’s untimely death.

Nelson Mandela — The international working class movement honors his legacy

Today, July 18, 2020 marks the 102nd anniversary since the birth of Nelson Mandela, the iconic South African leader and anti-apartheid revolutionary. Honoring his legacy, the World Federation of Trade Unions and the Trade Union International-Public Service & Allied (TUI-PS&A) issued the following statement:

Today, the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU)-Trade Union International-Public Service & Allied (TUI-PS&A) joins humanity in remembering the contributions and sacrifices of a man who dedicated his whole life to the course of building a more humane world, Comrade Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. Nelson Mandela embodied more than just the spirit of narrow volunteerism and philanthropy: he was a revolutionary. 

South African Communist Party: Declaration of the 4th Special National Congress

Declaration of the 4th Special National Congress of the South African Communist Party (SACP)

We, delegates of the Fourth Special National Congress of the South African Communist Party, representing 319,000 Party members, carrying on our shoulders the aspirations and hopes of the working class of our country, convened from 9 to 12 December 2019 in Ekurhuleni. 

Eric "Stalin" Mtshali, South Africa's veteran communist and anti-apartheid symbol, dies

Comrade Eric "Stalin" Mtshali (84), a long standing SACP leader, a veteran of our struggle for complete liberation and social emancipation, has ceased to breathe in the early hours of Friday, 12 October 2018. The South African Communist Party announced this great loss with deep sorrow.

Comrade Blade Nzimande, SACP General Secretary conveys our heartfelt condolences to the family of Mtshali, our entire movement and the people of South Africa as a whole. The SACP will announce memorial and funeral service details in due course after consultation with the family and the Alliance.

Nelson Mandela's historic speech in Cuba

Today, 18th of July, is the 100th birthday of the late South African revolutionary leader Nelson Mandela. On this occasion, we present Mandela's historic speech given in Matanzas, Cuba, on the 26th July 1991, during the celebrations for the 38th anniversary of the beginning of the Cuban Revolution. 

Speech by Nelson Mandela

Friday, 26 July 1991.

First secretary of the Communist Party, President of the Council of State and of the government of Cuba, President of the socialist republic of Cuba, Commander-in-chief, Comrade Fidel Castro;

SACP: The Significance of the 1917 October Revolution for South Africa (19th IMCWP)

Contribution of the South African Communist Party (SACP) at the 19th International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties, held in Leningrad (St.Peterburg), 2-4 November 2017.

The Significance of the Russian Revolution for South Africa

Mzwandile Makwayiba elected new President of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU)

The President of the South African National Education Health & Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU), Cde. Mzwandile Makwayiba elected President of the World Federation of Trade Unions during the recent 17th Congress of WFTU in Durban.

The Secretariat of NEHAWU issued a statement congratulating Cde.Makwayiba: 

The National Education Health & Allied Workers Union [NEHAWU] congratulates its President, Cde Mzwandile Makwayiba for being elected as President of the World Federation of Trade Unions [WFTU] at the 17th Congress held in Durban last week. Cde Makwayiba will be President for the next five years.

His election proves the confidence WFTU has in his leadership capacity and we as NEHAWU, are more than convinced that he will tackle his new responsibility with aplomb. We wish him well in his new duty to service the more than 78 million workers belonging to more than 210 trade union organizations, from 105 countries across all six inhabited continents.

The 17th World Trade Union Congress kicks off in South Africa

DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA- Hundreds of workers and employees from 111 countries of the 5 continents are in Durban, South Africa in order to participate to the 17th World Trade Union Congress, organized in the heroic land of South Africa. So far, according to the featured numbers, in the Congress are going to take part:

-1200 trade-union participants
-111 countries from the 5 continents
-340 women trade-unionists
-31% of the delegates are from the Public Sector and 69% are private employees.

The WFTU leadership would like to thank the South Africa working class as well as its militant trade unions for their great initiative to host a great trade union event like this. The 17th World Trade Union Congress is going to be a great democratic, open, internationalist and class-oriented trade union event .

CIA was behind the arrest of 'dangerous communist' Nelson Mandela, reveals former US spy

A former CIA agent has finally confirmed what the world has long suspected: the US agency was behind the arrest that put Nelson Mandela in prison for 27 years.

Two weeks before “unrepentant” 88-year-old Donald Rickard died, the CIA spy confessed to filmmaker John Irvin that his tip led to Mandela’s arrest, according to a report in the Sunday Times.

Rickard defended the arrest of South Africa’s most wanted man in 1962, which he says was necessary to capture “the world’s most dangerous communist outside of the Soviet Union.”

Rickard, who was officially working as US vice consul in the South African city of Durban at the time, said he learned Mandela was on his way to Natal, traveling between Johannesburg and Durban.