POLITICAL HISTORY
SACP breaks alliance ranks in local election
South African Communist Party to contest Metsimaholo municipal election in the Free State under its own banner
In a historic move the South African Communist Party (SACP) will contest Wednesday’s Metsimaholo municipal election in the Free State under its own banner. The decision will pit it against its alliance partner, the ANC, among others. It will be the first time the partners vie for political power against each other. The SACP, ANC and Cosatu form the tripartite alliance, in which relationships have deteriorated to their lowest levels yet. The ANC has always contested elections as the political vehicle for the alliance, with the support of the two allies. The re-election had to take place after the Metsimaholo council was dissolved in terms of section 139 (4) of the Constitution, governing what happens if a council fails in its legal obligation to approve a budget. The budget for the 2017-18 financial year was due on June 30. Apart from the council being dissolved, an administrator was appointed for 90 days. The municipality was initially governed by a coalition of the DA, Freedom Fron...
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