The South African Communist Party (SACP) has ruled out entering coalition arrangements with the Democratic Alliance (DA). The party won more than 250 council seats in the 2026 local government elections, which could give it considerable influence over the formation of municipal governments.

In a statement issued this week, the SACP said its political bureau had unanimously reaffirmed its opposition to the composition of the Government of National Unity (GNU), particularly the inclusion of the DA.

The party described the DA as one of the "right-wing, anti-Freedom Charter, neoliberal parties" with which it would refuse to cooperate.

"Honouring the mandate it has received, the SACP will not associate itself with such parties, their coalition arrangements and their agendas," the statement said.

The decision comes as political parties negotiate coalition agreements in municipalities where no party secured an outright majority in last week’s elections.

The SACP, which contested local government elections independently across the country for the first time since 1994, secured 271 council seats. The party said some of these seats placed it in a position to influence, and potentially determine, which parties form municipal governments.

However, the SACP insisted that its participation in coalition negotiations would be conditional on what it described as non-negotiable priorities.

These include opposition to municipal privatisation, outsourcing, and the tender system, alongside demands for greater municipal capacity, infrastructure investment, and improved delivery of basic services.

The party said its councillors would be required to uphold these positions in all coalition engagements.

"There is no automaticity. Our approach is based on non-negotiable priorities," the statement said.

SACP general secretary Solly Mapaila welcomed the party’s electoral performance, saying that its campaign had been conducted with limited financial resources against better-funded opponents.

The party described its election results as foundational progress towards advancing its political programme and strengthening working-class representation in local government.

The SACP has appointed its first deputy general secretary, Madala Masuku, who will lead its coalition negotiating team.