The Western Cape wing of the South African Communist Party (SACP) met in Bellville South at the weekend and issued a critique of what it calls the terminal crisis of neoliberal capitalism, warning that further privatisation and service cuts will deepen poverty across the province.

The Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) received reports on its finances and on 2026 election preparations, and resolved to help build a broad People’s Budget campaign to oppose November’s Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement.

Job security and workers’ rights dominated much of the statement. The PEC vowed to mobilise against business closures and associated job losses.

Looking ahead to the 2026 local polls, provincial leaders said the party would contest independently but remained committed to the Tripartite Alliance, arguing that direct participation is needed to rebuild “working-class representation”.

They dismissed the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) push to devolve police powers as a diversion from the province’s failure to curb violent crime.

The communiqué also highlighted governance crises at government colleges, stalled wage talks, and rising taxi-industry violence. The party called for coordinated anti-crime efforts among national and provincial authorities and urged implementation of long-standing recommendations to stabilise the minibus sector.