WILLOWVALE- The South African Communist Party (SACP) in the Ncumisa Kondlo District has launched new branches in Mbhashe Municipality’s Ward 29, using the occasion to highlight ongoing service delivery challenges and community concerns ahead of the 2026 local government elections.
The launch took place on Saturday, 07 June 2026 in the Ncumisa Kondlo sub-region of Mbhashe Sub-District in Willowvale.
Party leaders said the initiative forms part of a broader campaign to strengthen grassroots structures and mobilise communities in preparation for next year’s municipal polls.
Addressing members and residents, Ncumisa Kondlo District SACP Secretary Comrade Madoda Mlondleni, said the party’s long-running “Know Your Neighbour” programme continues to play an important role in communities where municipal services have fallen short.
“We started the Know Your Neighbour programme many years ago to bridge gaps in communities facing service delivery challenges. Securing basic needs such as water, decent housing and public safety remains a non-negotiable priority for the party,” said Mlondleni.
Mbhashe SACP coordinator Mawande Gogoba identified the water crisis, rising crime and slow infrastructure development as the most pressing issues facing residents.
He pointed to an unfinished bridge project that continues to force community members to cross dangerous waterways to access their homes.
“People are still risking their lives because this bridge has never been completed. Tragically, some residents have lost their lives while trying to cross,” said Gogoba.
He also criticised incomplete housing projects in the area, alleging that some contractors erected temporary structures but failed to return to complete permanent homes, leaving affected families living in poor conditions.
Speaking at the event, Western Cape SACP Secretary Monde Nqulwana cautioned residents against being influenced by election-time handouts.
“Food parcels and other materials often appear shortly before elections, only to disappear afterwards. Communities must not mistake these temporary interventions for genuine and sustainable service delivery,” he said.
Furthmore, Eastern Cape SACP Provincial Executive Committee member Mbulelo Mphuphu said the party’s responsibility was to stand alongside communities and advocate for their interests.
“The SACP exists to defend the wellbeing of our people. Some leaders within the ANC have distanced themselves from the party because they are unable to provide the basic services that communities desperately need,” said Mphuphu.
Gogoba said the party would continue raising community concerns and pushing for improved service delivery. “Our objective is to ensure that every resident has access to basic services. We will continue to engage communities and ensure that their voices are heard so they can make informed choices at the ballot box,” he said.
The SACP, a longstanding partner in the ANC-led Tripartite Alliance, has in recent years intensified efforts to build its own organisational structures and has indicated its intention to contest selected municipalities independently.
Political parties across the country have already begun mobilising support ahead of the 2026 local government elections, which will determine the composition of municipal councils nationwide.
Photographs: Klaas Media
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