MK Party deputy president Tony Yengeni addressed the South African Communist Party’s Conference of the Left in Boksburg, where he urged stronger unity among left-wing and progressive political formations.

He argued that coordinated action among these groups was necessary to achieve political power for the black majority and advance what he described as the unfinished goals of South Africa’s liberation struggle.

Yengeni used the platform to sharply criticise opposition parties such as the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus), accusing them of representing interests tied to colonial-era privilege and working to undermine gains made since the end of apartheid.He told delegates that the left should not only focus on ideological alignment but should organise practically towards taking control of state power.

He called for the establishment of a revolutionary coordinating structure to guide the left movement, emphasising principles such as economic transformation, land redistribution, and greater control of key sectors including banks, mines, farms and factories by the majority population.

Yengeni also highlighted unity efforts among various political actors, referencing a recent visit by MK Party leaders, including former president Jacob Zuma, to EFF leader Julius Malema’s family to offer condolences, which he said also included discussions about broader political unity among black-led movements.

The conference, hosted by the SACP, brought together several left-leaning organisations, while the ANC declined to participate, stating the forum lacked a clear leftist orientation.

Speakers at the event, including SACP general secretary Solly Mapaila, echoed calls for stronger coordination among working-class organisations to confront inequality, unemployment and capitalist structures.

Civil society voices, including the Unemployment People’s Assembly, also stressed the urgency of addressing South Africa’s deep socio-economic challenges, pointing to rising unemployment, poverty and inequality affecting millions.

The overall tone of the gathering centred on rebuilding progressive unity and developing a shared programme for economic and political transformation.