Boksburg 2026: The return of the blocs and a lesson for Africa and Namibia
Deng Xiaoping’s instruction to “seek truth from facts” still rings in our ears. The “Conference of the Left” held in Ekurhuleni on 29–31 May 2026, convened by the South African Communist Party (SACP) and attended by the EFF, MK Party, PAC, AZAPO, trade unions, and Pan-Africanist formations, should compel Namibian and African leaders to do exactly that – reflect.
Lazarus Kwedhi
Deng Xiaoping’s instruction to “seek truth from facts” still rings in our ears. The “Conference of the Left” held in Ekurhuleni on 29–31 May 2026, convened by the South African Communist Party (SACP) and attended by the EFF, MK Party, PAC, AZAPO, trade unions, and Pan-Africanist formations, should compel Namibian and African leaders to do exactly that – reflect.
What we saw in Boksburg was not new. It signalled the return of the old communism versus capitalism blocs, reshaped for the 21st century. Same wine, different bottle.
During the Cold War, each bloc competed to win hearts at home and abroad while blocking the other. Today, the communist bloc meets under the banner of state-led development, BRICS alignment, and anti-imperialism. The capitalist bloc meets in Davos under public-private partnerships, green finance, and “inclusive capitalism”.
Both claim to have the solution, and both are answering the same question: who owns and controls the factors of production, nationally and across global value chains?
