‘Send Zuma home’ – SACP

The South African Communist Party (SACP) in Limpopo regards Tuesday’s sudden axing of its General Secretary, Blade Nzimande as Minister of Higher Education and Training without consultation as President Jacob Zuma being on the rampage.
“The only way to stop him is to send him home,” stressed SACP Limpopo spokesperson Machike Thobejane shortly after the news broke about Nzimande’s removal following a mid-morning Cabinet reshuffle announcement that caused contrasting reaction.
Nzimande was reportedly the only one of six ministers to have been affected by the decision that resulted in him vacating his position as the others were given other portfolios. It was learnt that in certain corners the casualty is seen to be widening the gap between alliance partners.
Thobejane was equally vocal about the President’s decision being informed by malicious political intent.
Asked whether they expected a possible repeat thereof in the province, he said it wouldn’t come as a surprise. The removal of Nzimande didn’t come as a surprise for the SACP because Zuma would pounce on anybody standing against his misguided governance, Thobejane said. He predicted that what was seen as a serious political move would definitely affect the alliance, also in the province, which would necessitate them to be smarter about strengthening future relations with their partners.
Turning to the cloud of uncertainty hanging over the ruling party’s December conference, Thobejane said Zuma would do everything in his power to make things work in his favour. Therefore they couldn’t wait even one day for Zuma to leave, he added.
The move to send in Buti Manamela, also from SACP ranks and serving as Deputy Minister in the Presidency, into the position of Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training was considered malicious, he concluded.
In a press statement the ANC Youth League (Ancyl) in Limpopo called on Nzimande to welcome his reshuffle as a correct move to rebuild the ailing SACP. Ancyl Provincial Secretary Che Selane said the structure welcomed the strengthening of Cabinet as pronounced by the President, saying Nzimande’s removal was long overdue.
The Ancyl in Limpopo believed that Mr Nzimande’s presence in Cabinet had not only contributed to the demise of the SACP as a vanguard of the alliance, but had concentrated more selfishly on himself than on his primary mandate and, among other things, was to bring about free and quality education and bridging the gap between the former Model C universities and homeland universities.

Story & photo: YOLANDE NEL
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