Blade recall up for discussion

The SA Communist Party (SACP) said yesterday it is ready to be consulted on the looming Cabinet reshuffle, including discussing suggestions that its secretary-general Blade Nzimande, pictured, return to the esecutive.

SACP deputy secretary Solly Mapaila said the party has yet to be consulted as part of the tripartite alliance.

“This is an alliance-led government and comrade Blade is the leader of the SACP, which is participating in government through the alliance led by the ANC.

“He was unceremoniously removed from Cabinet by former president Jacob Zuma. We rejected this as SACP. He was not removed because he was incompetent. If anything, he was one of the most competent ministers,” said Mapaila following the SACP national executive committee meeting at the weekend.

“He has capacity and can serve on that level. So, first on our list is our general secretary. He is a member of parliament ... this is the position of the SACP.”

When asked whether he would go back to Cabinet if appointed, Nzimande said he would “cross that bridge when I get there”.

Nzimande was fired as higher education minister by Zuma in 2017 as the former president dealt sharply with his critics.

The SACP, once staunch supporters of Zuma, having helped him ascend to power in 2009, became harsh critics of his presidency and party leadership and called for him to step down along, with the other alliance partner, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu).

The two alliance partners rallied behind President Cyril Ramaphosa ahead of the ANC’s 54th elective congress in December last year. – ANA