Nzimande sidelined in crisis at university

HIGHER Education Minister Blade Nzimande has been sidelined by President Jacob Zuma over the crisis at the Walter Sisulu University.

The university closed down this week following a labour dispute and the president appointed Collins Chabane, performance and monitoring minister in the Presidency, to take charge. Several government officials told the Sunday Times this reflected poorly on Nzimande.

“It does not look good for [Nzimande] that the president has been forced to ask Chabane to resolve an issue that he [Nzimande] should have handled a long time ago,” said a senior government official.

Presidency spokesman Mac Maharaj said Zuma had been forced to act after he was approached to do so by the South African Council of Churches among others.

“It’s not as if he is by-passing the minister, we were looking for the best possible solution to the crisis,” said Maharaj.

A letter from those pleading for intervention said the Department of Higher Education and the university management had been dragging their feet in addressing the problem.

UDM leader Bantu Holomisa, who was at a meeting on Monday of the parties seeking intervention, said Nzimande did not seem interested in finding a solution.

“The fact people are appealing to the office of the president is a sign of a vote of no-confidence in the minister,” said Holomisa.

Chabane established a technical committee made up of directors-general from the Presidency and the departments of Higher Education and Labour to help him resolve the impasse.

On Friday the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union said it had agreed to a 5% salary increase for staff members and was calling off its strike at the university.

Questions have been raised about Nzimande’s absence over the past two weeks. He did not attend the crucial tripartite alliance summit last weekend. SACP spokesman Malesela Maleka said that “he was booked off sick”.