There is no conflict in Blade Nzimande being both South African Communist Party (SACP) general secretary and higher education minister, the Young Communist League (YCL) said on Monday.
”There wouldn’t be any problem with the general secretary of the SACP becoming the minister of higher education,” YCL chairperson Buti Manamela said in Johannesburg.
Recently there had been controversy over Nzimande’s role as both SACP leader, whose youth league was demanding the removal of Barney Pityana as the vice-chancellor of the University of South Africa (Unisa), and his position as minister of higher education. He had thus far declined to intervene directly in the Unisa matter.
Manamela said the controversy had been ”overplayed” in the media.
”Even if the minister of higher education can’t join us in that call, at least the general secretary of the SACP can join us.” — Sapa