'Firing of SACP's Nzimande a score-settling exercise'

DA chief whip in Parliament, John Steenhuisen says the Cabinet changes - which included the firing of Blade Nzimande as Higher Education Minister - are a move by Zuma to surround himself with loyalists.

"This is clearly a score-settling exercise between Zuma and the SACP. This is going to escalate tensions between the tripartite alliance going forward," he says.

Steenhuisen says the decision to move Minister David Mahlobo from State Security to Energy is also a concern. 

"It's very clear that President Zuma has not abandoned the idea of the trillion rand nuclear deal with Russia, Minister Mahlobo has strong ties with the Putin administration and the Russian state security apparatus. Clearly, he has been moved to this key portfolio to facilitate this Russian deal and ensure that it goes ahead," he says. 

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ANC Secretary General, Gwede Mantashe says the axing of Nzimande is a pity.

"Three of those ministers are moved around in October. That is a formula for instability. Therefore, it can't be a correct, sustainable way of dealing with that issue," he says.

Mantashe says Nzimande's removal will also not help heal the rift between the ANC and the SACP.

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