Nzimande: Alliance is fine

2009-09-21 20:08

Midrand - Media reports on tensions within the tripartite alliance were untrue, SA Communist Party general secretary Blade Nzimande told delegates at the 10th conference of the Congress of SA Trade Unions on Monday.

He said the tension within the alliance was a thing of the past since the removal of Thabo Mbeki as state president last year. He accused the media of reporting on tensions out of habit.

"The media are going through withdrawal symptoms," said Nzimande at the trade union federation's conference in Midrand.

He also said criticism of his ability to serve as both the general secretary of the SACP and as minister of higher education in government were efforts to marginalise the former.

"That's an attempt to liquidate the SACP."

'Socialism not in a BMW'

Nzimande had come under fire for his role as minister of higher education while alliance partners, particularly student groups, were taking aim at universities.

More recently Nzimande has been attacked by Cosatu itself after he spent R1.1m in public funds on a luxury vehicle for his official use as a minister.

Cosatu spokesperson Patrick Craven called the expenditure a "a slap in the face of the unemployed".

Nzimande himself referred to this at the conference when he looked directly at Cosatu secretary general Zwelinzima Vavi and said: "I know very well that socialism will not come in a BMW. I have not forgotten that."
 

- SAPA