SACP condemns personalised attacks and violation of the rights of Comrade Blade Nzimande, our General Secretary and Higher Education and Training Minister

13 October 2016

The South African Communist Party condemns in the strongest terms possible the barbaric form of political engagement by rogue elements that manipulated a nude image and purported it to be that of the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande, our General Secretary. The sexist propaganda has been making rounds in social media platforms. The trolling, irresponsible and insensitive behaviour is one of the many, co-ordinated personalised attacks directed at Comrade Blade Nzimande, his family and, in the final analysis the Communist Party.

The SACP strictly reserves its rights in law, including political rights, against such agendas!    

Read the Minister Nzimande’s statement below:

The ministry of higher education and training rejects the image of a naked man who is purported to be Minister Blade Nzimande. The man in the image is alleged to be having a relationship with a young girl, which is an immoral act in our society that must be rejected by all.

The ministry has received queries from the media about this image. It is very clear that it is not Minister Blade Nzimande, who is in this image. The picture has also been making the rounds on social media platforms.

The ministry would like to categorically deny and reject this irresponsible and malicious attempts to link the minister to this image. The minister does not have a relationship with a student as alleged and the image is by no means of that of the Minister.

The ministry calls on individuals and the media to be responsible in what they post on social media platforms and what is published in the media.

Issued by Alex Mohubetswane Mashilo, National Spokesperson, SACP, 13 October 2016