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The South African Communist Party (SACP) has noted the release on Monday by President Jacob Zuma of the report of the Commission of Inquiry into Higher Education and Training.

The SACP is deeply concerned about how the President handled the process and the circumstances under which he finally released the report.

In closing the national policy conference of the African National Congress held in July, the President announced that the report was ready. It was subsequently handed over to him the following month.

President Zuma shared the report, according to undisputed media reports, with his alleged son-in-law or boyfriend of his daughter, while he did not share it with the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande; the President subsequently and problematically removed the Minister from the national executive.

This occurred against the background of widespread public concerns about the emergence, existence and operations of parallel state mechanisms which undermine or subordinate democratically established state authorities provided for in our Constitution. The SACP denounces the appalling conduct involving parallel state mechanisms and the handling of government affairs centred on one’s family and those who enjoy proximity to the powers that be.

The President ultimately released the report under duress on Monday, facing a threat of imminent court action. The SACP will study the report in anticipation of government’s response, particularly the outcome of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Higher Education Funding and the Presidential Fiscal Committee. The SACP will release a comprehensive response having studied the 752-page report holistically.

Issued by SACP