In just 7 months, President Jacob Zuma has announced another reshuffle to the National Executive on Tuesday morning. The changes have seen Blade Nzimande completely removed from the cabinet.

The sacking comes after the former minister of Higher Education and Training has been publicly criticising Jacob Zuma. In March, the General Secretary of the SACP called for the president to resign after he fired the Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan and his deputy Mcebisi Jonas.

He has also called out the first family’s relationship with the Gupta’s. “Had we known certain things we know now, we would have acted differently. That’s what I’m prepared to say. I don’t want to talk as if I’m speaking in parables, but had we known that our revolution and our struggle were going to be handed over to an immigrant Indian family going by the name of Gupta, we would have behaved differently,” he said.

As part of the reshuffle, Ayanda Dlodlo has been moved to become Minister of Home Affairs, while Hlengiwe Mkhize replaces Blade as the Minister of Higher Education. The Deputy Minister in Presidency, Buti Manamela fills the vacant position of Deputy Minister of Higher Education.