Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande is concerned with the lack of departmental media coverage of their public engagements. This was revealed in a leaked recording obtained by the Sunday Times
In the leaked audio recording Nzimande also questioned why events attended by the Deputy Minister Buti Manamela have received more internal coverage than their engagements.
I am never covered live by the DHET, never ever, yet I am the chief spokesperson of both the Department of Science and Innovation and the Department of Higher Education and Training.
Nzimande lamented the fact that when their engagements occur at the same time as the deputy minister’s engagements, the deputy minister’s engagement will receive coverage.
They said, “I want to be honest, I was angry, very angry, I wasn’t covered on Friday by the department and it's not the first time. In many instances, I am speaking [at one place] and the deputy minister [who is speaking elsewhere] is covered. It's causing tension between myself and the deputy minister, deliberately."
On Sunday, Nzimande responded to a question about the audio recording saying there is no tension between him and Manamela. They said the audio recording simply indicates that they want everybody who works within the higher education department to do their work correctly.
All that thing reflects is that I work for the government, as a Minister I like my work done by everybody who works with me and I want things to be done correctly.
The Economic Freedom Fighters Student Command (EFFSC) labelled the leaked audio recording as indicative of a petty squabble in the higher department. They said Nzimande should leave the department and make way for vibrant, new and innovative leadership.
