Nzimande tells students to mobilise and be on red alert

JEROME CORNELIUS | 26 July, 2016 07:03

STAR TURN: Blade Nzimande at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town campus, to address the Red Forum yesterday

Image by: David Harrison

Fewer meetings and more mobilisation by young people was the message from Blade Nzimande to students in Cape Town.

The higher education and training minister, who is also general secretary of the S A Communist Party, was speaking to students at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. His visit was part of the election campaign in the Western Cape le d by senior ANC officials.

Nzimande said he would not support the DA because the Western Cape was the only province that did not send student doctors to Cuba to further their studies.

"They don't care about black kids," he said.

Nzimande emphasised the importance of history, especially that of Nelson Mandela: "Those who want to distort our history are not allowed to do that. He [Mandela] took up arms. It's important to tell our own history.

"Don't give up in the battle before you fight. Mobilise all the time so we're able to pick up the problems as they happen," Nzimande said.

He was at the centre of controversy last year when students mobilised for cheaper education in the #FeesMustFall movement.

Earlier yesterday Nzimande attended a closed meeting with the student representative council to discuss its concerns. Later he greeted a full lecture hall of ANC and SACP supporters.