Cape Town - The Democratic Alliance says it is not surprised by President Jacob Zuma’s Cabinet reshuffle, branding it "the latest move in Zuma’s war against anyone who opposes his project of State Capture".
In a move that caught many off-guard, the president announced key changes to his Cabinet on Tuesday morning.
The party says the obvious target of the reshuffle was SACP leader, Blade Nzimande, who had failed to toe the president's line.
Read: #CabinetReshuffle - Mantashe says ANC's 'worried'
"The SACP has been dealt an insulting blow, and they must now decide how long they will put up with this abuse, or if they will now do what they know is right, and begin to work outside the ANC," DA leader Mmusi Maimane said.
Also read: #CabinetReshuffle - EFF welcomes Blade's removal
According to Maimane, firing Nzimande has "provided the pretext for yet another reshuffling of Zuma sycophants, none more pliant than new Minister of Energy, David Mahlobo. This smacks of an attempt to reignite the ANC’s efforts to chain our country to a multibillion-rand nuclear deal with the Russians.
"This reshuffle has nothing to do with effecting good governance and ensuring the best people serve our country. On the contrary, Jacob Zuma appears to be firing his critics and offering promotions in exchange for support ahead of the ANC’s elective conference in December this year."