Nzimande says Zuma should distance himself from the Guptas for 'his own sake'

President Jacob Zuma should distance himself from the controversial Gupta family. This is the view of South African Communist Party (SACP) leader and Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande.

Nzimande said during an interview with EWN that Zuma should distance himself from the family for his own sake.

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"We would like the president‚ as I've said‚ to distance himself from this for his own sake. We are not saying this in patronising ways because we care about our own alliance‚ about our own leadership‚" said Nzimande.

The SACP has not shied away from voicing its disapproval of Zuma's relationship with the Guptas.

"As the SACP we have expressed our displeasure about the president's friendship with this family. We think it actually risks compromising him and his own integrity‚ it risks tarnishing the image of the ANC and tarnishing the image of the government‚" said Nzimande.

He said that he believes it was premature for the ANC to shut down its investigation into alleged "state capture" following politicians coming out publicly to say that the Guptas were influencing cabinet appointments.

ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe announced recently that the party's investigation had proven to be fruitless after receiving only one written complaint on the alleged capture of the state by the Gupta family.

Nzimande said: "... We think that it was premature for the ANC to try and close this. But in any case‚ for us as the SACP‚ the ANC is not an investigating organisation‚ it doesn't have power to protect people who may feel to be protected if they are to actually speak the truth that they want to speak."

According to Nzimande‚ the Gupta's private plane landing at the Waterkloof Air Force Base in 2013 was the worst thing the family could have done to the country.

"For me personally and for the SACP‚ the landing at the Waterkloof was the worst thing‚ that was a direct attack on our sovereignty and what we had fought for as the people of this country‚" he said.

"I felt like our sovereignty was being torn apart. Like a sacred agreement being torn apart. What kind of behaviour is this?‚" said Nzimande.