The SACP central committee accepted Intelligence Minister Ronnie Kasrils's explanation of his role in the Jacob Zuma rape trial and urged its youth branch to do the same.

SACP general secretary Blade Nzimande said yesterday Kasrils addressed the committee this weekend and the committee "accepted ... Kasrils's explanation and agreed there were no grounds whatsoever for implying he was involved in a conspiracy against ... Zuma."

"The committee called on all SACP Young Communist League and alliance members to act in a comradely and disciplined manner that respects the integrity of our organisations," Nzimande said in Johannesburg.

With acknowledgement to Sapa and Cape Argus.