ANC calls for ideas on mining nationalisation
2009-11-05 16:45
ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe has called for “concrete
ideas” on how the debate on the nationalisation of mines can be taken
forward.
“We have invited comrades who want us to treat this debate as a
ritual to come up with concrete ideas as to what more can be done to build on
the progress made,” he said in the speech at the SA Municipal Workers congress
in Bela Bela.
“That challenge stands and we are not going to go to the pope and
just pledge hollow support for the nationalisation of the mines.”
He said the ANC was the only surviving organisation that was in
Kliptown in 1955, so nobody else could claim ownership of the Freedom Charter –
which refers to mineral wealth belonging to all.
The promulgation of the Mineral and Petroleum Development Act
reverted ownership of all mineral deposits to the state, fulfilling the
requirements of the Freedom Charter.
This was taken forward by promulgating royalties legislation. Such
a law would impose a levy on all who mined these deposits, which belong to the
state.
He said a dormant state-owned mining company had been activated and
the party was “passionate” about the subject.
They found it strange that this debate was not extended to the
banking sector and monopoly industries.
“Call us anything. We will accept it. But a shotgun approach is not
going to work. Leadership is elected to implement adopted policies and
programmes, and not policy proposals that emerge in the middle of the
term.”
ANC Youth League president Julius Malema spoke out recently on the
nationalisation of mines, saying mining companies did not plough enough back in
the communities they worked in.
- SAPA