In an interview with SAfm on Wednesday, African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) president Julius Malema wanted to know what Planning Minister Trevor Manuel had done since taking office three years ago.
“It’s almost three years and nothing has come out,” said Malema of Manuel, who heads the National Planning Commission in the Presidency.
Malema said Manuel had only produced a document diagnosing the country’s problems.
“… Minister Manuel is one of the most celebrated ministers … Nothing has come out, except a document that seeks to diagnose the crisis in South Africa. But there is no plan. Minister Manuel has no plan.
“We want him to develop a plan, he is a planning minister,” Malema told host Xolani Gwala.
Malema said people could not continue to wait any longer. He said the league was in the spotlight after adopting as its policies plans for the nationalisation of mines and the expropriation of land without compensation as ways of addressing economic imbalances in South Africa.
‘She should prepare the mining sector psychologically’
During the interview, Malema also said that Minerals Minister Susan Shabangu should start preparing the mining sector “psychologically” for nationalisation.
The ANCYL further expected Shabangu to be the first to explain “to our people why we are nationalising”.
“She should prepare the mining sector psychologically, otherwise the mining sector will be in for a shock …”
Putting the mines in the state’s hands was adopted as a league policy at its policy conference, which ended on Sunday.
Shabangu recently dismissed nationalisation as “not an option” and “not current policy”.
Malema said nationalisation of mines in Zambia had failed because demand for copper fell, and individuals, not the state, were the beneficiaries.
One of the proposals the league suggested was to start with new mining entrepreneurs.
When new mining licences are issued, the state should hold 60% of the ownership, and the mining company 40%.
Mines already operating could hand over the 60% portion to the state and, over time, be paid back through profits.
The ruling ANC has made it clear that mine nationalisation is not a party policy. Policies are formulated at national conferences. The next ANC national conference is in 2012 in Mangaung. — Sapa