ANCYL dismisses nationalisation book
2011-02-04 17:31
Johannesburg - The Free Market Foundation's critique of nationalisation of mines in a new book is grounded in "misinformation", the ANC Youth League claimed on Friday.
"To parade their political bankruptcy and intellectual laziness some members of the right wing group try to revise a tired argument that the Freedom Charter does not call for nationalisation of mines," spokesperson Floyd Shivambu said in a statement.
He claimed those debating nationalisation for the foundation hadn't read the ANCYL's document on the subject.
It "clarifies in great detail some of the concerns they raise in their booklet".
The league had dedicated "adequate time" to whether the Freedom Charter indeed called for the nationalisation on the mines, Shivambu said.
"The ANCYL is not against further contributions and robust discussions on the nationalisation of mines, we actually encourage it."
The league has spearheaded the push for nationalisation of the mines in the ANC, and garnered a small victory at the party's national general council last year, when it was agreed that the state's possible involvement in key economic sectors would be probed.
Business Day on Friday reported that nationalising the mines would do black South Africans more harm than good - according to the Free Market Foundation booklet.
Economist Vivian Atud, who penned a chapter of the booklet, was quoted saying: "Even though many more blacks may wish to be involved in mining, nationalisation would be the wrong route to take.
"Given that ownership by the state is not the same as ownership by citizens of the state, nationalisation of the mines would actually mean a reduction in black ownership."
Foundation director Temba Nolutshungu told Business Day the book imparted knowledge to those who cared about the consequences of nationalisation, but were not armed to argue against it.
- SAPA
