Cosatu backs call for nationalisation

2011-08-06 22:34

Johannesburg - Nationalisation is the only thing that can bring South Africa out of a "corrupt" capitalist economy, Cosatu said on Saturday.

"Nationalisation can bolster our economy and it will always ensure development," Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi told journalists at a seminar on Cuba, in Kempton Park, Johannesburg.

"The ANC is looking into its benefits and we know that it will be an important contributor to prosperity in this country."

The ANC on Friday said it did not have any policies on the nationalisation of the mines.

"It is misleading to say the ANC has agreed to nationalisation of the mines...it is not a foregone conclusion that there will be nationalisation but we are not opposed to nationalisation," ANC spokesperson Keith Khoza said.

Vavi said that the Freedom Charter, which was pioneered by the ANC in 1955, stated that the wealth and resources of the country needed to be distributed amongst its citizens.

"This is why nationalising our mines will bring money to our people, and not just benefit and profit people in the private sector."

He said that South Africa would move forward economically if it followed the example of socialist countries like Cuba.

"Those who criticise socialism don't look at how many lessons our country can take from the successes of Cuba. It took them just one year to clean up illiteracy in their country, and now they also have a surplus of doctors.

"We are the complete opposite of them, and we have to think about how a small country, with no resources, is doing better than us," Vavi said.

- SAPA