Mixed messages in Zuma speech - FF Plus
2011-02-10 21:03
Cape Town - President Jacob Zuma's State of the Nation address contains mixed messages on mining and job creation, Freedom Front Plus leader Pieter Mulder said on Thursday.
"We really must create jobs and therefore we need some incentives for the private sector in agriculture but at the same time he announced labour laws... more restrictive labour laws... and I think that's a mixed message. The same on the minerals, it seems that Malema [ANCYL president Julius Malema] is winning on nationalisation of mining and he's not exactly clear on that.
"And I think these mixed messages will not help us at this stage," he said after Zuma delivered the address.
Malema and the ANC Youth League are at the forefront of the push for the nationalisation of the South African mines.
Zuma in his address said the government would make it a priority this year to adopt a beneficiation strategy "so that we can start reaping the full benefits of our commodities".
"The mineral wealth of our country is a national asset and a common heritage that belongs to all South Africans, with the state as the custodian," he said.
"Estimates suggest that our mineral resources are expected to be exploitable for over a century to come.
"To take advantage of that potential, government has endorsed the African Exploration, Mining and Finance Corporation as the State Owned Mining Company, that will undertake the mining of minerals of strategic significance," Zuma added.
Mulder said there were "good intentions" - including the president's comments on crime, corruption and discipline in schools.
"...but the proof of the pudding is in the eating," he said.
- SAPA
