Nationalisation report sent back - Mantashe

2011-11-28 21:05

Johannesburg - A report on the nationalisation of mines was presented at the ANC's national executive committee (NEC) meeting at the weekend, but was sent back to be redrafted, secretary general Gwede Mantashe said on Monday.

"The work is finished, but the report is being re-drafted," he told reporters in Johannesburg.

He said the report needed to be written in simple language that any African National Congress member could read and understand.

Mantashe also said that case studies needed to be given in the report.

The ANC had appointed three economists to investigate the success and failure of nationalisation of mines in 12 countries.

Once the report was completed by the task team investigating the nationalisation of mines, it would be presented at the party's policy conference in June next year.

It would then go to the national conference in Mangaung (Bloemfontein).

Earlier this month, Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu said nationalisation of the country's mines was neither government policy nor that of the ANC.

Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe has said it is not government policy.

Last year, the ANC's national general council (NGC) directed the NEC to form a task team to explore the viability of nationalisation and of the state playing a greater role in key sectors of the economy.

The NGC resolution on the ANC's website reads: "The NGC reaffirms the ANC's approach that the transformation of the South African economy should always be holistic and comprehensive, covering all sectors of the economy.

In this regard, the ANC should ensure greater state involvement and control of strategic sectors of the economy.

"There was greater consensus in the commission on the nationalisation of mines and other strategic sectors of the economy," the NGC said on the website.

"The NGC therefore mandated the NEC to ensure further work be done, including research, study tours and discussions, and to report to the policy conference for decision at national conference in 2012," it said.

- SAPA