State should control strategic sectors
2010-09-12 21:23
Pretoria - The ANC needed to explore greater state intervention and control of strategic sectors of the economy, the party's Gauteng secretary David Makhura said on Sunday.
"The provincial general council's (PGC) perspective is that the ANC's approach to transformation of the South African economy should always be holistic and comprehensive," he read from a declaration displayed on an overhead projector.
Makhura did not particularly refer to the nationalisation of mines.
Some delegates attending the two day council cheered at the announcement.
"The development state must intervene in the country in a manner that fosters economic development and meaningful participation of black people and Africans in particular in the mainstream economy."
Recently, there had been a heated debate on the nationalisation of mines, with the ANC Youth League spearheading the debate.
The right decisions
Its leader Julius Malema has continuously said this was ANC policy and was pushing for it to become government policy, an issue that would be discussed at the national general council in Durban.
ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe warned that the issue of nationalisation should not be a national debate.
"The debate cannot be based on an ideological or emotional feeling
"The ANC as a government party cannot pretend (like) we are a resistance movement in the running of the country and the economy. They must run the economy successfully."
Mantashe said the argument was not about being against nationalisation but about making the right decisions.
"Important issues like this one should not be used as lobbying instruments," he said.
Icasa
The PGC said it would push for a consultation process to prove the viability of a body to regulate the print media.
A document by the media commission recommended that the statutory body is found to be desirable should be included as Chapter 9 in the Constitution.
It would also see a possible merger with Icasa.
In his reply to Parliament last week President Jacob Zuma said the proposal was intended to strengthen compliance and support the current self regulatory institution.
The ruling party and alliance partners believed the press ombudsman had not been regulated effectively.
Another recommendation calls for a print media charter.
The charter would ensure that ownership and control of the media was diversified.
- SAPA
