DEBATE: Jackson Mthembu. Picture: Dumisani Sibeko DEBATE: Jackson Mthembu. Picture: Dumisani Sibeko
The ANC has moved to soothe investor and business unease and distance itself from youth league leader Julius Malema’s demand for “radical policy changes” including nationalisation and land expropriation.
It stated “unequivocally” yesterday that ANCYL resolutions were those of the league only and “do not alter ANC policies being implemented at government level”.
Business Unity South Africa (Busa), which represents a broad base of businesses at home and internationally, called yesterday for “sensible” debate on nationalisation, while urging the ANC to provide certainty on its stance.
“Busa has noted repeated assurances by President Jacob Zuma that nationalisation is neither a policy of the government, nor that of the ruling party,” it said.
“However, both the government and business must now show much greater leadership and will to bring certainty to this issue as quickly as possible,” said Busa
It said the tone of the debate around the nationalisation of land, banks and mines weakened South Africa’s ability to attract investment.
The track record of nationalisation globally had been “very poor in terms of its ability to sustainably boost employment creation, build globally competitive industries and contribute to internationally competitive economies”.
At its national general council last year, the ANC resolved to appoint an independent panel to research nationalisation, a move interpreted as a way of kicking the youth league’s campaign into touch.
But during his closing speech at the league’s national conference on Sunday, Malema declared “war on policy shifts”.
The ANC moved yesterday to do damage control, with spokesman Jackson Mthembu saying the league’s “wide-ranging resolutions” would form part of discussions within the party before its policy conference next year.
Mthembu said the four-day national conference of the youth wing had not been “a forerunner or a precursor to the ANC elective conference in 2012”.
The ANC statement pushed the notion of a “separate togetherness”, saying while the league was an integral part of the ANC, it was an autonomous structure.
“The ANCYL has a history of having produced a leadership that has been forthright on its thinking on issues affecting young people and the society,” it said.