ANCYL slams minister over mines

Cape Town - The ANC Youth League has reacted with sharp criticism to Minister of Minerals Susan Shabangu's affirmation that mines would not be nationalised in her lifetime.

Releasing a statement after Shabangu tried to allay concerns at the annual Mining Indaba that there could be a shift in the country's mines policy, the Youth League accused the minister of misleading investors.

"We call on the minister of minerals to stop misleading investors, because these investors should also make input into the discussion document on the nationalisation of mines, which is going to be reality not in the distant future," the Youth League said.

It also accused Shabangu of trying to "impress imperialists", as she had previously told the Youth League during internal discussions that she did not disagree with its stance.

"The ANC Youth League is beginning to have doubts on the capability of Minister Shabangu to translate ANC policy objectives into practice in the ministry of minerals.

"The ANC has requested the ANC Youth League to write a detailed, coherent and concrete perspective on the nationalisation of mines, and we have done that - yet a minister chose to jump the gun and make false assurances to investors and role players in mining. As disciplined members of the ANC, we will raise this concern with the leadership of the ANC."

The youth wing of the ruling party pointed out that the ANC is the centre of power and gives direction to government policy, not vice versa.

"The reason why the ANC Youth League has developed a concrete programme on the nationalisation of mines within the ANC, not in government, is because we understand that the ANC gives policy direction to government," it said.

- I-Net Bridge