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Johannesburg - ANCYL leader Julius Malema on Saturday called for the government to
have a 50% ownership in South African mines.
"We are calling for the South African government to have 50%
ownership. This model is very successful in Botswana. The
government
there uses the profits it generates from mines to subsidise
essential
services," said the African National Congress Youth League leader.
He was addressing the ANCYL regional conference in Durban.
Malema said he did not understand why people overreacted when the
youth league raised the issue of the nationalisation of mines.
"People need to understand that if you nationalise you are not
calling
for people to go and grab mines. We are not calling for anarchy."
He said government needed to implement the 50 percent ownership in
a
way that would not undermine the current ownership of mines.
"Government must wait until the licence of a certain mine expires
and
say, we will renew your licence on condition that you work with
us."
Malema accused mining companies of not doing enough to uplift
communities where mines were situated.
"In Sikhukhune for example, there is huge platinum mine but no
investments have been made in the area. They have not even built a
road there. The government has built it for them."
Malema also questioned Anglo American's decision to appoint a
British
national to chair its board, saying that a South African should
have
been appointed.
"About 40% of Anglo American's work is in South Africa but
they
decided to appoint a man from Britain."
Malema again said black people needed to be appointed to positions
that dealt with economic issues.
"The gist of the struggle was economic and political emancipation.
We
have the political power now and we now need economic power."
- Sapa