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Johannesburg - The ANC's policy discussion documents
released on Monday focus on a "second transition" period for South
Africa, said Jeff Radebe, policy sub committee chairperson of the party's national
executive committee.
"The ANC today is operating in a South Africa where its
policies have contributed to change. We also operate in a changing Africa and a
changing world," said Radebe, who is also justice minister.
Ideas for discussion include a proposed a 50% resource rent
tax on returns on investment. This would be on returns on investment in excess
of the Treasury long bond rate plus 7%, to be "ringfenced" in a sovereign wealth fund.
This fund would be used to fund minerals development,
geo-survey and technical human resource development, and research and
development.
It would also be used to fund an offshore fiscal
stabilisation fund and an offshore regional infrastructure fund to finance
trade-related infrastructure.
Social transformation proposals include enhancing services
to children and transforming early childhood development.
Fight against alcohol abuse
A more vigorous fight against alcohol and drug abuse is
proposed by limiting the availability of alcohol and revising advertising and
pricing policy.
On land reform, it is suggested that the current
willing-buyer, willing-seller method is distorting prices. So a land management
commission should be established to develop guidelines on land management.
A land valuer general is proposed to help bring consistency
to land values and determine financial compensation in cases of land
expropriation.
Expropriation should include expropriation for the public
interest, which can also include restitution.
In the field of health, a need for the consolidation of the national health insurance is mentioned.
In the mass media, transformation of the industry and the
broadening of ownership are proposed to achieve empowerment goals.
Another suggestion is a media appeals mechanism, independent
of government and business influences.
Turning to the provinces, "serious consideration"
to amend the constitution is mooted to reform and strengthen the provinces.
Radebe said there was nothing wrong with the ANC discussing
changes to the constitution.
"There is scare tactics in the public domain that we in
the ANC are not allowed to talk about the constitution," he said.
The documents also contain proposals about further devolving
power to local municipalities, in the light of complaints about service
delivery, and better integrated urban environments.
A single police service is also envisaged.
Radebe criticised whoever had leaked the documents to the media, saying they were "Judas Iscariots".
