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Johannesburg - The picking of sides in the debate on
nationalisation is not healthy for the country given its history, ANC
treasurer general Mathews Phosa said on Thursday.
"I would welcome views from the mining industry itself
that starts expressing views about where the middle ground is in this
debate," he said in a speech at the Exxaro resources executive business
networking dinner in Johannesburg.
"The ideal deal... would not only ensure that
profitable companies such as yours further expand their activities and create
jobs, but also address the substantial challenges faced by government to create
new jobs and hasten the process towards increased social cohesion and
security."
Perceptions around nationalisation needed to be discussed in
order to find a common ground, he said.
Phosa understood that mining companies needed certainty and
cohesion on economic policy and therefore wanted clarity on the outcomes of
nationalisation.
Various leaders in the ANC and the government had made it
clear that nationalisation was not government policy, he said.
However, the ANC was doing research in various countries all
over the world and would take into consideration global experiences on this
issue.
It would release a report on nationalisation next year, said
Phosa.
"As the ANC we are open to critical inputs as well as
creative thoughts on how to better manage this process and ensure outcomes that
will better address our joint challenges."
