Zuma to woo business

Durban - President Jacob Zuma will visit a business exhibition on Wednesday as delegates at the ANC's national general council discuss economic transformation.

Commissions on economic transformation will discuss nationalisation of the mines as the council enters its third day of its mid-term policy review.

ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe on Tuesday sought to clarify the party's position on nationalisation of the mines, saying the debate around the contentious issue had to be broadened.

The ANC Youth League has been punting nationalisation of the mines for months with the aim of it being ANC policy. Mantashe said the "significance" of the league's introduction of the debate was that it allowed the party to begin to talk about the state playing
a keener role in the economy.

He said the banking sector also had to be looked at.

On Monday Zuma pointed out that new policies could not be introduced at the NGC as it was not a policy conference.

Zuma is set to spend an hour with the business community, representing some 60 companies, who have set up exhibition stands on the sidelines of the NGC.

On Monday, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan told Sapa that Cosatu's proposals on a new growth path for the South African economy would be taken into account.
   
"We are a democratic organisation so we will take into account everybody's contribution...," he said.
   
The Treasury, headed by Gordhan, has been criticised by Cosatu, the ANC's alliance partner, for clinging to old policies in a discussion document released after a recent meeting of its central executive committee.
   
Cosatu's growth path proposals suggest a wealth tax for the rich, and the state playing a more aggressive role in the economy.
   
Creating jobs and a more equal society will be the target of talks on Wednesday.
   
On Tuesday, discussions on the organisation and Zuma's political report were held behind closed doors.
   
The ANC also pronounced on the National Health Insurance which
they want implemented in 2012.