Sunday, October 11, 2009

ANC Youth League President Malema Says 'Nationalisation of Mines Will Happen'

Malema: Nationalisation of mines will happen

MIDRAND, SOUTH AFRICA Oct 09 2009 16:02

The nationalisation of mines in South Africa is going to happen, African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) president Julius Malema said on Friday.

"We seek to implement the ANC's Freedom Charter and it says that mineral resources must be owned by the people," Malema told the annual conference of the Black Management Forum (BMF) at Midrand.

"We want to transfer mines to the ownership of the people because we know that the little money the people will make will be invested in social responsibility."

Malema said in Botswana a mine could only be owned privately with a 49% stake, with 51% owned by government.

Mining companies in South Africa had been disrespectful as they were not put off if graves were found around a mining site during exploration. They went ahead and mined.

"They don't care if someone is dead," Malema said.

If the people owned the mines, they would know not to tamper with the dead and the spirits.

"Capitalism doesn't know spirits but we know spirits," Malema said.

Turning to the cost of electricity, he said people were paying a lot of money for power which was generated by coal.

"This coal is mined privately -- we buy it, use it to generate electricity and sell it at an abnormal price to the poor people who really own the coal."

Malema again complained that no "African child" had ever been made finance minister in the ANC government.

"We're preoccupied with the markets which means we can't appoint an African child as finance minister," he said.

"Since 1994, things have been very difficult in the ministry of finance, and here I'm talking succession, not that someone be removed."

Malema denied questioning the struggle credentials of any individual.

"But we should see one of our own successfully running the economy. The markets must learn from the ANC. The ANC is a teacher and has taught many people lessons," he said. -- Sapa

Source: Mail & Guardian Online
Web Address: http://www.mg.co.za/article/2009-10-09-malema-nationalisation-of-mines-will-happen


Malema attacks Nedbank BEE strategy

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA Oct 09 2009 16:28

One of South Africa's largest banks came under fire from African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) president Julius Malema on Friday when he attacked Nedbank's black economic empowerment strategy.

"Nedbank Retail has appointed a black woman as chief financial officer, but they've also created a new position for a chief operating officer at the same time -- so her powers were removed," he told the annual conference of the Black Management Forum in Midrand.

Malema was referring to the appointment of Raisibe Morathi as chief financial officer earlier this year and the appointment of Graham Dempster as chief operating officer and Morathi's superior.

Malema also attacked Nedbank for sending only its junior black management to meet him.

"They say we're meeting the youth league so it must be a black-on-black meeting," Malema said.

"We said to them that we won't meet them until they send their chief executive officer," he said.

The ANCYL was still waiting to talk to Nedbank, Malema said.

"We don't have an agenda against Nedbank, but we can close all our accounts.

"People move accounts every day just because they don't like the woman on the front desk at the bank," he said to peals of laughter.

He also referred to the fact that Nedbank had withdrawn its sponsorship of Athletics South Africa following athlete Caster Semenya's gender verification saga. The bank has denied that this was the reason.

"Nedbank can't renew a sponsorship because of one man. Why punish our children for the sins of the father?" Malema asked. -- Sapa

Source: Mail & Guardian Online
Web Address: http://www.mg.co.za/article/2009-10-09-malema-attacks-nedbank-bee-strategy

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