JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Julius Malema, the outspoken youth leader of South Africa's ruling ANC, called for a change in leadership at the party's centenary conference in 2012 to ensure speedier economic reforms, local media reported (see here).

Speaking at the Yough League's provincial conference in Boksburg on Saturday, Malema was quoted by the Sunday Times as criticising current leaders of the African National Congress.

He singled out their remarks during a March state visit to Britain as guests of Queen Elizabeth, during which President Jacob Zuma said nationalisation of South Africa's mines was not government policy.

"We need a fearless ANC, we need an ANC that will tell the queen in London that... the economic patterns of South Africa will not remain the same," the youth leader was quoted by the paper as saying, calling for a younger, more radical leadership.

"Our people will not eat votes. They are getting tired of voting and nothing changes for them materially."

Despite Zuma's and the ruling party's repeated assurances, Malema has said nationalisation of mines was under discussion by the ANC's National Executive Committee, worrying some investors in Africa's biggest economy -- the world's biggest platinum producer and the world's number four gold producer.

During the visit to Britain, Zuma and his ministers assured investors that nationalisation of South Africa's mines was neither government policy nor likely to become so.

Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu has made clear this is the government position, declaring that rather than grabbing mines, the country would run a state-owned firm focused on strategic minerals such as coal and uranium.

The ANC will hold its policy conference next month at which the issue of succession within the party will be discussed.

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