ANC YOUTH LEAGUE STATEMENT ON MR MALUSI GIGABA'S PRONOUNCEMENTS ON NATIONALISATION OF MINES.

The ANC Youth League notes the statements attributed to Mr Malusi Gigaba, the Minister of Public Enterprises, who in his address to the American Chamber of Commerce said the ANC discussion on Nationalisation of Mines is reckless and scaring investors. The ANC Youth League is relieved that at last, Mr Gigaba who never held a political view on any issue before, now has courage to speak about nationalisation of Mines, although with wrong approach, vigour and very wrong information. We hope his suddenly found courage to speak about nationalisation of Mines is not inspired by the AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, which he unfortunately was addressing.

The ANC Youth League invites Mr Gigaba to address the ANC Youth League if he has concerns with issues which the ANC Youth League is raising, and avoid being fooled by Americans whose interests never coincide with those of the ANC led liberation movement. This generation of the ANC Youth League is the first to firmly place on the agenda of the ANC, an economic transformation programme which will change many people's lives and the political landscape in South Africa.

This is unlike some people who led the ANC YL for many years and never had any impact, nor influenced any policy shift, including on youth development. The only thing known about some people is government flowers, which have nothing to do with the National Democratic Revolution and the Freedom Charter.  

Former leaders of the ANC Youth League carry a responsibility and obligation to at all times robustly engage with the Youth League, and avoid throwing insults and undermine processes of discussing nationalisation of Mines, which the ANC has officially taken since the National General Council.

Grand standing and pleasing imperialists undermines people's integrity and further degenerates the little political respect comrades have. The ANC Youth League will soon request a meeting with Mr Gigaba, who was clearly not speaking on behalf of the ANC when addressing the Americans, to take him through basics on Nationalisation of Mines and its relationship to future investments and employment creation. We will do so because we do not want to loose patience with people who can still learn a lot.

Statement issued by ANC Youth League Secretary General Sindiso Magaqa, August 2 2011

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter