The state should move from merely regulating to actively directing the private sector, he told delegates at the party's elective conference near Empangeni, KwaZulu-Natal.

Delivering his political report, Nzimande said the state had to direct the private sector towards developmental outcomes and objectives.

"Legislation must be made to force South African banks to invest in low-cost housing. It is after all the money of the working class."

Earlier, outgoing SA Communist Party chairman Gwede Mantashe urged party members to join the African National Congress.

"Our ability to influence and advance our agenda will be determined by our immersion in the structures and programmes of our alliance partners," he said.

"The reality facing the party today... is that of communists who are not even members of the ANC."

Mantashe said there were several SACP members at national level who held top positions in the ANC and Cabinet.

But there was a lack of "cross-pollination" between the two parties at a provincial level, with the exception of the Eastern Cape.

Mantashe said his decision to step down as party chairman was not newsworthy.

"This (decision) is born of practical consideration that one is doing a disservice to the party by being an absentee chairperson."

Earlier, axed ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema and former ANC chief whip Tony Yengeni featured in songs at the start of the conference.

"Asinandaba uMalema uyayizonda le party, asinanda uYengeni uyayizonda le party (Malema hates this party but we don't care, Yengeni hates this party but we don't care)," delegates sang.

Yengeni is a member of the African National Congress's national executive committee and in charge of its political education schools. He lost his position as chief whip after accepting a discount on a luxury car during the tendering process for the country's arms deal. At the time, he was a member of a parliamentary committee reporting on the arms deal. Yengeni went to prison in 2006, and was released on parole after serving six months of his sentence.

Malema was expelled as president of the ANC Youth League in April.

In another song, some delegates advised him: "Malema ungayijahi impi ngoba iyabulala (Malema, don't be in a hurry to fight in a war, because it kills)."

A song in support of President Jacob Zuma was also sung.

"Iizinja zilele kufokhona emzini kaMsholozo kodwa amagerilla abuyile (The enemy is near but MK is ready to fight for Msholozi)."

Msholozi is Zuma's clan name.

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Fri May 24 18:53:46 SAST 2013 ::

Jul 13, 2012

Mrazane

Without getting government off the hook...I find that our private sector invests so much in entertainment and sport where we have a nation that is dying of HIV/Aids, living in squalor and the levels of literacy are so low. As a nation we are preoccupied with cheap glamour and having a good time, including our ministers hence there is no pressure on the private sector to redirect significan resources to constructive projects it is not just the banks but the whole lot. A company sponsors a soccer competition and puts 8 million as prize money that is enough for 80 R100 000 houses, which would provide a home for about 400 people. I am not against the sponsors but let us cut down and direct to urgent issues, we need to have Wellness centres all over the country which will provide healthcare to people living with HIV Aids in order to reduce the chances of developing full blown Aids, where those who are bedridden can be nursed back to good physical, mental and emotional health.

But the funny thing is our ministers are always saying we need so and so to do this whilst they have access to the private sector and they do nothing about it. Mines must also build houses in the rural areas where their labour comes from and not this nonsense of rental housing that Tokyo is doing.
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