×

We've got news for you.

Register on SowetanLIVE at no cost to receive newsletters, read exclusive articles & more.
Register now

Malema calls for massive land grab

And he wants government to stop exporting raw minerals

MINING

The government must stop exporting raw minerals to encourage the  establishment of industries to process them locally, ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema said in Pretoria on Thursday.

“With greater state control and participation and ownership of mineral resources, our national budget will have the capacity to be  increased and would take care of social responsibilities of the state,” Malema told the National Press Club during a talk about the  league’s programme of action for economic freedom.

He said the problem was that minerals were exported in raw form, only to be imported in their processed state. “We think we need to deal with that particular situation, we need to beneficiate resources in South Africa.”   

Malema said the ANC’s national general council (NGC) had developed greater consensus on the league’s proposal of putting control of the country’s mines in the hands of the state. A team was currently investigating the best model of nationalisation that would not plunge the economy into a disaster.

“Leave all the other things that others are saying. When we were  going to NGC, they said nationalisation was not on the agenda although it was, and when (it) passed through they still said there  were no talks on nationalisation.”   

'SEIZE THE LAND'

Another item on the league’s programme was land expropriation.

The league wants all land, except residential, to belong to the state. This expropriation - without compensation - should be done with 'due consideration for laws and legislation'.

“When they took over our land, those owning it today, they never  gave anybody compensation. Therefore it will be incorrect to demand  that they must get anything from us.

“We have not enough money to buy this land, and if we take the little money we have, we run the risk of failing very important service delivery issues like quality education, housing, sanitation, electricity and water.

“We are trying to address the problem created for us by the colonisers and therefore we cannot be persuaded otherwise because we feel very strongly about this and we need to reverse the crisis caused by colonisers.”   

Once the state had ownership of the land, Malema reasoned, those  who wanted to use it would have to apply for licences, would not be  granted leases longer than 30 years, and would have to explain how their use of it would benefit the people.

The government would provide those who intended using land for agriculture with the resources to ensure it remained productive, he asserted.

Malema criticised the slow pace at which land was being handed back to blacks. “In 100 years we will have transferred 20%. I’m not prepared to be part of that failure. Hence this radical programme action and need for political will from leadership of ANC.”   

TENDERS TO CORRUPT COMPANIES

Malema also questioned the government’s tendering system, saying it had plunged the country into “political crisis”.

“The state depends too much on the tendering system and this has  created a political crisis.”   

Shoddy work was being provided by “corrupt companies, some of which are working with political leadership”.

“Everything is outsourced, including cleaning and security services... we want a state that has capacity to deal with all those things.”

Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.