STATE'S MINING COMPANY MAKES NATIONALISATION OF MINES UNNECESSARY

 "The ANC Youth League's insistence that the researchers the ANC will be appointing to investigate the nationalisation of mines in South Africa should not be independent, is illogical. It is clear from the comments of the Youth League that the economic and social welfare aspects of the nationalisation of mines are not important. It is all about political power for the ANC Youth League," was the reaction of Adv. Anton Alberts the parliamentary spokesperson on Mineral Resources for the Freedom Front Plus, to the comments of the ANC Youth League's spokesperson on the appointment of researchers.

"The ANC Youth League wants mines to be nationalised in order to place the ownership of mineral resources in the hands of the black majority of South Africa . The ANCYL should however take note of the reply of the Minister of Mineral Resources in a parliamentary question of Adv. Alberts that the African Exploration Mining and Finance Corporation (Pty) Ltd. (AEMFC,) which is a company of the state, has already received 27 prospecting rights and one mining right. In addition, 94 applications for prospecting and one right for mining is currently being considered for approval. It is proof that the state will shortly have such a huge share in mining through the AEMFC's prospecting and mining rights, that nationalisation will not be necessary to place the ownership of mineral resources in the hands of black people," Adv. Alberts said.

"The management of public enterprises such as the SABC and Eskom are good examples of how national interests are being sacrificed to the detriment of the broader public and to the advantage of a small group of ANC cadres. The ANC Youth League wants to nationalise mines to rescue wealthy ANC cadres who had obtained mines and mining rights through black economic transactions and now face financial difficulties," was the opinion of Adv. Alberts.

Nationalisation will bring about expropriation to the advantage of a small group of black elites and not to the advantage of the broader public. When the nationalisation of mines is mentioned, the scrapping of the right to private property, a right which is entrenched in our Constitution is in actual fact being mentioned. The ANCYL wants to erase this right from the Constitution with the justification which the researchers, which will be acting in the service of the ANC, will be giving the party in their report on the nationalisation of mines. When human rights are scrapped, it should be because it is in the interest of the country and not because it means political and financial gain for ANC cadres," Adv. Alberts added.

Statement issued by Adv. Anton Alberts, FF Plus Parliamentary Spokesperson: Mineral Resources, November 17 2010

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