Zuma faction stalls on mining
President Jacob Zuma and his allies came out of the ANC national policy conference weaker and on the retreat.
But while the policy conference was a measure of where the stronger power base lay, a lot could change in the less than six months to the national elective conference in December.
In his closing address, Zuma insisted that there were no winners or losers. But it was clear that his supporters had not succeeded in many policy positions put forward at the conference, which ended at Nasrec, near Soweto, on Wednesday.
In a week of side squabbles and policy proxy battles for suc- cession, little emerged that provided any real solutions to critical problems facing the country, particularly the economic crisis amid a recession.
Zuma and allies fought for land expropriation without compensation, changing the mandate of the Reserve Bank, the concept of white monopoly capital and for the party to endorse the Mining Charter. None of these positions solidified except a recommendation on state ownership of the Bank. Those pushing for changing the mandate of the Bank did not seem to understand that this and the Bank’s ownership were two different matters.
Zuma’s supporters also kept fighting for their definition of white monopoly capital to be carried in policy proposals after the race dimension was excluded through agreement from nine of 11 commissions.
The president was forced to pull back on the issue of white monopoly capital, after it was defeated by delegates in commissions. The party agreed instead to retain its current phrase, monopoly capital.
During his closing address, Zuma said it was technically correct in the context of SA’s political economy to talk about white monopoly capital.
However, he said, it was also important to lay emphasis on the fact that “monopoly capital is the primary adversary of the collective interests of our people, regardless of its colour”.
The Mining Charter was not
higher degree of control over the [Bank] is incorrect,” it said. Even if there were to be a change in shareholding, the Bank would continue to derive its primary mandate and independence from the Constitution. This was a mandate it would execute “without bowing to any pressure, whether it be political or from the private sector”.
The Bank did not typically comment on the internal processes of political parties, but “high public interest” in the issue warranted explanation, it said.
The ANC at the same time did not endorse the Mining Charter gazetted by Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane, as pushed for by the pro-Zuma faction. Godongwana said concern was raised over its “design”. The question raised was whether free carry shares should be accrued to individuals. Communities and workers should also be considered.
The Chamber of Mines is contesting the charter in court.
ANC structures will discuss proposed changes to the charter and to the ownership of the Bank emerging from the policy conference. Final decisions on all matters will take place at the party’s national elective conference in December.