‘Help us to make economic policy’

PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma has invited big business to be a part of “the evolution” of policy to be debated at the ANC’s policy conference in Midrand this week.

Fierce battles are expected as the more than 3 500 delegates thrash out positions on the economy, the land question and the state of the ANC, including the autonomy of its youth league.

Speaking at the ANC’s Progressive Business Forum banquet on Monday night, Zuma told guests they would “know the thinking of the ANC when this conference comes to an end”, but said they “must intervene when necessary for the good of the country”.

“We are a part of you, you are a part of us, and that’s why we believe when we say participate, participate, participate in the evolution of the politics that must guide us,” Zuma said.

Business in general, and the mining sector in particular, will be watching the conference closely for potential shifts in economic policy.

Debate on economic transformation is expected to spark the most heat, with calls for the wholesale nationalisation of mines, banks and other key sectors up against more nuanced ideas involving greater state intervention and new mining taxes.

African Rainbow Minerals chairman Patrice Motsepe is understood to have once again stepped up to the plate to pay R500 000 for the elite titanium package at the banquet, organised by the ANC’s Progressive Business Forum.

This included Zuma’s table.

Other tables, hosted by cabinet ministers, sold for R250 000 (the platinum package), those by deputy ministers (the gold package) cost R100 000, while the silver package bought a table hosted by an MEC.

Guests included Absa Group CEO, Maria Ramos, attending with her husband, National Planning Minister Trevor Manuel, while celebrities such as Arthur Mfokate and Don Mlangeni-Nawa (Zeb from Isidingo) were seen rubbing shoulders with the “minister of gigs”, Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula, who warmly welcomed ANC Youth League deputy secretary-general Kenetswe Mosenogi.

Mining companies and the big four banks were also well represented.

Guests dug even deeper into their pockets near the end of the evening when a framed collage that included a drawing of Nelson Mandela and bore the signatures of the ANC’s top six officials was sold for R500 000.

A bottle of pinotage, among a range destined for sale in the Brics group South Africa belongs to, which includes Brazil, Russia, China and India, was also sold.

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