(MnG) 'We can't expropriate land to play soccer on it'

'We can't expropriate land to play soccer on it'
MMANALEDI MATABOGE AND MATUMA LETSOALO JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
- Jun 18 2011 17:10

Delegates at the African National Congress Youth League's national conference broke into commissions on Saturday to discuss policy proposals which would inform resolutions. Not a man to mince words, ANC Youth League spokesperson Floyd Shivambu outlines the league's programme of action to achieve economic freedom.

The league’s resolutions are likely to put more pressure on the ANC to push for the nationalisation of mines and land reform and other key sectors of the economy as well as including a generational mix in the party’s top leadership.

Julius Malema was elected for a second term as leader on Friday evening.

Earlier on Saturday the league’s national spokesperson Floyd Shivambu gave a synopsis of the direction the discussions would take.

Land reform 'non-negotiable'

Delivering the league's Programme of Action for Economic Freedom in Our Lifetime document, Shivambu told delegates that the league should ensure that next year’s 53rd national congress of the ANC was "a battle site for war" for economic freedom.

He said land reform was non-negotiable.

"We must make ensure that the ANC agrees in principle that the willing-seller, willing-buyer has failed and that we must appropriate without compensation."

Shivambu said while education was key to economic freedom, higher education in the South Africa was still largely unattainable, making it difficult for young people to realise their dreams.

"We must expand the post-secondary education sector and we must do that aggressively. We are producing matriculants all over the country, but where do they go?” Where is the centre of power?"

He said that two provinces -- the Northern Cape and Mpumalanga -- did not have universities.

Shivambu also used the opportunity to call on delegates to discuss the finances of the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA).

"The NYDA does not have money, they're only given R300-million and it can only run offices and pay salaries with that money. We agreed with the ANC that the NYDA needs money but government is not doing it. We don't know why. It makes you wonder where the centre of power is".

National executive committee member Magdalene Moonsamy described the commissions as a platform to "take decisions" instead of continuing discussions. She said delegates had already held discussions before the conference.

"When we speak about expropriation without compensation we must be clear about what we're going to do with that land. As one comrade from Mpumalanga said, 'we can't expropriate land to play soccer on it'," said Moonsamy.

Malema on nationalisation

Have a look at excerpts featuring ANCYL president Julius Malema in the documentary Mining for Change: A story of South African Mining as he discusses the history of mining in South Africa and the need to redress inequalities through nationalisation.

Delegates were scheduled on Saturday to elect additional members of the league's highest decision-making structure, the national executive committee.