ANC distances itself from Youth League comments

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s ruling ANC distanced itself yesterday from the strongest comments yet by its Youth League advocating nationalisation of the mining sector and seizure of land from white farmers.

Julius Malema, who was re-elected over the weekend as leader of the Youth League, used his victory his speech to launch an assault on ‘white monopoly capital’ in Africa’s biggest economy, that included the takeover of land with compensation.The firebrand 30-year-old has huge support among disenchanted young black South Africans and is seen as a king-maker in an ANC leadership race looming in 2012.However, the ANC stressed that Malema’s thoughts had nothing to do with central party policy.’Pronouncements by the Youth League on such matters as the nationalisation of mines and land redistribution – among others – form part of ongoing discussions within the movement,’ it said in a statement.Malema’s rhetoric about nationalisation and seizure of white-owned farms has unsettled domestic and international investors, not least for its parallels to the disastrous policies of President Robert Mugabe in neighbouring Zimbabwe.At the weekend, the Youth League also called for an open ANC leadership race in 2012, suggesting a challenge to President Jacob Zuma’s bid for a second five-year term.However, the ANC also downplayed that, saying the League’s pronouncements had no bearing on a party leadership conference next year.’The ANC Youth League Conference was that of the ANCYL and not a forerunner or a precursor to the ANC elective conference in 2012,’ it said. – Nampa-Reuters