Phosa calls for middle ground on nationalisation

ANC treasurer general Mathews Phosa has urged all interest groups, including foreign investors, to find common ground in the debate on nationalisation.

In a speech to the SA German Chamber of Commerce today, he invited the private sector locally and internationally to talk to an ANC research team studying models of state ownership.

"It is in our interest to find a solution that builds bridges and fosters new partnerships," he said.

"It is our patriotic duty to find middle ground in this debate and to ask: 'What is the solution that speaks to the common interests of government's policy agenda, the mining houses and the country's substantially disaffected?'"

Phosa said he would like to see a robust debate where narrow interests were set aside for the greater good.

"There is nothing that prevents the private sector and international communities to interact with this committee or the relevant state departments to convey your views," he said.

Last week, Phosa delivered a similar message to a delegation of leading British and South African business people, who raised concerns that uncertainty over nationalisation was hampering investment in mining and infrastructure.

He said the government was "very open" to public-private partnerships in the mining industry.

The ANC's report on nationalisation would represent "a middle road somewhere" that would be a "win-win for everyone".

The report is to be released next year.

Phosa said South Africa could not continue on the current road where the state was the only net creator of jobs in the economy.

"Whilst we certainly aim to urge state-owned enterprises as well as development finance institutions to sharpen their focus on job creation... it is not the primary task of the state to create jobs," he said.

"That is the job of the private sector and we need to do a lot of honest soul-searching on whether government and the public sector, here and abroad, have forged the real patriotic partnerships that I am so passionate about."