SACP general secretary Blade Nzimande has chastised unions for supporting the ANC Youth League's call for nationalisation of the mines.
"[We]... in the working class, when calls for nationalisation of the mines were made, we jumped onto it," he told the SA Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) Congress in Boksburg.
"Some calls for nationalisation were not genuine and were aimed at rescuing BEE [Black Economic Empowerment] that was in debt.
"Nationalisation for what and for whom?... you will actually be nationalising debt, not mines," he said.
The Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) came out in support of the nationalisation of the mines, punted ardently by the ANCYL.
Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi however recently said that the manner in which the nationalisation debate was articulated was flawed.
In its document on a new growth path for the South African economy, Cosatu suggests that the State play a clearer role in strategic sectors of the economy.
The ANC's recent National General Council (NGC) resolved that its leadership would investigate the State playing such a role and the issue of nationalisation.
Nzimande on Thursday welcomed the NGC resolution for "sober discussions" on the contentious matter.
"Don't fall for our own rhetoric that is being used to pursue an agenda that in the end is against the working class, Nzimande told Sadtu members.
Sadtu's three-day national congress will see leadership being elected for the country's largest teacher union.
The congress was addressed by Education Minister Angie Motshekga on Wednesday.
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