It looks like ‘radical’ socialist ideology is set to dominate the ANC from December. This is not a good thing for anyone but those near the political power centers, who will have the ability to steal private property in the name of ‘strategic nationalisation’.

Business Day reports that:

CHANGE in the leadership of the African National Congress (ANC) was going to be the catalyst for new radical policies the party planned to adopt, Gauteng ANC chairman Paul Mashatile said at the weekend.

He told a meeting of the Black Management Forum (BMF) in Johannesburg that nationalisation would become government policy. But it would not be “wholesale nationalisation”.

The ruling party would pursue a mixed economy model and envisaged greater state intervention to achieve that end.

Mr Mashatile has been touted as the next ANC treasurer-general. He is believed to be among the chief campaigners against a second term for President Jacob Zuma at the party’s national elective conference in Mangaung in December.

Mr Mashatile’s Gauteng province is expected to push for him to become the national chairman when the ANC opens leadership nominations in less than 14 days.

The ANC national policy conference in June favoured “strategic nationalisation”, but the final decision would be made at the December conference.

“We have already said as Gauteng that when we go to Mangaung we expect to adopt radical policies, renew the organisation and also allow a new generation of leaders to become part of the national executive committee,” Mr Mashatile said on the sidelines of the BMF event.

“Obviously it must be leaders who are prepared to implement these policies and make sure that they strengthen the ANC.”

The audience at the event also heard that the government had, over the past 18 years since democracy, been too quick to change economic policies, which led to policy uncertainty and a degree of instability.

Shell SA chairman Bonang Mohale said SA, unlike countries such as China, failed to plan ahead and did not take the necessary time to implement its plans. The government’s infrastructure programmes took forever because of corruption and bureaucracy.

Not a single project, including the Gautrain, had met its deadline and budget, Mr Mohale said.

Mr Mashatile said there was a perception the government tolerated corruption, but that would change after Mangaung, and an “integrity committee” was launched.

That is the ANC’s definition of freedom: The power and ability to steal any private property their hearts desire.