9th+Congress,+Socio-Economic,+3+of+11,+State+involvement+in+the+economy

Draft Adopted Resolutions of the 9th COSATU National Congress

 * (For advance study purposes only. Wait for the printed edition, or refer to the official [|COSATU web site]for the authoritative version)**

Socio-Economic Resolutions, 3 of 11
=3.3 State involvement in the economy:=


 * Noting:**

1. Clause 3 of the Freedom Charter says, “The national wealth of the country, the heritage of all South Africans, shall be restored to the people,” and “The mineral wealth beneath the soil shall be transferred to the ownership of the people.”

2. Instead, the government is handing over key economic sectors like mining to few rich individuals, which cannot benefit the majority of the people.


 * Resolve:**

1. The government should be engaged through COSATU and other organs of civil society to establish a National Company owned by the people through the state in key strategic sector. The state company should include key strategic sectors of the economy.

2. The proceeds of this company will be channelled into financing programmes to deal with socio economic challenges of our country particularly those facing the poor. The government must:

> a. (re)nationalize key industries that used to belong to the state, beginning with SASOL; > b. pass legislation to allow state takeover of industries that are either closed or abandoned by owners or financially troubled. This must be done through direct involvement of workers affected; and > c. return to the Freedom Charter demands for nationalization of the monopoly industries like the mines and the banks.

2. Campaign within the Alliance and society at large for the nationalization of economic assets in key economic sectors such as minerals, telecommunications, petrochemical, etc.

3. Call on government that the National Empowerment Fund, Sibiya Fund, etc. and other entities such as the IDC and PIC are oriented towards supporting popular forms of ownership and distribution of economic wealth such as cooperatives.

4. Call on all COSATU affiliates to disallow their investment companies from legitimizing the current accumulation regime by participation in BEE deals.

5. Call on all COSATU investment companies to reorient themselves towards cooperatives and other progressive forms of ownership.

346 words