Nzimande summons Brown on Eskom sale

Johannesburg - The future of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) took centre stage at the SACP’s central committee meeting this weekend, with Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown expected to face tough questions.

Brown was on Saturday expected to brief the organisation about the government’s plans for state companies, including Eskom, with the SACP expected to emphasise its opposition to any suggestion of selling off even some parts of the utility.

SACP general secretary Blade Nzimande confirmed that Brown would brief the party as it was very concerned about the state of the SOEs.

“We’ll be having a discussion on state-owned companies, which will include Eskom.

“As the SACP, we regard these companies as very crucial in our economic development, and they should remain in the hands of the state.

“That is why we were surprised to hear some people elsewhere saying there was a decision to sell parts of Eskom.

“We even think maybe it’s people putting these things out there in the media to create a rift between us.

“We are against any privatisation of Eskom. There are many examples of electricity being privatised. They have failed because prices just sky-rocket.

“How is that going to help our developmental agenda?” he asked.

The state of labour federation Cosatu, which has recently expelled its general secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi, after earlier expelling the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa), was also set to be chief among difficult issues on the table.

“We’ll be doing an assessment of what has been happening in the SACP, ANC, Cosatu and the country since our congress in 2012.

“We are doing a broader analysis of the issues affecting the federation and how we will engage them, and that is aside to issues concerning individuals,” he said.

The party this week urged Justice Minister Michael Masutha to appeal the High Court decision to grant Clive Derby-Lewis medical parole.

It expressed disappointment at the judgment, and said it would not rest until the whole truth about its former general secretary Chris Hani’s killing was revealed.

Speaking on the sidelines of the central committee meeting in Joburg on Friday, Nzimande said as much as Derby-Lewis had a right to life, so did Hani.

“We have opposed parole for the two convicted murderers of our former general secretary. However, we have always argued that a full disclosure should be the unconditional requirement.”

Nzimande added people should not forget that Derby-Lewis was involved in “an active conspiracy”.

On the hit list found at the time were other names and residential details, including those for Nelson Mandela.

“The intention of the conspiracy was to shipwreck the negotiated transition and plunge the whole country into a racial civil war.”

The Sunday Independent

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