... the question is asked as to how South Africa, once the world's most attractive mining destination, lost its spot on the podium.
There is no disputing that South Africa has failed to capitalise on the commodity boom, and is no longer the mining giant of Africa it used to be. Should the answer lie in the midst of South Africa's threatening call for nationalisation?
To the Minister's credit, she has stated that nationalisation of mines would not happen in her lifetime. But can the Minister confirm to us that the ANC and its alliance partners, the SA Communist Party and the Congress of SA Trade Unions, share the same view?
In April this year, the general secretary of Cosatu reminded the tripartite alliance that nationalisation emanated from the 1955 Freedom Charter and that greater state intervention in the economy is required by the ANC.
Hon Minister, one day the ANC and its government says we have a plan, the National Development Plan, NDP, but the next day the ANC alliance partners, in the form of the SACP and Cosatu, ravish the very same plan. Which one is it, hon Minister? [Interjections.]
You have said: "not in your lifetime". Hon Minister, how long is your lifetime? How long is it going to be before you are going to be called to Saxonwold to be told your fate? Could the answer lie in the poor maintenance of infrastructure?