HARARE - South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) will not expropriate land from commercial white farmers, saying it risks devastating the economy as happened in Zimbabwe, a top official said on Sunday.
ANC secretary-general, Gwede Mantashe told a church rally in Free State that South Africans must not be fooled by Julius Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) which is taking on the ANC with a radical populist message advocating nationalisations and seizures of white-owned land.
Two decades after South Africa’s first multi-racial ballot won by Nelson Mandela, who died three months ago, the 102-year-old liberation movement is fighting to counter an erosion of voter support in presidential and legislative elections due on May 7.
Mantashe said ex-ANC Youth League leader’s, proposition for Zim-style invasions risks gutting the economy.
“Look at Zimbabwe. It used to be the bread basket of Africa. Today it imports almost everything. The Zimbabwean dollar has disappeared.
“This economy will disappear if that is the example we want to follow,” Mantashe was reported as saying by Sapa newsa agency.
Malema, who was expelled from the ruling party in 2012 for indiscipline, has described SA President Jacob Zuma’s policies as “an old CD with a scratch” and promised “exciting elections.”