Ronnie Kasrils on Nationalisation and the History of South Africa's Economic Policy Choices
Channel: SACSIS
Date: 2014-03-28

On 13 March 2014, The South African Civil Society Information Service and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) South Africa Office co-hosted a panel discussion, Beyond Nationalisation, which interrogated how South Africa's mineral resources could be exploited to bring greater benefit to the people of South Africa.

The discussion was opened by Renate Tenbusch, the Resident Director of the FES South Africa Office and facilitated by Fazila Farouk, Executive Director of SACSIS.

Ronnie Kasrils was actively involved in the ANC during a crucial time in South Africa's history. It was the time when the ANC opted to turn away from nationalisation as a policy choice. He provided valuable insights into how that came to be and talked about the Norwegian Sovereign Wealth Fund, as a model for consideration.

Ronnie Kasrils was Minister for Intelligence Services from 27 April 2004 to 25 September 2008. He was a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the African National Congress (ANC) from 1987 to 2007 as well as a member of the Central Committee of the South African Communist Party (SACP) from December 1986 to 2007.

Other panelists at the event were Cosatu Straegist, Neil Coleman and Duma Gqubule founder and director of KIO Advisory Services.