Brent Meersman Consults History for Lessons in Mine Nationalisation Debate
Brent Meersman, author of Reports Before Daybreak draws parallels between Julius Malema’s call to nationalise the mines and a similar call that “swept the National Party to power” in 1948.
He even traces the nationalisation debate back to the Pact government of 1924.
According to Meersman this debate has, throughout its history, been “muddied by racist undertones”. In the 1920s and 1950s the debate was based on sentiments against the “British-Jewish international capitalists” and now Malema is characterising his struggle as “anti-imperialist” and “anti-capitalist”, with a view of transferring “wealth from the minority to the majority”.
“Does the Honourable Minister (for mines) really think that anyone would produce diamonds if they could be taken away from him without payment? We shall see a flight of capital.”
That was Ernest Oppenheimer addressing the mines minister of the Pact government in 1924.
“This is an old story,” objected a ruling-party MP.
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- Reports Before Daybreak by Brent Meersman
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EAN: 9781415201060
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