Johannesburg - The ANC’s policy guru Joel Netshitenzhe remains unapologetic following a talking to over the "white" monopoly capital debacle.
Netshitenzhe got into trouble earlier this week following a backlash from delegates over his stating that nine out of the 11 commissions agreed not to racially define “monopoly capital”. Party officials stated that his revealing the numbers was sowing divisions among delegates and furthered the agenda of factionalism.
The Nkosozana Dlamini Zuma camp has been in support of the “white monopoly capital” rhetoric while the Cyril Ramaphosa camp has been against adding race to the issue.
In a briefing to media, Netshitenzhe said: “Nine of the 11 commissions felt that the phenomenon of monopoly capital is a global one and manifests itself differently.
“In that context, it would therefore not be correct to characterise ours simply as white monopoly capital. That relationship would apply whether it’s Japanese, Indian, white or whatever category you can think about.”
These comments earned him widespread criticism with leaders from KwaZulu-Natal calling on ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe to institute disciplinary steps against him.
Netshitenzhe said adding race to the debate around monopoly capital was not in line with the party’s policies.
“We want monopoly capital to create jobs invest participate in black economic empowerment.”