By: Sello Theletsane
Former ANC member, former uMkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans’ Association NEC member and an outspoken advocate of radical economic transformation (RET) Carl Niehaus will formally launch what he has called a non profit organisation (NPO) on Thursday (23 February).
Niehaus’ RET rhetoric within the ANC has seen him break ranks with the ruling party, whose neo-liberal policies have taken over the ANC in recent years. In a statement Niehaus said the work to build a broad united base for the advancement of RET throughout South Africa has been concluded, “and we are now ready to proceed with the formal launch media conference of the organisation”.
“As we have reported on social media and mainstream media platforms, extensive consultation with many South Africans, various progressive civil society organisations and political parties, laid the foundation for this launch. Further engagements and consultations will proceed apace after the launch.”
Niehaus said it was on the basis of these engagements and consultations that “our Working Board concluded on the final name, and emblem, of the NPO that will be launched”. “We are now able to proceed with a well prepared comprehensive programme of action to roll out a mass based people’s organisation that will be established throughout the length and breadth of our country.”
Niehaus said the organisation’s guiding document is a Ten Point Plan To Save Our Nation, which he said was the product of extensive consultation.
The 10-point plan, which is aimed at transforming the organisation into a socio-political force in the country outlines the following:
1. Expropriation of land without compensation
2. Reverse privatisation of SOE’s
3. Nationalise the South African Reserve Bank (SARB)
4. Implement National Health Plan & State Pharmaceutical company
5. End load shedding & nationalise all coal resources
6. National Service, skills training & Public Works programmes
7. Minimum living wage
8. Intensified border policing and deportation of illegal foreigners
9. Harsher sentences and referendum on death penalty
10. Drastic reduction of fuel prices with cheaper oil from BRICS
“A more comprehensive document, further explaining the Ten Point Plan, will be part of the documents that we will release to the media at our official launch,” said Niehaus.
He said the final name and emblem of the NPO would be unveiled at the official launch media conference, “together with the reasons why we have finally concluded on our specific name and emblem”. He added that the official launch will be attended by the full Working Board, whose biographies and designations would also be made available to the media.
“This will be accompanied by the launch of our website, and the various electronic (website/portal), and physical, signup forms that will be immediately available from the 23rd of February 2023, for members to sign up. Our Working Board received numerous enquiries from progressive South Africans who are deeply concerned about the perilous State Of Our Nation, and who want to sign up as members. It is for us a source of excitement and pride that they will now indeed be able to do so.”
