City Press and News24 unreservedly apologise to Professor Chris Malikane in particular and to the public in general, for misleadingly and unfairly – but unintentionally – creating the impression in a story published on April 29 that he favoured the option of taking up arms to solve South Africa’s land reform issues. 

In that story we erroneously put the words “[take up arms]” in brackets as if those were his words, instead of stating that he was responding to a question from the floor. After a complaint was lodged the Press Ombudsman found that this misrepresented Malikane’s comment by creating the impression that he favoured the taking up of arms.  We regret the error.

For the full finding visit www.presscouncil.org.za

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‘Prepare for the worst’, says Gigaba’s adviser

Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba's advisor, Professor Chris Malikane warned South Africans to be prepared for the worst if radical economic transformation was to succeed.

Malikane was speaking last night at the Blacks in Dialogue event at the Devonshire Hotel in Johannesburg, organised by the Black First Land First movement.

Malikane reiterated his call for a new economic policy and for the amendment of the Constitution to nationalise key sectors of the economy.

"It's true that this country will plunge (into crisis) to be like Venezuela and Zimbabwe. India went through the same pain. If we are real about transformation, we need to be real and strengthen our people ideologically and politically. We need to organise and educate our people. Did you think to transform is going to be nice?" he asked.

Asked if South Africa should take up arms and follow in the footsteps of Zimbabweans, which seized land and farms from white owners after the land redistribution process proved to be slow in that country.

"We need a two-thirds majority to change the Constitution. Otherwise, to achieve what we want to achieve, we need to go that route [of taking up arms]. Let's try two-thirds. I don't like war," Malikane said.

A decision to take up arms would have to be discussed and not be a decision taken by an individual, he said.

"It's not for me to decide. It's unity of the progressive forces that has to decide. My role is to unite these progressive forces. Taking up arms is one thing, but building a country is another," he said.

Malikane said there were black people defending white monopoly capital.

"Black people are not homogenous. There are opportunists, who at the sound of R1, will jump. There are classes within black people. For example there are those who own farms and aspire to be like white farmers. There are sectors within black society which have sold out," he said.

Malikane said it was time for the country to decide on the way forward.

"Is there a better route to the promise land? What we need is a broad united front," he said.

Trade unions, student formations and political parties need to come forward and discuss how radical economic transformation should be implemented.

He said the national question was based on the fact that Africans were dispossessed, dominated and exploited.

He lambasted his critics, saying radical economic transformation would be based on a democratic state monopoly, not promoting wealth for a few. And the black working class would have to be involved for it to succeed.

Land - including private property - has to be expropriated without compensation, he said. And compensation would come in the form of paying for tractors and buildings, not for the actual land.

"We need to go to such an extent that even pastors must pray about this programme," he said.

Malikane said union federations Cosatu and new formation Saftu also promote the idea of radical economic transformation.

"What is stopping these formations from coming together? We haven't heard from PAC and Azapo. We need pillars of this programme to be adopted. Other technical issues will be ironed out later," he said.