Call for nationalisation of South African resources

The controversial politician Julius Malema yesterday said black South Africans are worse off than during apartheid and launched a hit list for nationalisation as he capitalised on discontent over the Marikana mine massacre.

The hit list included the South African arm of world's biggest steel company and the country's iron and platinum resources.

Staging his political comeback at a liquidated gold mine – whose directors included President Jacob Zuma's nephew Khulubuse Zuma and Nelson Mandela's grandson Zondwa Mandela – the ousted president of the African National Congress Youth League launched what he called "a revolution in the mining sector", telling mineworkers not to trust the ANC government. "Every mine has a politician inside," said the 31-year-old, who has created a Friends of the Youth League since being ousted by an ANC disciplinary panel.

Echoing the calls at Lonmin's Marikana mine, where 34 demonstrators were killed when police opened fire on 16 August, he said all miners should be paid a minimum of 12,500 rand (£895).

The Youth League now wants the creation of a land-expropriation commission and the nationalisation of companies Sasol, Kumba Iron-Ore and the operation of ArcelorMittal, the world's biggest steel company. It is also calling for the nationalisation of all iron, platinum and zinc resources.