Change in the leadership of the African National Congress (ANC) was going to be the catalyst for new radical policies the party planned to adopt, Gauteng ANC chairman Paul Mashatile said at the weekend.

He told a meeting of the Black Management Forum (BMF) in Johannesburg that nationalisation would become government policy. But it would not be "wholesale nationalisation".

The ruling party would pursue a mixed economy model and envisaged greater state intervention to achieve that end.

Mr Mashatile has been touted as the next ANC treasurer-general. He is believed to be among the chief campaigners against a second term for President Jacob Zuma at the party’s national elective conference in Mangaung in December.

Mr Mashatile’s Gauteng province is expected to push for him to become the national chairman when the ANC opens leadership nominations in less than 14 days.

The ANC national policy conference in June favoured "strategic nationalisation ", but the final decision would be made at the December conference.

"We have already said as Gauteng that when we go to Mangaung we expect to adopt radical policies, renew the organisation and also allow a new generation of leaders to become part of the national executive committee," Mr Mashatile said on the sidelines of the BMF event.

"Obviously it must be leaders who are prepared to implement these policies and make sure that they strengthen the ANC ."

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