The Northern Cape ANC said on Monday it would pay keen attention to the debate on the nationalisation of mines in the province.

"We excitingly welcome the debate on nationalisation of mines," said Zumani Saul, ANC provincial secretary.

"We believe it is a relevant and necessary debate for us taking into cognisance the fact that mining is the biggest contributor to the GDP (gross domestic product) of the province."

He was referring to a debate between the ANC Youth League, the SA Communist Party and Minerals and Energy Minister Susan Shabangu on nationalising mines.

Saul said the Northern Cape had a "strange contrast" as most areas with mining activities had high levels of poverty and a lack of basic service infrastructure.

Kleinzee to turn into a ghost town

Addressing journalists in Kimberley on the outcomes of the provincial ANC's lekgotla this past weekend, he said some of the world's best diamonds had been mined in areas such as Smitsdrift, but there had been no social infrastructure investment in the area.

"You only find severe poverty," he said, adding that Kleinzee would probably turn into a ghost town soon, because diamond mining giant De Beers was pulling out of the area.

Saul said the province was an excellent example of mining houses doing only the absolute necessary towards adding value to the socio-economic environment of the province.

"They do what is necessary to get the diamonds out (of the ground) and no more."

Saul said the Northern Cape regional office of the department of minerals was part of "this injustice".

He said the ANC had decided to intensify a campaign to keep the benefits of the province's mineral riches for the residents of the Northern Cape.