Question NW3837 to the Minister in The Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation
21 November 2023 - NW3837
Manyi, Mr M to ask the Minister in The Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation
(1)In light of the dismal performance of the National Development Plan (NDP), what is the rationale for continuing to use the NDP as a guiding framework for national development; (2) whether there are any plans to revise and/or adapt the NDP to better meet the changing needs and/or circumstances of the Republic; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details? [NO5059E]
Reply:
1. The NDP provides a long-term perspective on the attainment of the democratic, non-racial, non-sexist and prosperous society anticipated in our Constitution and, as such, will remain our lodestar.
The NDP laid down a broad roadmap for South Africa to address and deal with the broad objectives of eliminating poverty, reducing unemployment, and reducing inequality by 2030. As these objectives, as identified in the NDP, remain relevant and applicable, we will continue to apply the development approach of the NDP, which is rooted in good governance, economic transformation, social cohesion, a just transition to more sustainable development pathways, and a bias in favour of the poor. You will concede, I trust, that these are objectives that every nation addresses to some degree and as a nation that has the added responsibility of undoing centuries of inequality, we recognise that the rationale remains
(2) As the basic rationale for maintaining the NDP as our lodestar remains, there is no plan to rewrite it. It is not the NDP that is the problem, it is the fact that it has not been sufficiently implemented. Now is the time to reinvigorate the implementation of the NDP so that it is effective. We need to include and involve the rest of the social partners more deliberately and work at forging a renewed consensus for NDP implementation. This will require all of us to focus on what is in the best interests of our country.