National Planning Commission: Diagnostic Overview

At the inaugural meeting of the National Planning Commission (NPC)  held on 11 May 2010, President Zuma indicated that the NPC was expected to draft a vision statement for 2030, produce a development plan setting out how that vision can be achieved and present reports on issues affecting long- term development, such as infrastructure investment, water resources and inequality.

Given its advisory role the NPC, the Commission is expected to be objective and where necessary critical. To launch the process, the NPC has produced a diagnostic review with the aim of identifying the main challenges confronting the RSA and to examine their underlying causes. The diagnostic review is not the plan---it simply provides the basis for the plan and will serve as an informed discussion document regarding the major issues confronting the country.

To achieve this objective, the NPC will launch a consultation process which commences June 2011 with the publication of the diagnostic review for public comment. The NPC aims to release a vision statement for 3030 and a development plan for the consideration of the Cabinet on 11 November 2011.

The review, now been published identifies what the NPC hopes to achieve by eliminating grinding poverty and reducing inequality. It also identifies some major obstacles such as;

• A high disease burden , especially AIDS/HIV
• Divided communities
• Uneven public service
• Patterns of wealth and opportunity marginalise the poor
• Corruption
• An economy too dependent on resources when manufacturing and services may be better able to growth and jobs
• Crumbling infrastructure

A copy of the 30 page NPC Diagnostic Review may be accessed by clicking here

Pieter Rautenbach