Reconciling the NGP with the NPC

This past week saw the release of the New Growth Path (NGP) by Minister in the Department of Economic Development, Ibrahim Patel. The NGP is government's new chapter in a book which aims to outline a vision for South Africa’s growth and development. The jury is still out as to whether or not the growth and development strategies outlined in the NGP document are realistic and achievable. What concerns me is the role of the National Planning Commission(NPC) in the drafting of the NGP document.

NGP document could be waste of resources 

To be sure, the NPC as a body that is Chaired by Trevor Manuel, Minister in the Presidency, is yet to gain full life as a working organization. The Secretariat, which will carryout the day-to-day work of the NPC, is yet to be appointed which means that realistically the NPC would have had very little influence on the formulation of the NGP plan. It is my understanding that the work of the NPC, among others, is to define a long-term plan of how to make South Africa’s economy more vibrant and productive. The implication therefore, is that every long-term plan by any government department would be informed by the long-term plan which, i must emphasize, is yet to be outlined by the NPC. Any government department coming out with a long-term plan in the absence of a plan by the NPC, stands the risk of having to rework any new plans or at worst, having to completely discard such plans for not being aligned to the NPC plan, a plan which is yet to be defined.

Minister Manuel is mum on the NGP

I'm not suggesting that government departments should sit idle while waiting for Minister Manuel to finalize the long-term plan for the country. Without a doubt, a  lot of resources would have been channeled towards the development of the NGP and I wonder if Minister Patel should not have waited just a little while longer before releasing the NGP document which is obviously not informed by the NPC vision. A vision which, I must repeat, is yet to be defined. So far, Minister Manuel has not commented at all on the NGP plan proposed by Minister Patel and this is exactly what raises my concern, the possible lack of proper co-ordination in government. 

At some point in the future, the thoughts outlined in the NGP would have to be reconciled with the long-term vision of the NPC, which vision is no-doubt going to be the “Bible” on which every sphere of government would have to base their plans.