South Africans currently face what one might consider a serious predicament. We all seem interested in moving forward, creating a better life, building a great nation, but are torn on how to get to this Promised Land, precisely because while others are talking to the future, our country seems to be drowning in the present.
We are confronted with so much, from claims of state capture, to Guptaleaks, to countless no-confidence motions and virtually every other manmade crisis you can think of. Just the thought of it all makes achieving progress seem overwhelming.
Despite it all, we have little choice but to pursue progress in the interest of our nation, our collective future and that of the next generations. As Oscar Wilde put it, “We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars”.
The adoption of the National Development Plan (NPD) in 2012 as a blueprint for government planning, for a moment heralded a sense of hope and ample opportunity for South Africans across all divides. In particular, it presented hope for millions experiencing poverty, characterised by high levels of inequality, lack of opportunity and joblessness.
Its adoption signaled the unfolding of a roadmap towards the socio-economic development. The moment almost resembled and carried with it hopes and aspirations similar to those created by the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP).
At the core of the RDP was an integrated, coherent socio-economic policy aimed at mobilising citizens as well as the country’s resources towards building a democratic and prosperous nation.
The NDP sought to carry the same sentiment. In its foreword it makes the point that SA belongs to all its people and the future of our country is our collective future. Making it work is also our collective responsibility.
The NDP is essentially a plan to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality by 2030 through uniting South Africans, unleashing the energies of citizens, growing an inclusive economy, building capabilities, enhancing the capability of the state and leaders working together to solve complex problems. Among its targets is the creation of 11-million jobs by 2030. Key economic targets include increasing the investment rate to 25% of the GDP by 2019 and reducing official unemployment to 14% by 2020.
Five years after its adoption, and with 13 years to its expiry, the country seems – despite the bold assertions made – to be stagnating if not regressing. A few months ago SA entered a technical recession. Contrary to creating much needed job opportunities, it haemorrhaged jobs.
Of great concern is that at the centre of these challenges continues to be a peculiar stand-off between the most important roleplayers – government, business and communities. This, at the time when they ought to be working together towards finding common solutions.
To illustrate the point, I draw attention to the quagmire around the adoption and or lack thereof, of the revised Mining Charter, now a bone of contention between government, the mining sector and communities.
The latest Mining Charter released by the Mineral Resources Ministry has drawn so much condemnation from business that it is now the subject of a court battle between the ministry and the Chamber of Mines.
The revised Charter is straining relations in a sector already under strain as is seen through the large volumes of job losses.
Since 2012, an estimated 70000 jobs have been lost in mining. Just a few weeks ago, Sibanye Gold announced it could cut 7400 jobs at its Beatrix West and Cooke operations. This was against the backdrop of an announcement by AngloGold Ashanti that it was looking to cut 8500 jobs at two of its local mines. Meanwhile Bokoni platinum mine in Limpopo plans to retrench up to 2651 employees.
Private sector blames government for political instability, policy uncertainty and senseless decision-making. Government blames business for a lack of patriotism and interest and an inability to transform the economy.
And as the adage goes, when two elephants fight, it’s the grass that suffers. According to Stats SA’s Quarterly Labour Force Survey, national unemployment in the first quarter of 2017 increased by 1.2 of a percentage point to 27.7%, the highest figure since September 2003.
As conceded by the Statistician-General Pali Lehohla, by any means, the gap between the unemployment rate as envisaged in the NDP and the current rate is widening.
As the sideshows continue, the jobs bloodbath goes on unabated.
It is India’s Mahatma Gandhi who reminds us, “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind”. That’s a situation we ought to avoid at all costs. We need to adopt collective and dual strategies to deal with the political and economic challenges while breathing life into the only strategic document that still carries the potential to deliver us into our Promised Land.
We must continuously echo the sentiment that SA’s progress rests on the ability of government, business, labour and communities to work together. National interest must transcend sectoral and individual interest and deliver hope and opportunity to the most vulnerable; if not we are in for an inevitably nasty time – the type alluded to by Jean-Jacques Rousseau when he said, “When the people shall have nothing more to eat, but the rich”.
It’s time to turn to the NDP into a people’s contract, to move it from a plan, to a national action and let everyone reap its rewards.
Sango Ntsaluba is executive chair of NMT Capital
Vital to breathe life into NDP
We are confronted with so much, from claims of state capture, to Guptaleaks, to countless no-confidence motions and virtually every other manmade crisis you can think of. Just the thought of it all makes achieving progress seem overwhelming.
Despite it all, we have little choice but to pursue progress in the interest of our nation, our collective future and that of the next generations. As Oscar Wilde put it, “We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars”.
The adoption of the National Development Plan (NPD) in 2012 as a blueprint for government planning, for a moment heralded a sense of hope and ample opportunity for South Africans across all divides. In particular, it presented hope for millions experiencing poverty, characterised by high levels of inequality, lack of opportunity and joblessness.
Its adoption signaled the unfolding of a roadmap towards the socio-economic development. The moment almost resembled and carried with it hopes and aspirations similar to those created by the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP).
At the core of the RDP was an integrated, coherent socio-economic policy aimed at mobilising citizens as well as the country’s resources towards building a democratic and prosperous nation.
The NDP sought to carry the same sentiment. In its foreword it makes the point that SA belongs to all its people and the future of our country is our collective future. Making it work is also our collective responsibility.
The NDP is essentially a plan to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality by 2030 through uniting South Africans, unleashing the energies of citizens, growing an inclusive economy, building capabilities, enhancing the capability of the state and leaders working together to solve complex problems. Among its targets is the creation of 11-million jobs by 2030. Key economic targets include increasing the investment rate to 25% of the GDP by 2019 and reducing official unemployment to 14% by 2020.
Five years after its adoption, and with 13 years to its expiry, the country seems – despite the bold assertions made – to be stagnating if not regressing. A few months ago SA entered a technical recession. Contrary to creating much needed job opportunities, it haemorrhaged jobs.
Of great concern is that at the centre of these challenges continues to be a peculiar stand-off between the most important roleplayers – government, business and communities. This, at the time when they ought to be working together towards finding common solutions.
To illustrate the point, I draw attention to the quagmire around the adoption and or lack thereof, of the revised Mining Charter, now a bone of contention between government, the mining sector and communities.
The latest Mining Charter released by the Mineral Resources Ministry has drawn so much condemnation from business that it is now the subject of a court battle between the ministry and the Chamber of Mines.
The revised Charter is straining relations in a sector already under strain as is seen through the large volumes of job losses.
Since 2012, an estimated 70000 jobs have been lost in mining. Just a few weeks ago, Sibanye Gold announced it could cut 7400 jobs at its Beatrix West and Cooke operations. This was against the backdrop of an announcement by AngloGold Ashanti that it was looking to cut 8500 jobs at two of its local mines. Meanwhile Bokoni platinum mine in Limpopo plans to retrench up to 2651 employees.
Private sector blames government for political instability, policy uncertainty and senseless decision-making. Government blames business for a lack of patriotism and interest and an inability to transform the economy.
And as the adage goes, when two elephants fight, it’s the grass that suffers. According to Stats SA’s Quarterly Labour Force Survey, national unemployment in the first quarter of 2017 increased by 1.2 of a percentage point to 27.7%, the highest figure since September 2003.
As conceded by the Statistician-General Pali Lehohla, by any means, the gap between the unemployment rate as envisaged in the NDP and the current rate is widening.
As the sideshows continue, the jobs bloodbath goes on unabated.
It is India’s Mahatma Gandhi who reminds us, “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind”. That’s a situation we ought to avoid at all costs. We need to adopt collective and dual strategies to deal with the political and economic challenges while breathing life into the only strategic document that still carries the potential to deliver us into our Promised Land.
We must continuously echo the sentiment that SA’s progress rests on the ability of government, business, labour and communities to work together. National interest must transcend sectoral and individual interest and deliver hope and opportunity to the most vulnerable; if not we are in for an inevitably nasty time – the type alluded to by Jean-Jacques Rousseau when he said, “When the people shall have nothing more to eat, but the rich”.
It’s time to turn to the NDP into a people’s contract, to move it from a plan, to a national action and let everyone reap its rewards.
Sango Ntsaluba is executive chair of NMT Capital
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