SA needs an assurance that the NPC is not just a smokescreen for the failed developmental state
National Planning Minister Trevor Manuel's announcements on Friday (see here) that cabinet and not the National Planning Commission will have the final say regarding policy formulation and also that there would be no white paper setting out the precise nature, particular powers and checks and balances that would define the Commission raise serious questions over the precise role it will play when it comes to developing a long-term plan for the country.
There is a fundamental problem with the conception of the National Planning Commission which, to date, has not enjoyed proper scrutiny and that is the nature of those plans the proposed Commission will develop. For, if it is the purpose of the National Planning Commission to develop a set of strategic priorities for this government, in the best interests of the South African people, then those plans must be the best possible response to challenges we face as a country. If, however, those plans are pre-determined, in the sense that they are simply a way of giving concrete expression to the ANC's distorted vision of a ‘developmental state', then those plans will not be in the best interests of all South Africans, because the ANC's understanding of what constitutes a developmental state (the role of parastatals, the legislation governing labour practice, the nature and role of the free market, etc) are often fundamentally problematic.
There is a simple test against which the purpose of this Commission can be held and that is the following question: If those Commissioners within the National Planning Commission determine that the ANC's vision of a developmental state is not in the best interests of the country, will the ANC abandon it?
It is that question National Planning Minister Trevor Manuel needs to answer.
If he does not, or he confirms that the National Planning Commission exists simply to implement the ANC's programme of action, then he will confirm that the Commission is nothing more than a smokescreen, that has the ANC's agenda - and not the best interests of all South Africans - at its heart. That renders the very idea of planning somewhat redundant, because it is not planning, it is just implementation and it would be better titled ‘A National Implementation Commission'.
Further, the revised green paper on the National Planning Commission released on Friday still fails to adequately address how this Commission will be protected from the ANC's inability to properly separate party and state, or its party political agenda. Furthermore, still implicit in the revised version, is the assumption that a single party governs all spheres in South Africa. This is clearly not the case and the revised green paper fails to address the ever changing nature of our country's democracy as well as the potential impact of the results of upcoming local government elections. In addition, the Constitution states that while it is imperative that all provinces "maintain essential national standards" and meet "established minimum standards" in rendering services, outside of that requirement, a province's plans and strategies for achieving those objectives cannot be dictated by the national administration.
Related to this is the necessity that the twenty Commissioners appointed to serve on the Commission are not captive to the interest and whims of the ruling party, but instead represent a cross-section of the entire country and whose sole objective is to develop the best plan possible for a democratic and prosperous future for South Africa.
For this to happen it is imperative that the current nomination process as well as the subsequent appointment of Commissioners by President Zuma is open and transparent, that the candidates are selected objectively and are appointed based solely on their qualifications, expertise and practical experience. South Africa cannot afford yet another collection of ANC cadres tasked with pursuing the narrow interests of Luthuli House such as that of the JSC and the SABC board.
The DA will be announcing its nominations to serve on the National Planning Commission in the coming weeks.
Statement issued by Athol Trollip, MP, Democratic Alliance parliamentary leader, January 18 2010
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