The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

The Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) applauds Cabinet for endorsing the National Development Plan (NDP) as announced on Friday by Minister in the Presidency Responsible for Performance Monitoring and Evaluation, Collins Chabane.

On 13 May 2011 FEDUSA met with representatives of the National Planning Commission (NPC), including Deputy Chairperson Cyril Ramaphosa, and submitted its own economic policy base document, Building Blocks for a New Employment Growth Path. FEDUSA’s Building Blocks document outlines the five sections or ‘building blocks’ that it feels will assist in the creation of a new employment growth path. It identifies the current problems affecting South Africans and offers both short and long term recommendations.

Subsequent interactions included a visit by Minister Trevor Manuel late in November of 2011, when FEDUSA reported being encouraged by the NDP, and specifically the focus on strategies targeting job creation, quality education and healthcare, infrastructure expansion and intensifying the fight against corruption. Again it was evident that there was great synergy between the NDP and FEDUSA core thrust in the Building Blocks proposals which were largely given authority by become key resolutions of FEDUSA’s fifth national congress held in that same month.

FEDUSA has since become a staunch supporter of the NDP and is popularising the plan during a nationwide training programme entitled Trade Unions and the Economy. This project will inter alia seek to capacitate trade union representatives on socioeconomic interventions such as the New Growth Path and NDP.

“We are very glad that Cabinet is also positive about the [National Development] Plan,” said FEDUSA General Secretary Dennis George. “FEDUSA will be an active participant in all processes linked to the successful implementation of the 18 key targets put forward,” he added.

Cabinet has endorsed the objectives and the 18 key targets set out in the National Development Plan 2030 prepared by the National Planning Commission, and it was reported that Cabinet also acknowledged the NDP as a strategic framework to form the basis of future government detailed planning.

FEDUSA is of the firm view that a comprehensive development policy framework can play a critical role in accelerating shared growth, reducing poverty and achieving our human development.

However, FEDUSA remains concerned that government’s failing administrative capacity, lack of political will and general collapse of implementation could result in the NDP meeting the same fate as previous socioeconomic interventions such as the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) and Growth, Employment and Redistribution (GEAR) plan.

“Our country is literally a graveyard of failed plans and there remains a daunting gap between the vision of the NDP and the current reality. We are glad that Cabinet is taking the lead towards creating an inclusive institutional implementation framework to continuously receive reports on the implementation of the NDP. At least this will create a monitoring and evaluation structure that could be accountable to our people,” concluded George.