Parliament, Friday, 20 February 2025 – The Portfolio Committee on Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation received a briefing from the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) and the National Planning Commission (NPC) on progress made in achieving the targets of the National Development Plan (NDP). The briefing also included progress in building state capacity and performance towards the implementation of the Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP).
The Chairperson of the committee, Ms Teliswa Mgweba, said the meeting was scheduled to assist Parliament in assessing government’s capacity and readiness to implement its medium-term development plan and to interrogate performance trends across all national and provincial departments.
In its presentation, the National Planning Commission told the committee that the NDP remains as relevant as ever. Members heard that for the NDP to reach its targets, economic, social and environmental fundamentals must be strengthened and firmly in place. This will require a comprehensive, coordinated, multi-sectoral partnership approach to development.
The committee noted that progress has been made in building state capacity, including advances in professionalising the public service and strengthening a merit-based administration. However, leadership instability continues to weaken institutional continuity and must be addressed. The NPC told the committee that audit outcomes show gradual improvement, although municipalities’ performance remains uneven. Public trust is also recovering slowly, but confidence in local government, courts and anti-corruption efforts remains low.
Members were reminded of the NDP’s overarching goal to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality and unemployment by 2030. They heard that poverty and inequality remain persistent, with 47.5% of the population living below the lower-bound poverty line. To achieve this goal, sustained annual economic growth of 5.4% will be required, along with significantly increasing job opportunities. According to the Commission, gross fixed capital formation stands at 17.1% of GDP. This is well below the target of 30%.
The committee further noted progress in human development indicators, particularly early childhood development. According to the Commission, participation among children aged five to six has risen to 91%, life expectancy has increased and under-five and infant mortality have declined. Women hold between 43% and 44% of political and senior management positions, which is an important indicator of transformation.
Members were of the view that, with regard to labour and education, critical factors are being missed. Some noted that the focus is on counting how many learners are attending school and how many are leaving, rather than on quality. For example, it would be far more important to measure how many learners are reading for meaning, as failure to acquire reading proficiency at this stage has lifelong consequences. Members further noted that TVET colleges and higher education institutions are not aligned with labour market needs and asked what reforms are required to ensure skills development that supports economic recovery.
Members also wanted to understand better the process for moving forward in the next phase of the NDP, stating that it is not enough to aim for 2030 and then abandon the plan. Some members were of the view that the country needs to start building now so that by 2030 it will be ready for a longer-term development framework beyond that date. Members also wanted to know what consequences there will be for departments that consistently fail to meet NDP targets.
Noting the Commission’s emphasis on strengthening coordination and accelerating job creation and investment, the Chairperson said that the committee will continue to assess whether government actions, investment choices and institutional reforms are aligned with the NDP and the objectives of eradicating poverty, reducing inequality and creating sustainable employment by 2030.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON PLANNING, MONITORING AND EVALUATION, MS TELISWA MGWEBA
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E-mail: ylandu@parliament.gov.za
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