Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has announced 25 new members for the National Planning Commission (NPC) in the Department of Planning‚ Monitoring and Evaluation‚ for a period of five years.
Established in May 2010, to develop a long term vision and strategic plan for South Africa, the main objective of the commission is to rally the nation around a common set of objectives and priorities to drive development over the longer term.
The NPC comprises 24 part-time external commissioners, a chair person and a deputy chairperson appointed by the President on the basis of their specialist skills and expertise.
The commissioners are drawn from nominations made by the public throughout South Africa and are largely from outside government.
They advise government on cross-cutting issues that influence the long term development of South Africa by a broad, independent and critical view of South Africa, by consulting with and drawing on the skills and expertise of multiple stakeholders, to build consensus and find concrete solutions to key challenges faced within the country.
The mandate of the new commission, the Presidency said, will include promoting and advancing the implementation of the NDP across different sectors of society and to undertake detailed planning in a selected number of sectors to be determined from time to time.
The commissioners will also conduct regular engagements with various sectors of society on all matters pertaining to the long-term development of the country and facilitate stakeholder engagements aimed at forging a social compact towards more effective implementation of the NDP.
They will undertake research into long-term trends, analyse implementation of short to medium term plans with a view to recommend improvements to government, as well as produce reports to inform policy and planning and contribute to the development of international partnerships and networks on national planning.
Minister in the Presidency for Planning‚ Monitoring and Evaluation Jeff Radebe is the chairperson of the commission and Professor William Makgoba is deputy chairperson.
Other members, who come from various sectors of the economy include Tasneem Essop; Abdus Salam Mohammad Karaan; Vuyokazi Felicity Mahlati; Elias Masilela; Viviene Taylor; Miriam Altman; Siphamandla Welcome Zondi; Johannes Petrus Landman; Pulane Elsie Molokwane; Jarrad Gregory Wright; Ntuthuko Melusi Bhengu ; Professor Kholeka Constance Moloi; Tessa Gilda Dooms; Christina Marion Nomdo; Themba Thomas Cyril Dlamini; Susan Muriel Brouckaert (commonly known as Sue Bannister); Khanyisile Thandiwe Kweyama; Professor Jabulani Dennis Sithole; Capt Frank Kennan Dutton; Adv Lekolota Abram Makua; Poppy Audrey Mocumi; Thamsanqa Edmund Mazwai; and Thanyani Ramatsea.
The President congratulated the new members, saying: "We look forward to working with them to take this important process forward of implementing the NDP and also exploring new avenues for socio-economic development in our country as we implement the NDP.” - SAnews.gov.za
