National Assembly 12th November 2009

Mr Speaker,

Since 1994, our country's development has been contradictory: there has been progress, stagnation, and regression.

Whilst we should be proud of what we have collectively achieved over the past fifteen years, poverty especially remains as critical as ever, with the numbers of poor increasing every year. Inequality is growing and the income gap between the rich and the poor is widening. 

Obscene wealth lives alongside obscene poverty.

In the past 15 years many promises have been made, many of which have just been empty promises.

As the recent service delivery protests highlighted, many South Africans still lack access to basic services, to sustainable jobs, to quality education and healthcare, and to security. Fifteen years since the dawn of democracy, South Africa stands at a crossroad - ordinary citizens are demanding that the promise of a better life for all are finally fulfilled.

The IFP's vision of a prosperous society is one in which mass poverty has been eradicated and in which our people are able to pursue a better life; in which everyone is able to develop to his or her fullest human potential. A prosperous society provides opportunity for all; provides high quality services and contributes towards stability and unity.

The IFP believes that in addressing our societal ills, is not just a matter of changing policies, but how one deals with them. For too long, policies have remained mere pieces of paper.

One thing has been said and another done.

We therefore welcome government's frank admission in the Green Paper for National Strategic Planning that their lack of coherent long-term planning has limited their capacity to mobilize all of society in pursuit of its development objects.

Furthermore, we welcome the admission that a weakness in the coordination of government has led to policy inconsistencies and in several cases, poor service delivery outcomes; and that government faces serious challenges in intergovernmental coordination.

We would like to reiterate our support for a co-ordinated service delivery plan which must ensure that policies do not remain mere pieces of paper but that they become implementable on the ground, which must ultimately enable us to build the prosperous society which we all desire.

The IFP warns however against the potential danger of using this National Planning Commission to centralise too much power in the hands of government; we see the role of this new National Planning Commission merely as a coordinator between the three spheres of government, inline with the Constitution of our country.

Any attempts by the ruling party to use this National Planning Commission as a tool to establish a centralised, unitary state will be detrimental to our young democracy and the IFP will therefore be keeping a close eye on the operations of this Commission.

The IFP would also like to point out a few concerns which have emanated from the Green Paper  -

There are glaring inconsistencies with regard to the use of terms in the Green Paper. Although we acknowledge that this is a working paper, both the Committee and the IFP have pointed out that certain areas need urgent attention and further discussion.

The issue of Commissioners has also raised eyebrows. Who and how would Commissioners be appointed? We need clarity on how this important matter will be approached.

And most importantly - what oversight role will Parliament play?

In this respect, the IFP suggests that there should be a Standing Committee on the National Planning Commission, to ensure that Parliament is the check and balance against political influence by the ruling party. And to ensure that the voices of those we represent are taken into consideration.

We want to emphasise that, as the Planning Commission goes about its work and focuses on specific areas of research such as: how do we elevate poverty; how do we address unemployment; or how do we meet our millennium goals, there must be maximum consultation with all stakeholders; all voices must be heard on the issues that this Commission will be dealing with.

Broad consensus from all sectors of our society is needed if the Commission wants to reach its goal of building a truly non-racial, non-sexist, prosperous and a truly democratic society.

The IFP supports the recommendations in the Green Paper.

I thank you.