NPC endorses members from business

The newly appointed National Planning Commission (NPC) got down to business yesterday, playing down complaints that business is over-represented on the 25-member panel.

When the list of commissioners was announced 12 days ago, the African National Congress’s (ANC’s) alliance partners, along with the opposition Independent Democrats, said the appointments were mainly associated with the business sector.

But NPC chairman Trevor Manuel said there was no merit in “compartmentalising” commissioners, who were appointed in their individual capacities. The commissioners, who convened for the first time on Monday, had said they did not want to be “pigeonholed” before they even started work.

Manuel gave the example of a doctor on the commission who would not want to be confined to medical matters. He singled out the deputy chairman of the commission, Cyril Ramaphosa, a former trade unionist, now a businessman, saying some commissioners straddled different sectors.

“I think the commissioners are saying we are going to work to the best of our abilities no matter who appointed us,” said Manuel.

The NPC was expected to draw up a national vision — called Vision 2025 — for presentation to the Cabinet within 18 months. Its formation follows the government’s argument that a single term is not enough for long-term planning.

President Jacob Zuma , who inaugurated the commissioners’ first meeting, said the government was not looking for a “commission that is apologetic” or seeking to be “loved” by the state.

“You must do this things properly, without fear or favour,” he said, pledging his support to the commission. The body was expected to work with broader society, drawing on the best expertise while also consulting stakeholders in shaping a consensus on “what to do about the key challenges facing us”.

Ramaphosa described the commission’s composition as a mixture. “I think it’s a wonderful mixture. It’s not necessarily quantity that should worry people, it’s the quality that matters,” he said.

However, the dominance of business could be because the commission was expected to draft a long- term vision for SA.

But policy options were hardly ever without an ideological bent.

While there was agreement from all social partners on the need for a developmental state, much depended on who defined “development”.