OPINIONISTA: The National Development Plan is no lodestar By Terence Corrigan
The NDP is our lodestar,” President Cyril Ramaphosa proclaimed at the recent ANC National Executive Committee meeting. “This is not the moment to redraft policy. This is the moment to implement.”
Hence, it has never been treated as sacrosanct, certainly not by the president. Last year, for example, he described it as “a living document, not a static document”. The economic chapter – arguably the keystone of the document – was rejected by the ANC’s influential union allies. President Ramaphosa’s response was to invite dissenters “to join the process of looking at the chapter of the NDP to see how it can be improved”.
Perhaps most importantly, it was clear on the importance of secure tenure: “To realise opportunities, security of tenure is required. Investment by farmers will occur if they believe income streams are secure.” It went on to point to the need to provide such security to the beneficiaries of land reform and to those living in communal areas.
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