There is a widely held view that as a country we are very good at planning, but perform dismally when it comes to the execution and implementation of plans. Since the new dispensation, we have seen a number of grandly-named plans come and go, amongst them the Reconstruction and Development Plan (RDP) and Growth, Employment and Redistribution (GEAR) strategy.
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Both these plans were well conceived and designed and, if implemented even partially, would have yielded meaningful, impactful results across the economy. Currently the National Development Plan (NDP) is quoted ad nauseum by the powers that be, but already execution is lagging. So what are the reasons for this ‘execution paralysis’?
Reasons
Firstly, in my view, consultation and engagement, particularly with communities, is too extended and inconclusive. While not advocating the communist ‘centralist or command model’ where projects are often imposed on communities, consultation needs to be managed and lead to meaningful conclusions. Too often these processes are hijacked by small groups pushing a particular agenda, which paralyses progress on project implementation.
Government needs to become more confident in pushing through developments where the engagement and consultation has been adequately managed and not be held to ransom by a few.
The correct balance has to be struck between consultation and execution.
Secondly, co-ordination and alignment between the different spheres of government needs to be enhanced. Nearly all of these plans are conceived and designed at a national level, and then cascaded down to provinces, districts and local municipalities for implementation.
There is a critical failing in intergovernmental relationship (IGR) processes that allow these lower spheres of government to execute their mandates in this respect. Added to this is the political power dynamic that often prevents meaningful action from being taken against non-performing provinces or district officials – the situation in Northwest province being a case in point.
Thirdly, the planning horizon is often too short. Singapore and Malaysia embarked on 30-year plans that transformed their economies and the lives of their citizens. An additional key factor was the full buy in of the citizenry and political establishment that ensured continuity of projects even while the democratic processes continued.
Implementation and delivery
Our experience is radically different here, with plans being abandoned, modified or adapted for personal gain as new administrations took the reins of power. The astounding point is that the ruling party has been in power since the new democracy, and one would have imagined that this would have enhanced rather than hampered execution.
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This is what I feel president Cyril Ramaphosa needs to do to ensure the NDP does not meet the same fate as all the other development plans:
- Set up a monitoring and co-ordaining team based in his office
- Capacitate and resource similar departments at provincial and district level
- Operationalise the plan by creating implementation programmes right down to municipalities
- Hold managers and officials to account
- Relaunch the plan nationally to get full buy-in from all stakeholders
The time for planning is over: the populace is crying out for implementation and delivery.
After matriculating, Vijay Naidoo studied Economics in the UK. Upon his return, hejoined the family construction business as MD for 10 years.
He subsequently joined his sister in their furniture manufacturing business as director for quality assurance and operations. He was responsible for all quality aspects of their products, and led the project to the business achieving an ISO 9000 quality accreditation. As an export focused business, this was important for our international competitiveness.
Mr Naidoo has an abiding interest in quality management and productivity improvement, particularly in manufacturing.
More recently, he has focused a lot of his time on giving back to the community by way of mentorship of small businesses and sitting on the executive of the South Coast Chamber of Commerce. He also sits on the Board of the Ugu South Coast Development Agency.
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