The National Planning Commission (NPC) says it is working around the clock to deliver a draft of the National Development Plan (NDP) 12 by the end of October.
This draft will outline national priorities and projects to be funded from 2025 to 2030. Multi-year NDPs have traditionally provided the policy framework and national priorities guiding annual budget spending since Independence. The current two-year Transitional NDP, with an initially approved P64 billion funding plan, is set to conclude on March 31 next year.
NPC Commissioner General Batho Molomo informed journalists on Monday that eight priority sectors had provisionally been identified for NDP12. These sectors, which will have separate strategies developed for them, include agriculture, mining, tourism, sports and creative industries, financial, real estate, and business services amongst others. The October 31 deadline is aimed at ensuring alignment between the planning cycle and the electoral cycle, with general elections scheduled for October. Molomo said producing a draft NDP by the end of October allows the winning administration to fine-tune the plan based on its preferences and priorities.
He said the NPC, meanwhile, is engaging with the private sector, civil society, development partners, the youth, and other levels of governance to finalise the draft NDP. A 13-village and town roadshow will be initiated by the commission next week to educate the public on various planning processes.
