Real Estate Investor Magazine South Africa June 2014 | Page 21

UPFRONT
Can we expect that the election result will inspire
the ANC to deliver on the implementation of the
NDP? Cer ta in ly the process has beg un, w ith
Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, in his 2014
Budget, tabling a long list of “NDP critical actions”
and explanations on how these were being funded
or implemented. The budget of each department
in the Estimates of National Expenditure also
has to include a section on how the department is
spending to comply with the NDP. There is also a
table outlining infrastructure delivery, which forms
one of the main components of the NDP. It is also be
encouraging that Ramaphosa, as deputy president,
will be in charge of executing the NDP.
But not all analysts are confident. “It [the election
result] surrenders the economy mostly to its own
devices, and any gifts the world may grant us, as it has
been for so long now,” comments Cees Bruggemans,
well known economic commentator. Even the NDP
document itself states: “There is a real risk that South
Africa’s developmental agenda could fail because the
state is incapable of implementing it.”
Indeed, even if government does begin to deliver,
the NDP cannot succeed without involvement of all

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South Africans in every sector of society and in every
sector of the economy.
The reality is that if we want to see change in
this country, we will have to take responsibility for
implementing the NDP ourselves, despite – and
possibly even in spite of – what government does. It
is time for South African businesses, South African
communities and South African citizens to stop
waiting for government and start driving change
ourselves.
Now is the time for industry, business and community
leaders to step up and bring about the changes necessary
to make the vision of the NDP a reality. In many areas,
business, labour and civil society can identify how

June 2014 SA Real Estate Investor

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