📢 CALL FOR NOMINATIONS | NATIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION Help shape South Africa’s future. Nominate a suitably qualified and experienced individual to serve on the Fourth National Planning Commission for the five-year term 2027–2032. The Commission will provide independent advice on South Africa’s development priorities and lead a participatory planning process towards a new long-term development plan beyond 2030. Nominations are encouraged from across society, reflecting South Africa’s diversity of expertise, experience and perspectives. 📅 Nominations are open from 26 October to 26 November 2026. For the nomination form, eligibility criteria and submission instructions, visit nationalplanningcommission.o… or scan the QR code in the advert. Self-nomination is not permitted. Please share this call with your networks. #NationalPlanningCommission #CallForNominations #SouthAfrica #NationalDevelopmentPlan

How can South Africa strengthen disaster preparedness and build more resilient communities? The NPC, in partnership with the UKZN, will host a national Dialogue on Integrated Disaster Management under the theme “Building a Resilient Nation Through Integrated Disaster Risk Management and Collaborative Governance”. The dialogue will bring together government, academia, civil society, traditional leaders, youth, development partners and the private sector to explore practical solutions for reducing disaster risk and strengthening coordination. Discussions will cover climate change, community resilience, early warning systems and financing for resilience and recovery. 📅 9 October 2026 🕣 08:30–16:30 📍 Tsitsikama Hall, Department of Land Reform and Rural Development #NDP2030 #DisasterRiskReduction

The National Planning Commission (NPC) today appeared before Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Employment and Labour to present its assessment of recommendations arising from the 2025 P20 Youth Parliament, a youth-led policy dialogue convened as part of South Africa’s G20 Presidency. Commissioners Phumzile Chifunyise and Tshepo Feela considered the recommendations through the lens of the National Development Plan (NDP), asking not only whether they align with South Africa’s development priorities, but what will be required to translate them into measurable outcomes. The Commissioners highlighted a central challenge: South Africa has numerous youth development programmes and initiatives, yet weak implementation, fragmented coordination, skills mismatches, spatial inequality and barriers to economic participation continue to constrain their impact. The NPC proposed interventions spanning institutional coordination, economic and labour-market measures, work-based learning, township and rural economies, monitoring and accountability and youth entrepreneurship. It also identified areas where parliamentary oversight could strengthen implementation and accountability. Opening the NPC’s contribution, Chairperson and Minister in The Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Maropene Ramokgopa described the Commission’s role as bringing a long-term and independent perspective to the discussion, assessing progress towards the NDP and identifying the policy choices, institutional reforms and partnerships required to advance the country’s development objectives. For the NPC, the challenge is increasingly one of implementation: connecting policy, programmes, institutions and accountability strongly enough to shift outcomes for young people. #NDP2030 #YouthEmployment #YouthDevelopment

How should South Africa’s engagement with the continent support its long-term development priorities while contributing to progress across Africa? On 31 July 2026, the National Planning Commission convened a multi-stakeholder roundtable to consider South Africa’s draft Africa Strategy for 2026–2036 and its relationship to the National Development Plan. Developed by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, the draft strategy is intended to guide South Africa’s continental engagement over the next decade. The roundtable formed part of the consultation process informing the draft. The online dialogue brought together representatives from government, advisory bodies, academia, research institutions, civil society, organised labour, the private sector and international partners. Opening the discussion, NPC Commissioner Prof Siphamandla Zondi emphasised that the NDP remains South Africa’s overarching long-term vision and places Africa at the centre of the country’s national interest. South Africa’s continental engagement, he argued, must support domestic priorities such as reducing poverty, inequality and unemployment while contributing to development across the continent. Ambassador Tebogo Seokolo, Deputy Director-General: Africa at DIRCO, outlined the direction of the draft strategy and emphasised the importance of coordination, implementation and measurable results. Five invited experts examined the draft across its principal areas of focus: Dr Sithembile Mbete addressed political and diplomatic relations; Mr Na’eem Jeenah considered regional and continental governance, democracy, peace and security; Dr Philani Mthembu focused on regional and continental socioeconomic integration; Ms Elizabeth Sidiropoulos examined economic partnerships; and Dr Lebohang Liepollo Pheko addressed social and cultural relations. In her input, NPC Commissioner Dr Pheko highlighted the place of culture, identity, knowledge, memory and people-to-people connections in foreign policy. She also cautioned against approaching Africa as though it were a single, homogeneous space and emphasised that Pan-Africanism must be grounded in political purpose.“ Geography alone does not make a project Pan-African. Its politics do,” said Dr Pheko. The inputs received will contribute to the continuing refinement of the draft. DIRCO indicated that the strategy is intended to remain a working document, with engagement continuing even after its adoption. This includes strengthening relationships with business, academia, think tanks, young people and other non-state actors as part of a broader whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach. The roundtable also illustrated the value of the NPC’s convening role: opening policy development to scrutiny, connecting national and continental development frameworks and creating opportunities for wider society to contribute to public policy. #NDP2030 #AfricaStrategy #LongTermPlanning

MULTISTAKEHOLDER DIALOGUE: NAVIGATING GLOBAL GEOPOLITICAL CHANGE AND UNCERTAINTY How should South Africa respond to growing trade fragmentation, technological competition, supply chain disruptions and shifting industrial policies? These global changes have far-reaching implications for the country’s long-term development, energy security, industrial growth and just energy transition. The Presidential Climate Commission (PCC), Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC) and National Planning Commission (NPC) invite stakeholders to a webinar examining what the changing geopolitical landscape means for South Africa’s development pathway. The webinar will present the findings of the NPC-PCC-PEAC Joint Task Team’s Advisory Communiqué and provide a platform for dialogue on the strategic policy actions required to: • strengthen South Africa’s economic resilience • accelerate industrial development • enhance energy security • position the country competitively in the emerging low-carbon economy Date: Wednesday, 29 July 2026 Time: 11:00–13:00 SAST Platform: Zoom Register here to join the dialogue: url.za.m.mimecastprotect.com… #NDP2030 #EconomicResilience #IndustrialDevelopment #EnergySecurity #JustEnergyTransition

Commissioners of the National Planning Commission joined government, the United Nations and development partners at the signing of the 2026–2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework. The framework aligns with South Africa's National Development Plan (NDP) and the Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP), reaffirming a shared commitment to accelerate implementation, strengthen partnerships and improve development outcomes during the final years to 2030. Speakers emphasised that the framework is more than a document. It is a practical programme of action focused on delivering measurable improvements in people's lives through inclusive growth, capable institutions, accountable governance and stronger collaboration across government, business, labour, civil society and development partners. The event also underscored the importance of monitoring, evaluation and accountability in ensuring that progress is measured not only by plans and policies, but by tangible outcomes that improve the lives of all South Africans. #NDP2030 #SDGs #Partnerships

The National Planning Commission congratulates NPC Commissioner Ravi Naidoo, CEO of the Youth Employment Service, on his appointment to the Advisory Board of the South African Artificial Intelligence Association. This appointment comes at an important moment for South Africa. Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant technological issue. It is already shaping the future of work, productivity, skills, innovation and economic participation. The National Development Plan calls for a South Africa that expands opportunity, strengthens human capabilities and builds an economy that is more inclusive, innovative and employment-creating. Responsible AI must be part of that conversation. Through initiatives such as the YES-Microsoft AI Skills Hub for Africa and the YES-Capitec AI and Digital Skills Hub, young South Africans are being supported to access digital and AI-related skills linked to employability and the future economy. Commissioner Naidoo’s appointment adds an important development lens to the national AI conversation: how South Africa can use emerging technologies not only to improve competitiveness, but also to widen access, deepen inclusion and create pathways for young people into future-facing sectors. As the NPC continues to reflect on the country’s long-term development path, the responsible and inclusive use of AI will be critical to ensuring that technological change serves people, society and sustainable development. Congratulations, Commissioner Naidoo. #NDP2030 #ResponsibleAI #YouthEmployment #DigitalSkills #InclusiveGrowth

As South Africa advances implementation of the National Development Plan (NDP) Vision 2030, international partnerships remain critical to addressing complex development challenges. As the NDP notes, “South Africa belongs to a world that is deeply interconnected.” National Planning Commissioners Prof Hope Magidimisha-Chipungu and Mark Swilling are participating in the Global Partnerships Conference in London as part of the South African delegation led by Minister Ramokgopa. The conference brings together leaders from government, finance, innovation, philanthropy and civil society to explore collaborative approaches to inclusive development, sustainability and shared global priorities. Discussions are focused on improving access to finance, accelerating access to technology and strengthening locally led development solutions. Commissioner Mark Swilling also participated in a closed roundtable discussion on financing, where he shared reflections on sustainable development, transformative investment approaches and equitable financing solutions in the context of current global development challenges. The participation of the Commissioners reflects the NPC’s ongoing commitment to long-term planning, strategic partnerships and global knowledge exchange in support of South Africa’s development objectives. #NDP2030 #GlobalPartnerships #SustainableDevelopment

To join the webinar, please click 👉teams.microsoft.com/meet/382…

To join the webinar, please click 👉 teams.microsoft.com/meet/382…

Congratulations to NPC Commissioner Dr Tshepo Feela on his appointment to the Independent Expert Review Panel that will support the review of South Africa’s Draft National Artificial Intelligence Policy. The panel, announced by the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, will help ensure that the revised policy is evidence-based and aligned with South Africa’s development priorities. Dr Feela joins a group of experts spanning AI research, law and governance. Dr Feela has also been central to the NPC’s work on digital infrastructure, including his role in the Digital Infrastructure Investment Study, which foregrounds the importance of moving beyond simple connectivity access towards universal and meaningful access. This work speaks directly to the National Development Plan’s call for inclusive growth, expanded opportunity and a capable state that can respond to a changing technological environment. The NPC also continues to reflect on the implications of artificial intelligence for long-term planning, including through work that will help inform the next Commission. We congratulate Dr Feela and wish him well in this important national assignment. #NDP2030 #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #TechPolicy

👏Congratulations to National Planning Commissioner Ravi Naidoo on being named Job Creation Leader of the Year 2026 at the South African Future of Leadership Awards! This recognition speaks directly to one of South Africa’s most urgent development priorities: expanding access to meaningful work, especially for young people. The NDP identifies employment, inclusive growth and youth opportunity as central to building the South Africa we want. Commissioner Naidoo’s work in the youth employment space reflects the kind of leadership, partnership and practical implementation needed to move these priorities forward. The National Planning Commission recognises and celebrates this achievement. #NDP2030

The Public Service Amendment Act matters because it starts to separate administration from day to day politics. The NDP has long argued that a capable state depends on stability and professionalism. The real test is whether this improves how the state functions in practice. #NDP