Zuma reveals members of S Africa's National Planning Commission

South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma unveiled a new National Planning Commission on Friday intended to create a long-term development strategy for the country. Former finance minister Trevor Manuel, currently National Planning Minister, will head the commission with 25 other members drawn from a cross section of South Africa industry and society.

Photo: Reuters

“Trevor Manuel says the commission is not about politics,” correspondent Jean Jacques Cornish told RFI.

However Manuel’s new role will keep him close to Zuma’s inner circle.

“Commissioners are appointed in their personal capacities. They will make recommendations to cabinet, but no final decisions,” says Cornish.

Manuel’s deputy will be Cyril Ramaphosa, a lawyer, former mining union leader, African National Congress member, and one of the country’s richest black businessmen.

Ramaphosa founded the Shanduka Group, an investment firm, and is chairman of the MTN Group Ltd, a multinational telecoms firm. He also holds several other directorships.

The Commission starts working immediately

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Report - Correspondent Jean Jacques Cornish

Manuel told reporters that the organisation would be a balance between “labour and business”, describing it as “not a job”, but a “call to national service”.

Zuma said the new commission would concentrate on areas such as water, food, climate change, energy, infrastructure, housing and defence.

“The commission is asked to take an independent, cross-cutting, critical and long-term view,” Zuma told a press conference.

Candidates were drawn from a list of more than 1,200 people and the commission is expected to hold its first meeting on 10 May. It will then produce a “national vision” document for the cabinet over the next 18 months.

Other members of the National Planning Commission team include:

• Bobby Godsell, a former chairman of Eskom, the state electricity company;
• Joel Netshitenzhe, an ANC national executive committee member;
• Jerry Vilakazi, chief executive officer of Business Unity South Africa, a business development agency;
• Chris Malikane, an economist from the University of Witwatersrand, and member of the Congress of South African Trade Unions;
• Karl von Holdt, a labour researcher, and member of the Congress of South African Trade Unions;
• Vincent Maphai, former chairman of the South African operations of mining company BHP Billiton Ltd;
• Miriam Altman, executive director of the Centre for Poverty, Employment and Growth;
• Anton Eberhard, an energy expert from the University of Cape Town;
• Mike Muller, former director general of Water Affairs and Forestry.