Highlight institutional framework and planning process in South Africa.

 South Africa has commenced the institutionalization of national planning in government, a process that will result in the creation of a functional and integrated national planning system in the South African government.  The first step in this process was achieved in April 2015 when the National Planning Commission (NPC) released a Discussion document titled: ‘Reforming the South African Government Planning System (the ‘Discussion document’).

The Discussion document provided a common entry point for a policy discussion among stakeholders on the approach of the South African government towards establishing a national planning system. Consultations on the document included engagements with the nine (9) provinces of the country, a major workshop with key stakeholders held in November 2016 followed by engagement with select national departments and metro municipalities.

The current arrangements for planning in government remain unsuited to the task of long-term planning for the development of the country. This is because of the significant fragmentation in roles and powers across the three spheres of government. This fragmentation has resulted in government policies and programmes achieving sub-optimal outcomes relative to the resources spent by the state in preparing and implementing them.

Spatial planning is a key instrument for achieving the development objectives of South Africa.  In order for these objectives to be met, spatial planning and spatial transformation will become an integral part of long-term planning by the government. Spatial Planning will be implemented to ensure efficiency in the investment made by different sectors of the economy.

Development benefits from such an approach be realized if the investment decisions of different actors are coordinated. Additionally, spatial planning creates environmental benefits through greater energy efficiency through densification and reductions in commuting distances. Spatial planning will be guided by the normative principles established by the NDP, particularly spatial quality, sustainability, spatial resilience, spatial efficiency and spatial justice.

The Framework for Strategic Plans and Annual Performance Plans (FSAPPs) was introduced to enable government to improve departmental performance towards the achievement of results, obtain more reliable performance information and to support learning and improvement within the public service. The framework sought to improve the quality of strategic and annual performance planning, to strengthen accountability of public institutions as well as improve policy delivery.

FSAPP is being reviewed to provide enhanced principles for short and medium term planning in departments, align various institutional plans to government long and medium term planning goals of the NDP, and to provide guidance on institutional processes annual and strategic plans.

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