Minister Ramokgopa’s R509m Plan: Turning Promises Into Results

“It’s not enough to plan. We must see results.” That was the message Minister Maropene Ramokgopa delivered loud and clear when she tabled a R509 million budget for the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) in Parliament this week.

But this wasn’t just another line item in government spending. According to Minister Ramokgopa, this funding marks a shift in how South Africa approaches development — from paperwork and policy briefs to real, measurable change on the ground.

A Budget Built for Accountability

Speaking in Cape Town alongside Deputy Minister Seiso Mohai, Ramokgopa positioned the DPME as a driver of not just planning, but action. The department will focus heavily on the National Development Plan (NDP) Vision 2030 and the new Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP) 2024–2029, which was greenlit by Cabinet earlier this year.

These are big-picture frameworks, but the Minister drilled into the details: inclusive economic growth, job creation, poverty reduction, and building a capable state. In her words, “It is not enough to plan, we must see results, and we must be held accountable for those results.”

From Paper to Progress: What’s New?

To make that vision a reality, the DPME is rolling out several new initiatives:

• A White Paper process is being explored to clarify how the department’s mandate will evolve, after years of back-and-forth over the Planning Bill.

• The Evidence Plan will be a cornerstone of future planning. This means government decisions must be backed by solid research, evaluation, and data — not guesswork.

• The department is playing a key role in reforming State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) through the proposed National State Enterprises Bill, aimed at fixing governance and performance issues that have plagued major SOEs for years.

A State That Listens, Learns, and Leads?

Ramokgopa isn’t just looking inward. She pointed to South Africa’s global leadership as Chair of the G20 Development Working Group, a platform where the country is driving global conversations on development financing and social protection.

Back home, though, the DPME is starting integration efforts in the Northern Cape — a test case to align national, provincial, and local development plans. If successful, this could become a blueprint for more streamlined, responsive governance nationwide.

Public Reaction: A Cautious Welcome

While Ramokgopa’s speech has been praised in some corners of social media for its clarity and ambition, others remain sceptical. One user wrote, “We’ve heard these speeches before. What’s different this time?” Another commented, “Accountability starts with results. Let’s hope this budget doesn’t vanish into thin air.”

On the ground, South Africans are still waiting to feel the impact of Vision 2030, which has been part of government discourse for over a decade. Ramokgopa’s firm stance on accountability — and her plan for public National Dialogues to shape the country’s next long-term development strategy — might just be the fresh start the NDP needs.

The Road to 2030 And Beyond

With the clock ticking on the original NDP goals, Minister Ramokgopa confirmed that the National Planning Commission (NPC) has already started work on a new long-term vision for the country. This time, the process will include wider public input.

The Minister closed her speech with gratitude to Parliament, her team, and other stakeholders — but the most powerful takeaway came from her insistence on delivery over discussion.

Planning is one thing. Changing lives is another.

Source:IOl 

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com