At 12h00 today National Planning Commission (NPC) Commmissioners began hosting an online dialogue with participants who have registered for the NPC Jam. There were 1 889 logins and 1 393 posts within the first three hours. There were over nine posts per minute illustrating active participation in the national online dialogue.
Youth have dominated the discussions thus far with jobs being the dominant theme. Posts by youth between 18 and 29 have constituted 35% of all postings.
This project, which is a partnership between the NPC and IBM, forms part of the NPC’s process of engaging with South Africans about the crafting of a vision for South Africa and a development plan to get there.
Since the launch of the NPC’s diagnostic document in June this year, we have embarked on a process of dialogue with South Africans from all walks of life about the elements of the vision statement and the diagnostic overview which lists 9 key challenges facing South Africa. This has included ensuring that the diagnostic document is translated into all 11 official languages as well as Braille, setting up a website and social media platforms, embarking on visits to all nine provinces and having intensive meetings with sectors including labour, business, youth , faith- based communities, women, universities and research organisations. Hundreds of comments have been received via fax, emails and the post.
Opportunities have been provided for NPC Commissioners to engage face to face with the leadership and various constituencies in the provinces. The process followed thus far has been consistent with the mandate given to the Commission by the President when he appointed the commission in April 2010.
The NPC Jam is thus another opportunity to encourage South Africans, the youth in particular, to dialogue with the commissioners and fellow South Africans using the internet.
In an attempt to ensure as wide participation as possible, and fully aware of the digital divide, the Commission has worked with the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), Love Life and government Thusong Centres. This is to ensure that even those who do not have computers or internet connectivity are able to participate in this online conversation. A particular effort has also been made to involve tertiary students in the NPC Jam.
The online dialogue has been structured according to ten themes:
• Citizenry, Cohesion Inclusion and Redress – Creating a united South Africa
• The Economy – Inclusive, labour absorbing sustainable economic growth
• Public Service Performance - Providing better services for the good of our people
• Education and Training - Creating a skilled and educated nation
• Human Settlements and Spatial Patterns - Building towns, settlements and cities that make sense
• Jobs - Getting our nations to work
• Crime and Corruption - Putting an end to fear and temptation
• Health and Wellness - living a longer , healthier life
• Infrastructure - investing in our country
• Vision 2030 – Mobilising society to build a country
The NPC wishes to express its gratitude to IBM for the support they have given in hosting the NPC Jam. We look forward to the detailed analysis of the inputs received over the next three days using the various analytic tools available . Besides the value gained by actual participation , the NPC is excited about the actual ideas, suggestions and challenges which ware being put forward by NPC jammers. The NPC is in the process of drafting Vision 2030 and the National Development Plan in order to present to Cabinet in November and the ideas raised during the dialogue over the next few days, will be seriously considered as the NPC completes this phase of its work.
