Page 15 - Service Delivery Review

National Development Plan and State Capacity Conference

that are not riddled with potholes. This is just one of come together to form a capable state and a func-
the many ways in which public servants contribute to tional democracy, which is critical in ensuring that
the functioning of a democracy. By providing essen- these people accept this democratic order.
tial services, they are helping to create a more equita-
ble and just society for all citizens. Towards a review of the NDP and state capacity
What should be the features of a review of the NDP
But there is another side to democratic consolidation, and state capacity since its adoption in 2012? The
which is when a democracy that does not work and a first step in this process would be to look at how well
government that can’t provide essential services to its the state can carry out the NDP’s development goals
people. This can make people unhappy and less likely a decade after it was made. Unlike the somewhat
to trust public institutions. This, in turn, can make the mooted engagements at the launch of the NDP, the
democratic system weaker and even lead to a revolt. benefit of hindsight is that ten years of implementa-
To protect the country’s democracy and its promise, tion of the plan is a subject that sparks robust debate,
assessing the first ten years of the National Develop- and even talk of a failing state and the need to arrest
ment Plan (NDP) implementation is necessary against the declining capacity of the state. Nonetheless, what
the state’s capacity and government’s performance. is crucial is that such a reflection and review should
If the NDP doesn’t reach its goals, the average citizen be as honest as it is solutions-oriented.
will think that democracy doesn’t work, which would
be a recipe for disaster. A cursory look back shows a few unsavoury exam-
ples of what we are not getting right, including the
A capable state and a functional government challenges around governance as exposed at the
The NDP did not appear out of thin air. It is a criti- Zondo Commission, declining municipal infrastruc-
cal component of the agenda for ensuring a capa- ture and service delivery. The latter is not helped by
ble state and a functional government committed to the rise of dysfunctional coalition governments that
eradicating poverty and inequality and establishing hamper service delivery. Ultimately, those in our com-
a just society. When reflecting on the NDP’s first ten munities who need these services suffer the most, so
years and how well the government performed, it is professionalising the Public Sector is critical to pre-
easy to overlook the link between development and vent service disruption amid political instability.
the long-term health of democracy. Consequently, we
must contextualise the NDP as a vehicle for improv- Given the country’s current pressing challenges, an
ing democracy by ensuring a functional government. honest assessment of the “as-is” situation should be
This is why, above all, we must function effectively as one outcome of reviewing the NDP and state capacity.
a government. So when too many people withdraw This exercise would show us where we stand regard-
from electoral processes, the state has a problem. ing state capacity and government performance. It al-
When people stop voting and say they don’t see any lows us to think through a corrective implementation
change, there is a serious problem. It implies that de- plan across all levels of government and successfully
mocracy is under threat. Okay, this is where we all carry us through the NDP’s next two decades.

SERVICE DELIVERY REVIEW | Volume 15. No. 3 of 2023 15