Sandton: Minister in the Presidency responsible for Planning, Evaluation and Monitoring, Maropene Ramokgopa, has emphasized the significance of the Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP) as a pivotal stage in implementing the National Development Plan (NDP). “As the final medium-term plan before the Vision 2030 deadline, it signals the urgency of focused delivery,” said Ramokgopa, addressing a Bureau for Economic Research (BER) conference in Sandton, near Johannesburg.
According to South African Government News Agency, the Minister highlighted the MTDP’s central role in accelerating progress on strategic priorities, which are essential and non-negotiable. The MTDP aims to create a society that benefits all by directing government efforts towards three clear goals: driving inclusive growth, reducing poverty and the cost of living, and enhancing the state’s capacity to deliver. “The MTDP was developed to correct these weaknesses. It sharpens the focus of government around clear, coordinated measurable priorities, supported by a results-based implementation framework,” Ramokgopa elaborated.
In February, Cabinet approved the MTDP for the 2024-2029 period, outlining key priorities for the 7th administration. This plan builds on the National Development Plan, the Government of National Unity’s Statement of Intent, and the consensus reached during the Cabinet Lekgotla in January 2025. Ramokgopa stated that South Africa’s vision is grounded in equality, justice, and inclusion, drawing inspiration from the Freedom Charter’s rejection of apartheid’s exclusionary foundations.
The MTDP reflects South Africa’s ambition for a collaborative society where government, citizens, and various sectors work together. “It commits us to ensuring equitable access to opportunity, to rebuilding trust in institutions, and to delivering tangible improvements in people’s lives,” she said. The MTDP’s development process is more focused, participatory, and politically anchored than previous cycles, addressing past criticisms of the Medium Term Strategic Framework’s lack of clarity and enforcement mechanisms.
Minister Ramokgopa explained that the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) led a comprehensive government process informed by past lessons and current political contexts. The DPME issued a strategic framework to guide departments in aligning their planning with the MTDP’s vision.