Deputy Chairperson of the National Planning Commission, Professor Tinyiko Maluleke,
Distinguished Commissioners of the National Planning Commission,
Head of the United Nations Resident Coordinator's Office in South Africa, Dr Kefiloe Masiteng,
Chief Data and Analytics Officer at FNB, Dr Mark Nasila,
Dr Maryam Tanwir from the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom,
The Secretariat of the National Planning Commission,
Good Morning! It is a great privilege to welcome you all to the National Planning Commission (NPC)'s Plenary meeting. I thank each of you for making the time to be here, whether you are joining us physically or online. We are gathering once more with a sense of purpose and optimism that our deliberations contribute to shape the trajectory of our nation. Allow me to once again extend heartfelt congratulations to our Deputy Chairperson, Professor Tinyiko Maluleke, on his role as Co-Chair of the National Dialogue's Eminent Persons Group. Last month, Prof. Maluleke contributed to the successful convening of the National Convention of the National Dialogue. It is evident that your leadership and commitment to principled and frank dialogue, which have been evidenced from the start of this Commission, will shine on a wider stage.
Distinguished Commissioners, With the commencement of the National Dialogue, South Africans from all walks of life will soon be invited into a process of engagement, reflection and collective envisioning. It is an opportunity to reflect honestly on where we have come from as a nation, where we stand, and where we must go together. I am in full support of the NPC's call for a worthwhile, transparent, cost-effective and inclusive National Dialogue. Speaking of inclusivity, Commissioners, our meeting today coincides with Casual Day. On the surface, this day may appear as a light-hearted chance to dress down but at its heart, Casual Day is about inclusion, dignity, and accessibility for persons with disabilities. As the NPC, we are tasked with ensuring that South Africa's development path is inclusive and that no one is left behind. This day reminds us that inclusion cannot be symbolic; it must be embedded in policy and planning. Casual Day is a useful reminder to constantly question whether our plans and our vision of a prosperous South Africa are genuinely inclusive. This meeting also takes place just a few days after the end of Women's Month, a period where we celebrated the extraordinary contributions of women throughout South Africa's history. We honour the generation that marched to the Union Buildings in 1956 and every generation that has advanced freedom. We salute the courage, labour, and leadership of South African women in households, communities, public service, academia, business and civil society. Unfortunately, the reality is that the dream of full equality remains unfulfilled. The care work, mainly provided by women, remains unpaid and undervalued. The scourge of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), persistent pay disparities, and unequal access to opportunities remind us that the road ahead is still long. For the NPC, this means continuing to ask difficult questions: How do our plans address the structural inequalities that women face? How do we ensure that women's voices are not marginalised in the National Dialogue? How do we leverage the brilliance and leadership of women as we chart the way to 2030 and beyond?
Distinguished Commissioners, The agenda before us today is both challenging and energising. As we often do in these meetings, we will be considering social, governance and economic issues that demand careful thought, robust debate, and collective wisdom. As part of our deliberations, we will grapple with the ongoing task of ensuring the implementation of the NDP, even as we begin to think of planning Beyond 2030. We will also be hearing from our guests, namely Dr Kefiloe Masiteng, Dr Mark Nasila, and Dr Maryam Tanwir, who will be sharing valuable insights with us pertaining to the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, Artificial Intelligence and Gender respectively. As we do our work, may we also acknowledge that September is Heritage Month, a time where we celebrate the tapestry of identities, cultures, languages, and traditions that make us uniquely South African. This year, the South African government observes Heritage Month under the theme, “Reimagine our Heritage Institutions for a New Era". This theme is particularly relevant for our ongoing efforts to foster social cohesion and national unity, by recognising heritage institutions not just as custodians of memory, but as engines of innovation, inclusion, and community development.
Distinguished Commissioners and our honourable guests, As I conclude, I wish to thank each of you for your time, your expertise, your commitment and for the integrity with which you serve. I am confident that the insights we generate in this meeting will contribute meaningfully to South Africa's long-term path. I encourage each of you to speak boldly, to listen attentively, and to engage constructively. Let us proceed with energy, clarity, and unity of purpose. I thank you!
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