Dr. Pali Lehohla criticizes South Africa’s National Development Plan, calling it a failure, and warns that rising inequality and unemployment threaten the nation’s stability.
Former South African Statistician-General Dr. Pali Lehohla has raised alarm bells over the state of the country’s national policies, particularly the National Development Plan (NDP), claiming that they have failed to address the nation’s critical issues of unemployment, inequality, and poverty.
With rising unemployment rates, especially among the youth, and the ongoing economic struggles faced by the majority of South Africans, Lehohla warned that the situation is becoming a “ticking time bomb” for the country’s future.
Lehohla did not hold back in his assessment of the government’s plans, which he argues are little more than a series of unbacked intentions.
According to him, the NDP and other government initiatives lack critical evidence and long-term strategies, failing to offer clear solutions to South Africa’s most pressing challenges.
He pointed out that while the plans may appear ambitious, they are not equipped with the necessary future-proof mechanisms to deal with unforeseen circumstances or evolving conditions.
“A plan should not only state intentions but also have the evidence and models necessary for its successful implementation,” Lehohla said.
“The government is unable to manage these variables or even measure the impact of its policies,” he added. “What we have is not a plan, but an intention.”
This criticism comes as South Africa grapples with a devastating unemployment crisis, particularly among young people. The latest data shows a slight reduction in youth unemployment in the third quarter of 2024, but the numbers remain staggeringly high.
Despite improvements in employment figures, millions of young South Africans remain jobless, with the youth unemployment rate still hovering at an alarming 45.5%.
Dr. Lehohla believes that the youth, who make up a significant portion of the unemployed, are being let down by a lack of tangible support and a lack of economic opportunity.
“The government’s policies have been ineffective in addressing the systemic inequalities that continue to plague the black and colored populations, which make up 90% of the country’s demographic,” Lehohla lamented.
According to him, the wealth disparity between the top 10% and the rest of the population is both “staggering” and “unstable,” creating conditions ripe for social unrest.
The former statistician-general also voiced his concern over the absence of effective economic leadership.
He stated that the government lacks the necessary instruments to assess and address the multi-dimensional poverty affecting millions of South Africans.
Without concrete data on how different policies impact poverty and inequality, Lehohla argued that the government is simply guessing in the dark.
“There is no evidence that the government is tracking how its interventions are impacting poverty or improving the lives of the majority of South Africans. Without that feedback, how can they claim their policies are working?” he questioned.
Lehohla’s comments echo the growing dissatisfaction among other experts and organizations about the country’s economic leadership.
The South African Youth Economic Council (Sayec) has been vocal in its concerns about the state of youth unemployment, calling it an economic liability.
The council criticized the government for not doing enough to address the root causes of youth unemployment, especially given the critical importance of the country’s younger generation in shaping the nation’s future.
Despite the slight drop in the youth unemployment rate, experts like Investec economist Lara Hodes highlight the ongoing challenges.
While the overall number of employed youth has increased slightly, many of the country’s most vulnerable youth, particularly those between the ages of 15 to 24, continue to struggle with finding stable employment.
Hodes emphasized the importance of improving education and increasing access to opportunities for young people to ensure their future success.
Dr. Lehohla’s critique of the NDP and the government’s broader economic strategy underscores the deep divisions in South Africa’s leadership and the urgent need for meaningful change.
While the government has made ambitious promises, the lack of tangible results and the continued failure to address the fundamental issues of unemployment, poverty, and inequality have led many to question the viability of the country’s current trajectory.
Lehohla’s comments suggest that the government’s inability to implement effective policies could lead to even greater social instability.
“When 90% of the population is unstable, how can the remaining 10% hope to maintain peace and stability?” he warned, highlighting the profound risks of allowing inequality to grow unchecked.
As the government faces increasing pressure to deliver on its promises, South Africans continue to watch closely to see whether the current administration can make meaningful strides toward improving the country’s economic prospects.
But with leaders like Dr. Pali Lehohla sounding the alarm, the question remains: can South Africa afford to wait for the government’s intentions to become a reality, or is the country running out of time?
