Abstract:
In October 2010, with the introduction of the New Growth Path (NGP), the new
national economic policy for South Africa by the Minister of Economic Development,
Minister Ebrahim Patel, the government was severely criticised on all fronts. It was
claimed that the NGP policy is not investment friendly; contains no new concepts
or innovative ideas; and is too vague. According to economic analysts, the policy is
similar to the Growth, Employment and Redistribution (GEAR) and the Accelerated
and Shared Growth South Africa (ASGISA) economic policies, neither of which
made a significant impact on economic development in South Africa. Since the
release of the NGP policy, a debate has raged on what exactly the policy aims were
to accomplish and how it can be implemented, specifi cally in the local sphere.
This article analyses the content of the NGP to determine the feasibility and
potential of its implementation in the sphere of local government. National
government has provided the broad framework within which local government
must implement the NGP policy and has undertaken to make the necessary
resources available. The article will also investigate comparative case studies on
national growth plans in the BRICS group of countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China
and South Africa) and provide guidelines on how implementation can be achieved
in South Africa. Furthermore, a better understanding of the NGP is provided which
will assist municipalities in the successful implementation of the NGP by the
creation of a positive investment environment.
