One of the legacies of the apartheid government was the brutal separate development policy. 

This Apartheid legacy left our country with underdeveloped areas where the black majority lived, worsened by low resource allocations over decades. 

On the other hand, racially inspired resource allocations went towards the development of white group areas. 

This has created structural disparities which have an impact on development planning. 

Since the democratic breakthrough in 1994, targeted public expenditure has improved the living conditions of South Africans, but much more needs to be done. 

To increase the impact of public investment and also leverage the capability of national, provincial and local government, the ANC government conceptualized and implemented the District Development Model (DDM). 

The purpose of the DDM is to reinvigorate an intergovernmental approach for local impact.

The “one district, one plan, one budget “ approach is a conceptually sound theoretical construct and now needs to find traction. 

Cooperative governance is a golden thread in our Constitution. 

The expression of this must be the district plan. It is critical that the budget prioritises strategic projects which can unlock the growth of key sectors in that district. 

Our problem is not only the scarcity of resources, but the skewed distribution of capital over decades.

Fostering medium- and long-term planning at a district level, will enable better planning and orientate public and private development, leveraging the competitive advantages of those districts. 

This will also enable national public entities to support various catalytic projects.

Catalytic projects should be informed by the long-term developmental trajectory of a district within the National Plan.

For example, a district in the Northern Cape can, with an increase in investment in renewable energy, begin to envision more productive participation in the green economy value chain. 

A coastal region should exploit each and every opportunity provided by the oceans economy and consider joint projects with national and provincial government. These can include focussed development of harbours, mariculture and aquaculture, and tourism.

A mining district in the North West should be able to plan its upstream and downstream development ambitions working with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition and the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources.

The district plan, must strategically allocate and mobilise resources for such developments.

This is the developmental impact potential of implementing the DDM effectively. 

This will also enable the strategic planning of value chains across provinces, in the South African Development Community area, and the African Continental Free Trade Area.

These opportunities exist. 

It is our fruits and nuts, our vehicles, minerals and many goods that are consumed in Russia, China, Europe, the US, Africa, and other regions. 

It is time for our local economic development planning to be anchored on a long-term vision that builds local capabilities to take advantage of the opportunities in our districts, provinces, country, continent, and world. 

The transformation of the economy lies in deliberate economic planning, and a capable and developmental state working in partnership with business and labour. 

We need to always remember that the planning process is not just an administrative function but one that gives expression to the people's interests.

Planning is a participatory process. 

Our District Development Plans should be plans of the people, including communities, workers, civil society, academics, private sector and our youth and women in particular. 

We need to ensure that the IDP’s (integrated development plans) adopted by local municipalities find expression in the District Plan. 

This will ensure ownership of the plan by all communities within the district. 

As the African National Congress we are committed to making sure that development planning at a district level is cooperative, focussed on redress and stimulating inclusive growth of key sectors in each district. 

We will fully support the three key priorities of the Government of National Unity announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the opening of Parliament. 

These are inclusive growth and job creation, reducing poverty and tackling the high cost of living, and building a capable, ethical and developmental state.

Our plans and  budgets at the district level must reinforce these priorities 

Central to our success is the building, in all spheres of government, of a capable and developmental and ethical state.

We will never allow corruption and malfeasance to undermine sustainable development. 

Corruption is the enemy of development and must be rooted out wherever it rears its head. 

Written by Imraan Subrathie, ANC MP and whip in Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation