Pretoria - Politician-turned businessman Cyril Ramaphosa has been appointed deputy chairperson of the National Planning Commission (NPC), president Jacob Zuma announced on Friday.
Zuma made the announcement as he named the 24 commissioners who will advise government on a range of issues that will guide the country's long term planning and development.
Ramaphosa, a former political activist who left politics to pursue business interests, will report to Minister in the Presidency for National Planning and the commission's Chairperson, Trevor Manuel.
Also in the team is former Eskom board chairman Bobby Godsell, Business Unity South Africa CEO Jerry Vilakazi, former head of the policy unit in the Presidency Joel Netshitenzhe and academic Marcus Balintulo.
Zuma said while most of the commission's tasks will relate to aspects of government work, the commissioners will be asked to take an independent view on issues. Members of the commission represent various areas of expertise and reflect a diversity of experiences and perspectives, he said.
They will produce reports on a range of issues that will include water security, climate change, food security, energy security and defence and security matters.
"A key aspect of this exercise was to introduce effective planning as well as monitoring and evaluation capacity in the Presidency, to guide these functions in government," Zuma said.
Manuel, who described the selection process as "long and exhaustive", said his office received a staggering 1 280 names of individuals availing themselves to serve in the NPC.
The rest of the commissioners are Elias Masilela, Noluthando Gosa, Jennifer Molwantwa, Mike Muller, Miriam Altman, Chris Malikane, Vivienne Taylor, Vuyokazi Mahlati, Malengapuru Makgoba, Anton Eberhard, Bridgette Gasa, Thandabantu Goba, Phillip Harrison, Ihron Rensburg, Jerry Coovadia, Karl von Holdt, Mohammed Karaan, Tasneem Essop, Pascal Moloi and Vincent Maphai.
The Commission will begin its work immediately with their first meeting scheduled to take place on 10 May.
