Cape Town: The Minister in the Presidency responsible for National Planning, Trevor Manuel, says an active citizenry is vital if the country is to meet the goals set out in the National Development Plan (NDP).

In a lecture to students, academics and members of the public at the Attie van Wijk Hall at Stellenbosch University on the role of the NDP, Manuel said it was not only up to those in Parliament to meet the country’s needs, but South Africans also had an important role to play in making Vision 2030 a reality.

Through the NDP, South Africa aims to ensure that all citizens attain a decent standard of living through the elimination of poverty and reduction of inequality by 2030.

Manuel called on South Africans to work together to fight against social ills such as rape and abuse to ensure that women can walk in the streets at any time of the day.

South Africans must also ask how they can reverse the effects of the Group Areas Act and ensure that towns and suburbs become more racially mixed, Manuel said.

“[The NDP] is not a [just] plan for government… it’s a plan for all of us in South Africa,” he said.

He said although the country’s social compact was damaged, it wasn’t beyond repair and this could be addressed through strengthened leadership.

Manuel said the kind of society envisaged in the Constitution was entirely attainable, but that it required South Africans to lead by example.

He said South Africans needed to take responsibility for making the country a better place.