 Tell us about the SA you want - Manuel The Minister of National Planning, Trevor Manuel, has urged South Africans to make their voices heard as the country formulates a vision statement and development plan for the next 20 years . Manuel, chairman of the 25-member National Planning Commission (NPC), said a host of public forums would be held over the next three months to discuss a 30-page diagnostic overview document released by the commission this week, as well as the vision statement. The NPC was appointed by President Jacob Zuma last year as an advisory body tasked "with preparing recommendations for the cabinet on issues affecting South Africa's long-term development". Manuel, who confirmed on Friday that he would not be applying for a post at the International Monetary Fund, said it was important for the NPC that ordinary people participated in defining the South Africa they wanted to see in 2030. "The obligation is not just to listen to experts ... but to try to get the people in the process as much as possible. People must be able to talk about their lives, their futures and the futures of their children. "That is so centrally important to what the NPC wants to achieve." The diagnostic overview document focuses on what is wrong with the country; it has been hailed by political parties across the spectrum for its frank analysis of challenges facing South Africa. The two key challenges hampering the country's progress, the document says, are high levels of unemployment and an education system that has failed the majority of its citizens. Manuel said it was important for the country to first discuss the diagnostic document before working on a 2030 plan. "When you can't locate where you are, your ability to reach your destination will be constrained. "Last week the centenary of the Titanic was marked. If there are going to be icebergs on the route then you'd better know," Manuel said. The document warns that the successes South Africa has scored since 1994 could be reversed if the country proceeds "on a business-as-usual basis". It says that many societies that had undergone political change later experienced dramatic decline. Some of the key indicators of decline in other countries included rising corruption, poor economic management, skills and capital flight, and a weakening state. "Elements of these indicators are already visible in SA, although their strength and prevalence is uneven and differs from sector to sector. "If they become more prevalent, the country's progress could be stalled, its gains reversed and even the foundational aspects of democracy unravelled," the document warns. Manuel said: "We are saying to people: 'Talk about that. Do you think we should take off some stuff, do you think we should add some stuff?'" He said Zuma's decision that the commission should be made up of members who did not hold positions in government meant that the NPC would have no holy cows. "The president was very strong on what he wanted from the commission. He didn't want ministers, apart from me - and I have no executive authority. His motivation has always been that ministers are informed by their officials and they tend to protect the realm, and if you want to solve a problem, you have to look at the problem with fresh eyes." He said the country would not be able to solve all of the problems identified unless it tackled the high unemployment rate and sub-optimal education in black schools. "There are too few South Africans who work. Only 41% of South Africans work. Many of our peer group countries, even with unemployment in various shape or form, would have about 67% and even over 70% of people working. We're down to 41%," he said. This, he said, led to child-support grants and other state pensions being "stretched beyond what is reasonable" as they are used as income sources for many poor families. About 60% of unemployed youths, Manuel said, have never worked in their lives. He said the lack of quality education in the majority of African schools made it difficult to produce the skilled workforce needed to grow the economy. "There are some shocking statistics - only 1% of African schools are top- performing schools." Manuel expressed confidence that the NPC's efforts would be supported by all political players, including the ANC's alliance partners. "The document has been under wraps as we were developing it. But we have tested ideas and so on. "We are not emerging with these like Moses came down the mountain with these things cast in stone. These are our observations, let's talk about them." You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. 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