Let us do what? How about “Let’s grow South Africa together”? If you need reminding, this was the title of the governing party’s 2019 election manifesto. I recalled it when I saw government’s invitation to the Presidential Imbizo on May 19, with the slogan ‘Leave no one behind’, or LNOB.

LNOB is not a unique slogan, as you might think. It is, in fact, the central, transformative promise of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group’s 2030 Agenda goals. With the adoption of the 2030 Agenda, UN member States pledged to ensure “no one will be left behind” and to “endeavour to reach the furthest behind first”.

South Africa’s LNOB originates from President Cyril Ramaphosa’s 2023 State of the Nation Address, in which he said: “Let us get to work. Let us rebuild our country. And let us leave no one behind.” After this, he went on to say: “Every decision we take is geared towards improving the lives of every South African and ensuring no one is left behind. To achieve this aim, we need to reach every citizen who faces poverty or lacks opportunities to improve their lives and livelihoods.”

The manifesto stipulates six elements: transforming the economy to serve the people; advancing social transformation; building safer communities; fighting corruption and promoting integrity; strengthening governance and public institutions; and building national unity and embracing our diversity.

Transforming the economy to serve the people will be achieved through: creating decent jobs; investing in the economy for inclusive growth; an industrial plan to support localisation; innovation, and a digital and data revolution; broadening ownership in the economy; sustainable and radical land reform; addressing monopolies and the structure of the economy; small business, cooperatives and township and village economies; transforming and diversifying the financial sector; and a macroeconomic framework that will support socioeconomic transformation.

Advancing social transformation will be achieved through education and training; health; comprehensive social security; housing, human settlements and public transport; and water and sanitation, while safer communities will be built through tackling gender- based violence, and preventing crime, with the renewal of a capable and developmental State being the means to stronger governance and public institutions.

Let’s fast forward to the ‘Conclusion’ of the manifesto, which, under the single headline ‘Fellow South Africans’, states: “We are under no illusions of the difficulties and obstacles we will encounter along the road to a better future for all. Throughout this manifesto we have emphasised that ours is a plan about you, South Africans, black and white, young and old, rural and urban. We firmly believe that the coherent and achievable plan set out in this manifesto is in accord with the needs and aspirations of the South African people and the goodwill of the progressive people around the world. You have helped us develop this manifesto. We must work together to effectively implement it. Let’s Grow South Africa Together.”

A manifesto is a written declaration of intentions, motives, commitments and ultimate vision. It’s based on passion and purpose.

So, ‘how’ will it be done? What, and where is, the plan of action? What I’m telling you is quite obvious, but it bears reminding. In the words of American author Napoleon Hill: “If you don’t have a plan, you will fail. You need a definite plan; it should be written down, and it should dictate, with military precision, the moves that you will be taking. First comes thought; then organisation of that thought, into ideas and plans; then transformation of those plans into reality.”

The manifesto could be considered the thought, and possibly the organisation of the thought – but then that’s only the ideas, not the plans. Obviously, there is a lack of plans and, more critically, the transformation of those plans into reality – the how.