This paper will argue that the National Development Plan guiding policy ethos, namely the
notion that South Africa should operate as a Capable State rather than Developmental State
represents an exercise in semantics and government failure to plan and re-imagine policy
implementation. Through analysing Local Economic Development in the Sedibeng region,
this paper will explore three key themes and policy actions. The first theme contends that the
NDP is neither an empirical plan nor explanatory policy, as the experiences of the Sedibeng
region will illustrate. The second theme will explore whether the move from attempting or
desiring to be a developmental State represents a failure by the governing class to provide
economic development ideas, especially for African townships and rural areas. Finally, this
paper will explore whether at a planning and implementation the term Capable State means
anything empirically. Having explored these three themes and contentions, this paper will
tentatively argue that the NDP or even the concept of the Capable State represents mere
semantics rather any ideological or policy position by the South Africa government. Rather
what the NDP should have done is empirically design a national plan using municipal areas
demographics, economic potential and human capital to build a clear and coherent plan.