The South African National Development Plan (NDP) affects both government and governance on all levels, namely national, provincial and local. Politicians, political scientists and civil servants need to be acutely aware of this. This article explores the intentions of, and the challenges meted out to, the NDP. The research takes note of the attempts to establish a functional state to enhance growth and prosperity for South African communities, especially the poor and marginalised. The NDP came into existence after the Reconstruction and Development Plan (RDP) of the 1990s was replaced by a macro-economic policy of Growth, Employment and Redistribution (GEAR). GEAR heralded in periods of jobless growth. The notion of the Developmental State, with socio-economic and leadership challenges for the NDP, deserves attention. The goals of the NDP and the challenges on the ground (including local government) are compared and are pertinent if