Pretoria - There will be a strong monitoring of performance on various government departments to ensure delivery agreements signed by ministers were implemented, President Jacob Zuma said on Thursday.
"Progress with implementation of the delivery agreements will be the key agenda item on an ongoing basis for engagement between ministers and provincial MECs, clusters, Cabinet committees and Cabinet," he said at a press conference following a two-day Cabinet Lekgotla.
While not divulging the contents of the contracts, Zuma said several delivery agreements were finalised between him and ministers and departments were expected to give regular progress reports on the implementation of various key priorities as outlined in the State of the Nation address earlier this year.
He said the Lekgotla had agreed that government should draw on the success of the recent FIFA World Cup to take forward the delivery of major projects while strengthen South Africa's policing and justice system.
Crime figures were reportedly down in the country during the month-long World Cup, which had some calling for the police to sustain their increased presence after the tournament. Justice Minister Jeff Radebe had indicated that he was considering keeping the special courts that helped to speed up World Cup related cases during the event.
Zuma further said government will soon announce a Lekgotla with the business community to discuss the legacy of the tournament on South Africa's economy and the business opportunities it has created for local entrepreneurs.
"The Lekgotla resolved not only to continue to build on the spirit that has welded us together as a cohesive nation, but to harness this energy to solve the many problems we face as a developing country," Zuma said.
The World Cup had created much international goodwill towards South Africa and many factors pointed that the tournament was indeed economically in our interest as a nation, he said.
He said Government Communications (GCIS) will over the next two months arrange several media briefings with individual ministers who will share their lessons of the first World Cup in South Africa and how they planned to build on the success of the tournament.
A ministerial committee to deal with corruption and crime will be set up and each department will be required to have such a unit dedicated to stamping out corruption in the public service.
Zuma added that the government's immediate priority would be to respond decisively to the challenges posed by unemployment especially among young people.
"We will for instance be increasing access to post-school education and training to give young people who have not completed their senior secondary education an opportunity to attain an equivalent qualification."
Those who have passed matric but can not go to tertiary will be given opportunity for practical training and access to programmes that are occupationally directed such as artisan training.
