When President Mbeki delivered his state of the nation address on May 21, he set out in considerable detail the government's priorities and programmes. Progress on implementing this programme of action is being carefully monitored through an ongoing cycle of two-monthly reports to cabinet. The reports are then updated on the government's website.
I am not aware of any other government placing its actions and promised delivery under public scrutiny in such detail.
Responsibility for every element has been allocated to one of the government's co-ordinating clusters (social, economic, international relations, justice and security, and government and administration), summarised into an action point and linked to specific departments, timelines and progress reports.
Cabinet committees are being used to monitor and co-ordinate implementation of the programme. This brings ministers, deputy ministers and directors-general who belong to a cluster together to consider progress with regard to the tasks of each cluster.
During the parliamentary debate on the presidency budget on June 23, Mbeki pledged that a page would be opened on the government website with information on the programme of action.
"By checking on this page, the public will be able to follow progress of this programme of action. It will also be possible for the public to communicate its views about the programme directly to the government," he said.
Challenges identified include eradication of poverty and underdevelopment; persisting racial and gender inequalities; growth, development and modernisation of the First Economy; building a social security net to alleviate poverty; and addressing the Second Economy, which is a structural manifestation of poverty.
The programme of action goes into great detail.
Increase the number of children eligible for child support grants by 3.
Ensure that every household has access to electricity within eight years.
High-quality statistics are central to monitoring the implementation of the programme. For example, Statistics SA is mandated to "immediately start research on economic activities in Second Economy communities while implementing a cabinet decision on a comprehensive household survey and allocation of addresses to all households".
More broadly, Stats SA is undertaking a range of in-depth consultations with key government stakeholders to understand what information is needed; looking at data items to be included in future household surveys; and establishing why these data items are important.
Ten stakeholder consultation workshops have been scheduled across the country. These began on August 27 in North West and will end in Gauteng on September 29. To date, eight workshops have been completed.
About 300 participants, mainly from government, but with the research and educational communities also well represented, have attended these consultations. They have been asked about their sources of information and the data they require that is not available from Stats SA.
The programme of action is a far-reaching initiative, with statistics at the heart of the transparent manner in which progress is being monitored and managed.
Pali Lehohla is South Africa's statistician-general and the head of Stats SA. To monitor progress on the programme of action, visit www.gov.za. For information on Stats SA, visit www.statssa.gov.