Pretoria: At its Lekgotla this week, Cabinet agreed that all the relevant departments who might not reach their targets in line with government’s priorities should develop concrete actions to accelerate progress in those areas.

“Cabinet agreed that all the relevant departments should develop concrete actions to accelerate progress in those areas where, based on current trends, it appears that the targets may not be met,” said Minister in the Presidency Responsible for Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Collins Chabane on Friday, in Pretoria.

He said there had been discussions on ensuring that teachers were in class teaching seven hours a day, that textbooks were delivered timeously, that hospitals always had adequate supplies of medicines, and that municipalities had appropriately qualified officials in key positions.

At its meeting Cabinet had received a review report focused on assessing progress to date against the detailed targets per priority which were set in 2009.

“Cabinet noted progress on the implementation of government’s priorities in health, fighting crime and corruption, job creation, rural development, local government and basic services and education and skills development,” said Chabane.

He said areas of good progress were noted, such as evidence of increasing life expectancy as a result of government’s comprehensive response to HIV and AIDS, reductions in infant and under-5 mortality rates, an increase in the number of artisans qualifying per annum and a reduction in the overall serious crime rate.