20100926
reuters

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African President Jacob Zuma said on Sunday he would ask his cabinet ministers to set their own performance targets that he would then monitor to try to improve the delivery of services to citizens.

Zuma said his ruling ANC had emerged united after a policy meeting that ended on Friday and he now saw renewed energy in the government's performance.

The ANC agreed to explore greater state control of the mining sector, but made no shift in economic policy at one of the party's biggest meetings in years.

"The mood in the country has become more positive because any perceived tension within the ANC affects all our people," Zuma said in a speech to journalists in Durban.

"We will put more energy into changing the way government works."

South Africans have protested and criticised the government over poor delivery of services in Africa's largest economy, prompting Zuma to sign performance agreements with ministers in April. The agreements will now be followed up with the setting up of targets.

"We have also designed a programme for the president to visit government departments to monitor and evaluate work being done at the site of service delivery," Zuma said.

The site visits would include hospitals and police stations.

"This will enable us to celebrate achievements and assist those lagging behind to perform better and faster," he said.