Sunday Times (Johannesburg) - February 10, 2008
Brendan Boyle

They include HIV-Aids, resolving the Zimbabwe crisis, making a significant dent on poverty, land reform and making poor schools work.

After months of random blackouts that have hobbled business and industry, he has had to include restoring the security of the electricity supply in the list of 24 "apex priorities" his government will formally announce this week.

Government strategy chief Joel Netshitenzhe said the final wording of the 24 sunset targets would be worked out in the next few days and posted on the Internet. But he told the Sunday Times they were:

* Implementing the Industrial Policy Action Plan, including the release of R5-billion in incentives;

* An investment call centre through which investors and government can track the progress of applications holding up a business initiative;

* Accelerating plans for a digital backbone, new international fibre optic connections and the licensing of the state's proposed Infraco communications company;

* Securing the supply of energy, including electricity;

* Intervening in skills development with a special focus on training artisans;

* Giving the poorest schools proper buildings, electricity, sanitation and teaching and learning materials;

* Processing the Land Use Management Bill, finalise land restitution cases and develop a "determined rural development programme";

* Bringing ministries including Health, Local Government, Trade and Industry and Social Development together in a National War Room on Poverty;

* Spending an additional R1-billion on labour-intensive projects under the Expanded Public Works Programme;

* Ensuring universal access to water, electricity and sanitation by 2014;

* Expanding early-childhood development projects;

* Intensifying the National Strategic Plan against HIV-Aids and combat other communicable and non-communicable diseases;

* A call centre to speed up payments to small businesses doing government work;

* Promoting social cohesion by developing an oath of allegiance for schools and a policy on renaming of facilities;

* Ensuring that public service positions are filled within six months of becoming vacant;

* Finalising an infrastructure plan to ensure quicker approval of critical projects;

* Fix the Department of Home Affairs;

* Revamping the criminal justice system according to a plan approved last year;

* Reducing the court backlog by 30%;

* Building anti-crime partnerships with communities;

* Delivering a universally accepted election in Zimbabwe and help rebuild its economy;

* Helping Democratic Republic of Congo achieve peace and sustainable development;

* Improving "economic diplomacy" and international communications;

* Increasing the absorption of youth into the military skills development programme from 4000 to 10 000.

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