The Department of Performance Management and Evaluation (otherwise known as the DPME) has a large task on its hands – to measure the performance of government as a whole and track that back to 12 Outcomes that map to government’s strategic priorities. According to government’s Guide to the Outcomes Approach, each outcome has a ‘limited number of measurable outputs and sub outputs as well as clear targets’.

These priorities are what government is focussing on from 2010 to 2014 and President Jacob Zuma has signed performance agreements with each minister based on these outcomes.