Cabinet on Sunday began its annual January lekgotla in Limpopo to discuss government's programme for the coming year with growth and jobs high on the agenda, government spokesman Themba Maseko said.

The four-day meeting will focus on the international and local economic outlook with a view to creating jobs after President Jacob Zuma told the ANC national executive committee lekgotla last week to come up with a plan of action to create work.

The President told ruling party officials to create a blueprint on how the government could achieve the ambitious target of creating employment for five million people by 2020, set in the government's new growth path.

This should include identifying public sectors that could yield more jobs.

Zuma urged party leaders to start implementing the growth path, the brainchild of Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel, immediately, saying it should not be debated forever but rather be fine-tuned as they went along.

Officials told the media the decisions taken at the ANC meeting, which was also attended by the South African Communist Party and Cosatu, would form the basis for government plans to be drawn up at the lekgotla.

City Press reported on Sunday that the ANC lekgotla saw a heated debate over economic policy and the growth path, with Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi opposing the plan.

However, his views were rejected by Patel and Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan.

Ministers are also expected to look at the economic implications of South Africa joining the BRIC group of nations – Brazil, Russia, India and China.

Maseko said the meeting would provide the basis for Zuma's state of the nation address on February 10, and would also focus on government's other main priorities – health, education, rural development and safety.

The lekgotla is attended by ministers and deputy ministers but premiers and directors general of departments will take part in discussions on the final two days of the gathering.