The latest development indicators show both progress and ongoing problems in SA, National Planning Commission Minister in the Presidency Trevor Manuel said on Tuesday.

Manuel released the latest indicators – a product of a variety of official statistics, government data and research by various institutions – on Tuesday.

The indicators are clustered into about ten themes, including economic growth and transformation, employment, poverty, inequality, household and community assets, health, education, social cohesion, safety and security, international relations and good governance.

"In many spheres there are improvements generally, for example access to basic services remains on the increase," Manuel said in a statement.

"In some cases though the improvements are not as much as we would have liked, for example the infant mortality rate at 44,7 deaths per 1 000 live births is not likely to reduce to the Millennium Development Goals target of 18 deaths per 1 000 live births by 2014," he said.

The economic crisis had also had a negative effect on growth and employment, poverty reduction and public finances.

It would take some time before employment, growth and investment rose to pre-crisis levels, especially as the global economy remained weak and fraught with risk, Manuel said.

The full document is available on the presidency's website (www.thepresidency.gov.za).