The cluster of Ministers responsible for South Africa's foreign relations, international cooperation and security on Wednesday gave the assurance that, although they could not fix timescales for the "deliverables" they had recently pledged President Jacob Zuma that they would fulfill, their outputs would be measurable.

International agreements, by definition, involve two or more states or groups of states and so South Africa cannot have control over the process, meaning Pretoria cannot impose any time tables.

On November 4, the Ministers of the International Cooperation, Trade and Security Cluster, which is headed by Defence Minister Lindiwe Sisulu with International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoane-Mashabane as her deputy, signed a service delivery agreement, committing themselves to the achievement of certain objectives.

These objectives are - implementation of the enhanced African agenda and promoting sustainable development, achieving greater regional integration, reforming global governance, and increasing trade and investment.

"In the crafting of these outputs we were very aware that our deliverables are not wholly dependent on us," said Sisulu in answer to a question from Engineering News Online.

"So we have not put in timescales. We have put in intents. As long as it is possible for us to drive this agenda, we are determined to do so."

"That which we commit ourselves to do, can be measured," added Nkoane-Mashabane.

"We make sure we lobby, we campaign. We mean business. We promote our African agenda. As much as we will be affected by externalities, we will endeavour to have measurable outcomes."

That is, the country will participate in international conferences, summit meetings, meetings of international organisations such as the United Nations ad African Union (AU) and so on.

She pointed out that the country's "international engagements" over the past year had not been haphazard, but had targeted the countries that are today engines of international economic growth.

Sisulu highlighted that the country's concept of national interest was centred on people and that the national interest would be pursued in accordance with the values enshrined in the constitution.

These objectives included freedom from want freedom from poverty, and a reduction in absolute poverty, for South Africa, Africa and the world, and freedom from fear for South Africa and Africa in particular.

"The future of South Africa is inextricably linked to Africa and the developing world," she affirmed.

"We changed the name of our department [from Foreign Affairs to International Relations and Cooperation] because we wanted to emphasise cooperation and collaboration," stated Nkoane-Mashabane. "We need to capacitate the institutions of the AU and SADC [Southern African Development Community].