Replying in the National Assembly to points raised during debate on his budget vote, Zuma said the issue was not so much whether the government was too big or too small.

Rather, it was about how it should best be organised to meet the developmental needs of the country and to make optimal use of the resources available.

"Let me assure the House once again that the changes we have made to the configuration of departments are guided by the need to improve service delivery, and to correct the weaknesses that the people had identified.

"We have done so fully aware of the financial implications of our decisions, and mindful of the constraints that the economic downturn has placed on public finances," he said.

"While our plans are indeed within our means, we cannot be complacent. We need to spend wisely. We need to eliminate wasteful expenditure. We must be able to measure the developmental return on our investments."

All of the programmes outlined in the state of the nation address would require funding.

But the costs of these programmes were negligible when compared to the cost to society of not implementing them.

The cost of educating the people or ensuring access to health care was nothing compared to the cost of not doing so, Zuma said.

He promised to crack down on corrupt government employees following the findings of the Auditor General that more than 2000 were involved in tender rigging and corruption worth more than R610 million.

"We will look carefully into the compliance with conflict of interest prescripts for public servants. Such behaviour will not be tolerated," Zuma said.

He rejected repeated criticism that the African National Congress was blurring the line between state and party.

"The ANC rules, we see no need to debate that reality... There is therefore nothing untoward in a statement that says the ANC makes policy."

The issue came to the fore this month when ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe sharply reminded Public Enterprises Minister Barbara Hogan that privatisation of state assets was against policy after she suggested loss-making parastatals might have to be sold off.

Zuma said that having formed a government to implement its policies "the ANC cannot then disappear for five years".

"It must perform its own oversight functions to ensure that the government it formed stays true to its mandate. It owes that to the electorate of this country."

The party had come under fire from the opposition for holding closed door deliberations on creating a national health insurance and not inviting public participation in the process.

But Zuma said the ANC had the right to "engage in internal processes and consultations it considers necessary, as do all other political parties".

He added that heated debate within the party and the tripartite alliance was normal.

"Honourable members should not be afraid of the robust debate within the ranks of the ruling party, or within the Alliance. It does not make sense to call for robust debate within this House and in society at large, but then to insist that the president of the ANC should stifle debate within his own party," he said.

Sapa

Week in Quotes Judge Hlophe bashes Latin; Malema hates Mickey Mouse; and Lekota hasn't punched anyone...

The iafrica.com debate Should our judicial system be 'Africanised'? Ebrahim Moolla takes on Rebekah Kendal...

Quirky & Bizarre Do you need a laugh? Then check out our offbeat stories from around the world...