The Economic Development Department (EDD) headed by Minister Ebrahim Patel said it always understood it was in charge of micro and macro economic planning.

"We welcome President (Jacob) Zuma's statement today (Tuesday) that the EDD is responsible for micro and macro economic planning," the minister's spokesperson Zubeida Jaffer said in a statement.

"This is what we always understood the mandate to be. Recent public speculation has however muddied the waters."

Jaffer said President Zuma's statement was "unequivocal."

Earlier Zuma addressed a gathering of mayors, cabinet ministers and premiers about issues of service delivery in Khayelitsha in the Cape.

"He not only clarified his position but also indicated that finalisation of technical matters related to his instruction will be done within the next few weeks," Jaffer said.

Zuma's statement followed uncertainty about the roles of the EDD, established after the April elections, other key government departments and the planning commission headed by former finance minister Trevor Manuel.

"The new EDD is designed to have a strong domestic focus and to address amongst others matters of macro- and micro-economic development planning," Zuma said.

"The ministry together with trade and industry, finance and others are working to refine their respective mandates and how they relate to each other," Zuma added.