The introduction of Government-Wide Monitoring and Evaluation (GWME) policy in South Africa in 2005 and the establishment of the South African Monitoring and Evaluation Association (SAMEA) in 2006 were well applauded by many South Africans who had for many years since the arrival of a democratic state desired public accountability and better service delivery. These initiatives have undoubtedly influenced the establishment of the Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Unit in the Zuma Presidency. It has become more necessary that impact assessment procedures and processes be factored into the monitoring and evaluation systems of government projects and programmes at all levels. This article deviates a little from the current debate which focuses mainly on impact evaluation. It explores some practical ways of demonstrating that monitoring and evaluation with a focus on impact assessment are not a mere primary means of collecting and ana