27 July 2006
Cabinet held its ordinary meeting on 26 July 2006, immediately before the
mid-year July Lekgotla which concludes on Friday, 28 July 2006. President Thabo
Mbeki will brief the media on the outcomes of the Lekgotla on Sunday 30 July at
14h00 at the Union Buildings.
The Cabinet meeting approved the establishment of the South African Space
Agency as an institutional vehicle for the co-ordination and implementation of
South Africaâs national space science and technology programmes. The agency
will conduct long-term planning and implementation of space-related activities
in South Africa for the benefit of all citizens. It will co-ordinate its
activities closely with the South African Council for Space Affairs and
stakeholders, and will report to the Minister of Science and Technology.
Cabinet approved a request from the United Nations (UN) for South Africa to
deploy two helicopters and fifty-three personnel to the UN mission in the
Democratic Republic of Congo. This is part of Governmentâs commitment
contribution to peace, stability and democracy in Africa.
A five-year Airlift Strategy was approved for the regulation of air
transport to enhance the air transport sectorâs contribution to sustainable
growth. The strategy promotes greater alignment with the tourism strategy in
particular, and was developed on the basis of aviation policy directives and as
a specific contribution to the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for
South Africa (AsgiSA). It will promote the provision of adequate air service
capacity and infrastructure to cater for the projected growth in air movements
within South Africa and between South Africa and its key international
partners.
The meeting was briefed on preparations for the 50th Anniversary of the
Womenâs March, and approved the following:
* The establishment of a Womenâs Museum in Welkom
* The erection of the Charlotte Maxekeâs statue in Vereeniging
* The declaration of Maxekeâs House and the Wilberforce Institute as National
Heritage sites
* The reconfiguration of the Womenâs Monument/Vrouemonument in
Bloemfontein
* The replication of the Womenâs Monument at the Strydom Square. Cabinet also
noted the renaming of Strydom Square to Lillian Ngoyi Square.
As South Africa pays tribute to the contribution of women to the struggle
for freedom, government calls on all citizens to work together in a national
effort to ensure that the rights and opportunities that freedom has brought are
enjoyed to the full by all women
Cabinet was briefed on the 2006 meeting of Directors and Data Managers of
the World Health Organisation for Africa (WHO/AFRO) Regional Polio Laboratory
Network which is being hosted by South Africa from 24 to 28 July 2006 in
Pretoria.
The following appointments were approved or confirmed:
* Mr Ramburuth as Commissioner of the Competitions Commission
* Professor B M Gourley, Professor D R Hall, and Mr E M Mayet as members of the
Board of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
* The following as members of the National Arts Council (NAC): Ms B Madumise,
Mr N Lakha, Mr Z Bhengu, Professor D Bunn, Mr C Mabaso, Mr N Motsatse, Mr S
Galane, Mr J Masilela, Ms D Forbes, Mr M Schonberg, Mr G van Zyl; Mr M Xakaza,
Mr B Tembe and Mr Thathiah; with the following as provincial representatives:
Ms P Bushula (Northern Cape), Prof PJN Zungu (KZN), Nr P Shai (Limpopo), Ms D
Offringa (Gauteng), Ms MV Khutsafalo (North West), Prof B Mkhonto (Eastern
Cape), Ms T Nogabe (Free State), Ms M Phosa (Mpumalanga) and Ms C Matthews
(Western Cape).
* Mr Sendwe as CEO of CIPRO
* Assistant Commissioner Mashego as the Provincial Commissioner in the Free
State
* Mr Z Dangor as Chief Operations Officer in the Department of Social
Development.
Enquiries: Themba Maseko
Cell: 083 645 0810
Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS)
27 July 2006
