3 May 2006
At its meeting today, Cabinet noted preparations for the celebration of the
10th anniversary of the countryâs Constitution. Events in this regard include a
Thanksgiving Ceremony in Khayelitsha (Cape Town) on Sunday and a special Joint
Sitting of Parliament on Monday, 8 May, which will be addressed by the
President.
Cabinet received reports from the various Clusters and the Accelerated and
Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (AsgiSA) Task Team on the
implementation of the governmentâs Programme of Action for 2006. The meeting
welcomed the progress made in most areas and identified interventions required
to speed up implementation where required. Detailed briefings on these matters
will be conducted by the Cluster Co-ordinating Ministers during the course of
next week, and the Programme will then be updated on the government
website.
In line with commitments included in the AsgiSA programme:
* Cabinet received a report on work done to simplify and streamline the
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) System in our country. This process is
informed by relevant legislation, but also critically, by the need to ensure
that the EIA system does not act as a constraint to higher rates of investment
and job-creation. In this respect, it was agreed to improve capacity in
provincial environmental authorities.
Cabinet agreed that a detailed presentation would be made at its next
meeting by the Department of Home Affairs on matters pertaining to the
implementation of Immigration Regulations. This would include such issues as
time lags in dealing with applications and any blockages that may undermine the
countryâs effort to attract scarce skills.
The meeting was briefed on preparations for the National General
Consultative Conference on the Peer Review Process for South Africa. The
Conference, which will take place on 4 and 5 May, will bring together
representatives of government and other sectors of society to consider work
done thus far on the Country Self-Assessment Report, including public
inputs.
Cabinet expressed appreciation at the consultative processes to ensure broad
consensus among South Africans on a review of our First Decade of Freedom,
identifying areas for further improvement and agreeing on a national vision and
programme to take our democracy to new heights.
The following Bills were approved for submission to parliament:
* Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of
Communication-Related Information Amendment Bill, which regulates lawful
interception of certain communication and defines obligations of sellers of
cellular phones and SIM-cards; and
* Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Bill, which
provides greater protection to vulnerable persons who are victims of sexual
offences.
Cabinet also welcomed the launch this week of the 365 Days of Activism
against Gender- and Child-directed Violence. The workshop to launch this
campaign will examine ways of ensuring that it is sustained throughout the
year, without subtracting from the intense focus during the 16 days in November
and December.
The meeting noted developments with regard to negotiations aimed at
resolving the situation in the Darfur region of Sudan. The South African
government wishes to urge all parties in these negotiations to reach agreement
as soon as possible, so as to restore peace and allow the people of that region
to lead normal lives. The meeting also noted the status of South African
participation in the AU Mission in Sudan (AMIS); and it approved the deployment
of 98 South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members to AMIS, in addition
to the 339 already located in that country.
Having considered decisions taken at the January Assembly and the Sessions
of the Executive Council of the African Union (AU), Cabinet confirmed that
South Africa would work with Libya in a Joint Committee to consider issues such
as the restructuring of continental financial institutions and their location.
The meeting also approved the increased assessed contribution of South Africa
to the AU, from 8,25% of the AU budget in 2005 to 15 % in
2006.
The following appointments were approved:
* Mr Itumeleng W Kotsoane as Director-General (DG): Department of Housing for a
period of five years;
* Extension of the term of office of Mr Vusi Madonsela as DG: Department of
Social Development for a period of three years;
* Ms P Bongiwe Kunene as Deputy DG (DDG) and Head of the Office of the Deputy
President in The Presidency;
* One DDG in the Department of Provincial and Local Government and four DDGs in
the Department of Public Service and Administration;
* Ms J Ngubane as Regional Land Claims Commissioner for KwaZulu-Natal
Province;
* Board of Directors of the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) to be
chaired by Dr A Mokgokong; and
* Members of the Board of the SA National Energy Research Institute
(SANERI).
Cabinet noted various incidents in recent weeks involving civic violence in
pursuit of political and socio-economic objectives. This has included violent
attacks on municipal councillors in Khutsong and on workers in the current
strike of employees in the security industry. Cabinet wishes to emphasise that
such behaviour is despicable and unacceptable in a democracy. The Cabinet has
issued an instruction to the security agencies to deal with such incidents
firmly and without equivocation. Where this has not yet happened, those who
have been identified for their involvement in these incidents should feel the
full might of the law.
Further, government urges employers and SATAWU to resume negotiations as a
matter of urgency, and to ensure that their discussions are informed by the
interests of the country in a spirit of compromise and mutual
accommodation.
The meeting also noted preparations for a Donor Conference and launch of the
African World Heritage Fund which will take place on 4 and 5 May at Maropeng,
Cradle of Humankind.
For further enquiries contact:
Joel Netshitenzhe
082 900 0083
Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS)
3 May 2005
