6 December 2007
Cabinet held its ordinary meeting in Pretoria yesterday morning, 5 December
2007.
Cabinet approved both the Biofuels Industrial Strategy and the Electricity
Master Plan. The Minister of Minerals and Energy will elaborate on these two
initiatives during the course of this media briefing. The Minister's statement
will be posted on the government website (http://www.info.gov.za) for further
information.
Cabinet noted that the Africa Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) report has now
been published by the APRM Secretariat. The report identified eighteen best
practices that were worth emulating in other countries, including innovations
such as the Mzansi Account; Multipurpose Community Centres (renamed Thusong
service centres) and the Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) Charters. Further,
the report highlights a number of strengths which characterise the South
African society, including: having one of the most progressive constitutions in
the world; having the largest and strongest economy in the continent; a
political environment conducive to political debate; first world economic and
physical infrastructure; a strong public financial management system; strong
technological capability; good corporate governance; a robust legal system, and
a strong framework for the protection of human rights.
However, the report also highlights a number of challenges including racism
and xenophobia; under-representation of women in the private sector; high
levels of gender-based violence; the rise in education expenditure that is not
mirrored in the outcomes of the education system; insufficient contact between
ordinary South Africans and the political representatives; the pervasive legacy
and distortions of the apartheid system; high HIV infection rate and high
levels of violent crimes.
The Government response to the report is included in appendix two of the
report. In raising some concerns about certain aspects of the report,
Government was of the view that the APRM process would be strengthened if the
identified weaknesses were addressed. In this regard, a workshop was held in
Algeria to review the process and methodology issues. Government is satisfied
that its concerns have received the necessary attention at the Algeria
workshop. The South African Government thanks the panel for their hard work and
dedication to the task of reviewing our complex country.
The next step is the implementation of the programme of action to address
the challenges raised in the report. South Africa will be reporting progress to
the Secretariat every six months and will table an annual report to the APRM
Heads of State and Government forum in July. Cabinet noted that the APRM's
proposed programme overlaps with the government programme of action and that
greater alignment between the two programmes will be attained in 2008 when
government finalises its programme for the year.
All stakeholders, led by the government, are urged to work together to
ensure the implementation of the recommendations of the APRM country
report.
The report is now available and can be accessed from http://www.nepad.org/aprm.
At its meeting of 7 November 2007, Cabinet had resolved that the forensic
report on the financial affairs of the Land Bank was to be referred to the
South African Police Service and the prosecution authorities for further
investigations and possible prosecutions. Cabinet resolved yesterday that this
decision will be rescinded pending further internal investigations by the
Ministry of Agriculture and Land Affairs.
Cabinet noted that the second European Union - Africa Summit would take
place on 8 and 9 December in Lisbon, Portugal. The Summit will strengthen
relations between the two continents and will help to consolidate the African
agenda. The South African delegation will be led by President Thabo Mbeki and
the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.
The meeting noted that the World AIDS Day was celebrated in many parts of
the country on 1 December 2007. A number of activities were held in many parts
of the country which served to mobilise society to act together to heighten the
implementation of the national strategic plan. To this end, Cabinet welcomed
the progress that is being made in the fight against HIV and AIDS. The
highlights of the progress include the following: the mother to child
transmission programme has the largest coverage in the Sub-Saharan region,
reaching between 50 and 60% of the targeted population; more than 370 000
people had been initiated on the antiretroviral therapy by September 2007; the
prevalence level among teenagers had decreased from 15,9 to 13,7%; and that the
South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) had succeeded to strengthen the
partnership between government and all stakeholders in the fight against the
pandemic.
Cabinet welcomed the 2007 Report Card of the United Nations Children's Fund
(Unicef) on the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) and
Paediatric HIV Care and Treatment in Low and Middle Income countries. The
Report Card lists South Africa among 17 countries that are on track towards
meeting the United Nations 2010 target in the provision of antiretroviral
treatment for PMTCT. Efforts are being made to strengthen the PMTCT programme,
including impact assessment and the improvement of the treatment protocols to
introduce dual therapy.
The meeting was briefed on the eight (8) cases of klebsiella reported at
Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital in Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal. Cabinet expressed
its deepest condolences to the mothers and families of the five babies that
unfortunately passed away. The three other babies were in a stable condition
and have since been cleared of the infection. While further investigations may
be necessary to establish the actual source of the infection, Cabinet welcomed
the fact that no new cases of klebsiella have been reported and that the
situation is now under control following the intervention by the health
authorities to contain the situation.
Cabinet noted that the 2nd of December marked the 40th anniversary of the
world's first transplant operation which was conducted by a South African, Prof
Christian Barnard, in 1967. The meeting urged the country's health
professionals to continue to demonstrate excellence in various fields of health
science.
The observance of the International Day of Disabled Persons on 3 December
was noted. Cabinet affirmed its commitment to ensure that at least 2% of
government's payroll consists of disabled persons by 2010.
The meeting received and noted the Senior Management Service (SMS)
Remuneration Panel Report which proposed that the salary structure of senior
managers in the public service be reviewed. The meeting resolved that a Task
Team be established consisting of the Ministers of Public Service and
Administration, National Treasury, Health, Education and the Presidency. This
Team will review the report and consider the salary structure of the SMS,
including the introduction of differentiation in the salaries of
Directors-General and the Deputy Directors-General, in view of the different
scope, complexities and impact of the various functions. The matter will be
finalised by April 2008.
Cabinet approved the formalisation of the existing human settlement at the
Dukuduku forest with limited relocation of some households from the sensitive
Umfolozi Floodplain and St Lucia estuary in order to protect and conserve the
Futululu section of the Dukuduku state forest. The formalisation of the
settlement will limit the ongoing illegal settlement within the Dukuduku forest
which has resulted in the destruction of approximately 5 000 hectares of the
indigenous forest, and poses a threat to the World heritage Status of the
Wetland Park. All affected departments will commit the required resources to
implement the formalisation of this decision. A Project Steering Committee will
be established consisting of all role-players to finalise the implementation
plan. The details of the plan will be unveiled by the Minister of Water affairs
and Forestry at a meeting with all stakeholders.
The revised Strategic Framework for the Development of Human Resources in
the public service was approved. Copies of the Framework can be obtained from
the Department of Public Service and Administration.
The report on the implementation of the Financial Services Charter was
received. The meeting noted that there were a number of issues still being
considered by the sector, including the need to align the charter with the
Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment Codes. The report was noted as work in
progress.
The Rural Transport Development Strategy was approved. The strategy will be
published by the Minister of Transport shortly.
The South African Mint Company's commemorative coin designs for 2008 were
approved and will be gazetted shortly.
The following appointments were approved:
* The employment contract of Mr P Lehohla, the Statistician-General, was
extended for three years
* Ms Z Ntuli was appointed as Deputy Director-General (DDG) in the Department
of Trade and Industry
* Mr A Carim was appointed Chief Financial Officer (DDG level) in the
Department of Provincial and Local Government
* Mr JW Mckay was Deputy Director-General in the Department of Home
Affairs
* Mr S Tsengiwe was appointed as the Chief Commissioner at the International
Trade Administration Commission (ITAC) and Mr I Masege was appointed as Deputy
Chief Commissioner of ITAC
* The following were appointed as members of the Board of the Construction
Industry Development Board (CIDB): Ms NC Makhubele; Mr MC Noyana; Mr N
Gudlhuza; Mr CA Rose; Mr L Kona; Mr IMS Govender; Mr GP Strydom; Mr S
Ngebulana; Ms ST Bogosing; Mr R Nkando; Mr N Allie; Mr GB Steele and Ms L
Mchunu.
The following Bills were approved:
* National Space Agency Bill will be gazetted for public comment
* The Consumer Protection Bill for submission to Parliament
* Draft Intellectual Property Laws Amendment Bill and the draft Policy on
Protection of Traditional Knowledge system was noted and will be published for
comment by the Minister of Trade and Industry
* The Prevention of and Treatment for Substance Abuse Bill for submission to
Parliament
Enquiries: Themba Maseko (Government Spokesperson)
Cell: 083 645 0810
Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS)
6 December 2007
