18 February 2009
Presenter: Themba Maseko, Government Spokesperson
Venue: Imbizo Media Centre, Cape Town
Statement read by Themba Maseko
Cabinet held its ordinary meeting this morning, 18 February 2009 in Cape
Town
The meeting took note of the recent reports regarding the arrest of crew
members of the South African Airways who were arrested on allegations of
possession of narcotic substances. Cabinet is extremely concerned about this
development, which is causing untold damage to the reputation of the national
airline, the country and its people. This development is totally unacceptable
and must be condemned by everyone. Anyone found responsible for these criminal
acts must and will face the full might of the law.
The Minister of Safety and Security, Mr Nathi Mthethwa, was mandated to take
urgent steps to ensure that stringent security measures are implemented at all
our airports with immediate effect. In this regard, the steps already taken by
the airline to set up a joint task team with the airports company and the crime
intelligence services of the South African Police Service (SAPS) to address
this problem were welcomed. However, this task team should ensure that
additional security measures are introduced immediately to prevent any further
abuse of the existing security checks for the airline crew.
We call upon the crew of the national airline not to allow themselves to be
used by criminal syndicates and to cooperate with the authorities by exposing
anyone, including their colleagues, who is involved in these illegal
activities.
The United Kingdomâs decision to introduce visa requirements for South
Africans travelling to the United Kingdom (UK) was noted. Although the decision
was regrettable, the government remains confident that measures are on track to
introduce stringent security measures in our passport production procedures.
The Department of Home Affairs will brief the media on the progress made in the
implementation of the turn-around strategy.
The South African Government will be participating in the 53rd session of
the commission on the status of women at the United Nations Headquarters in New
York from 2 to 13 March 2009. The Minister in the Presidency will provide
further details at a media briefing tomorrow morning in Cape Town.
The meeting noted the work done by the Department of Health to manage and
contain the outbreak of cholera in parts of the country. This work is
coordinated by an Interdepartmental Task Team which is working very closely
with the United Nations agencies and the non-governmental organisation (NGO)
sector. This task team is implementing the national response plan for the
control of cholera, which includes education and information programmes to
communities. The Department of Health will give more details at a later
date.
Cabinet noted and approved that South Africa hosts the Second World Social
Security Forum in November 2010.
The following appointments were approved:
* The employment contract of Dr PM Mjarwa, the Director-General of the
Department of Science and Technology, was extended for three years.
* The employment contract of Ms OR Ramsingh, Director-General of the Public
Service Commission, was extended for three years.
* The following were appointed to the National Advisory Council on Innovation
(NACI) for a four-year period with effect from 1 April 2009: Dr PA Jammine, Mr
P Baloyi, Ms I Charnley, Mr KD Dlamini, Prof A van Zyl, Prof GJ Prinsloo,
Professor H Labum; Professor N Ogude, Dr S Lennon, Mr G Rothschild, Dr N
Bhengu; Professor JA Thompson, Professor FW Petersen, Professor LV
Mazwai-Tanga, Ms K Njobe and Dr CM de la Rey.
* Ms N Mgadza, Prof Y Vawda, Ms MA Naidoo and Mr V Jarana were appointed to the
Legal Aid Board for a three-year period.
Questions and answers
Journalist: Was there a sense from the Minister of Home Affairs and from
Cabinet that it is an embarrassment that the UK upgraded their visa
requirements for this country? Seeing as that we were forewarned that we are
running the risk of falling into this category now? You know, whatâs
governmentâs attitude towards that?
Themba Maseko: Well, our attitude is this is obviously an unfortunate
development, because weâve been working very closely with the British
authorities in this regard. They had sent a number of their teams to come and
look at our processes and systems and also to recommend additional measures
that needed to be put in place. Unfortunately, the timeframe given to address
many of the challenges that they identified was just not sufficient. They had
wanted these measures to be put in place by December, a lot of the steps that
were put in place needed to be implemented in a timeframe that goes beyond
December. So we consider this decision to be unfortunate but again itâs a
sovereign decision by a sovereign state and we respect it. Our focus at this
stage is to just make sure that we do everything that is necessary to improve
security measures around the production of our passports so that in future this
kind of problem does not arise.
Journalist: Same issue. Firstly, as my colleague noted, Cabinet and the
country was forewarned and to start off with, I recall very clearly the
Department of Home Affairs denying the problem. Is government at some stage
going to reach a point where, when it is criticised, it acts proactively rather
than denying? And secondly, insofar as the British are concerned, is there any
time in which they are going to have a re-look at this? Has the government in
any way discussed with Her Majestyâs government whether there is going to be a
review on the cards?
Themba Maseko: Does government deny existence of problems? And the answer is
clearly a no. Youâll recall in previous briefings that we sat here, the
Director-General (DG) and the Minister presented an elaborate turnaround
strategy to address all the problems that exist, ranging from application for
identity document (IDs), birth certificates, population register, passports and
even a new passport, we even made an announcement that we were at an advanced
stage of introducing a new passport. So clearly when weâre saying we are
putting together a turnaround strategy, we are in a sense admitting that, yes,
there are indeed challenges. And that is why that strategy had to be approved
by Cabinet, a new DG was appointed and the process was put in place to just
implement that turnaround strategy. As far as we are concerned, we have made
tremendous progress in this regard. The fact that the British government was
still able to identify weaknesses - we donât necessarily see that as a serious
challenge at this stage, but we are convinced that the turnaround strategy,
when it is fully implemented, all of these problems identified would have been
addressed. We are in regular contact with the British government and they have
made it very clear that if and when those challenges are addressed they may be
able to review their position in this regard. Iâm not aware of any specific
timeframes, but we are in regular contact with the British government at very
senior levels, ministerial levels, to just make sure that we address their
concerns. Yes?
Journalist: First of all, just quickly, are British subjects or citizens now
required to get a visa to come to South Africa as a reciprocal?
Themba Maseko: No.
Journalist: And then secondly, the timeframes you are talking about,
introducing new passport security, is that closely linked to the Home Affairs
Who Am I project which has been running behind time and over budget and all of
that? Is that directly linked to that at all?
Themba Maseko: I wouldnât be able to answer that question directly. We might
have to get into the details. Iâll get Home Affairs to answer that question. So
Iâm unable to answer that question at this stage.
Journalist: Can you explain exactly what discussions Cabinet had on Vusi
Pikoli in general, and specifically how did you respond to or what discussions
did Cabinet have around Pikoliâs claims and his court papers that the President
axed him to protect Mr Zuma from facing corruption charges? And my last
question is what discussion was there about appointing a new National Director
for Public Prosecutions (NDPP), especially on the issue of possibly appointing
this person before Friday?
Themba Maseko: The Pikoli matter was not discussed at all. As youâre aware,
this is a matter that was just recently handled by Parliament and if thereâs
any response to any matter pertaining to Pikoli it will be the Presidentâs
Office that will have to deal with that matter. And again, the appointment of a
new NDPP, itâs something that is a prerogative of the President. So when heâs
satisfied that all the processes have been completed he will take that decision
about when he will appoint the NDPP. So at this stage the matter was not
discussed at Cabinet.
Journalist: I just wanted to find out, there seems to be a lack of
appreciation on the side of Cabinet on South African Airwaysâ ability to turn
around and return to profitability. Surely Cabinet would have supported South
African Airways' (SAA) endeavours to offer all its clients top grade marijuana.
And by all accounts some coke as well.
Themba Maseko: If you have a specific request to make for yourself, I think
youâre more than welcome to do so. But look, the matter is indeed serious. I
mean, I donât want to understate the concern and the disappointment of Cabinet
as far as the recent reports about the SAA crew was concerned. I mean, this is
something thatâs doing untold and incalculable damage to the reputation of SAA,
the reputation of South African citizens, and the reputation of the country.
And a lot of good work has gone into making sure that we are seen as a modern,
thriving, succeeding nation. To be associated with trafficking of drugs at this
level is something that is of great concern, and that is why Cabinet believes
that the Minister of Safety and Security (Nathi Mthethwa) needs to be
instructed to take charge of this investigation, to make sure that measures are
introduced as a matter of absolute urgency, because we find this situation to
be totally intolerable and unacceptable. So hopefully weâll see a drastic
improvement in the security checks, especially for the airline crew to make
sure that no further incidents of this nature are actually reported.
Journalist: Itâs not been a good week for Brand South Africa. I just
wondered how concerned government at this flood of bad news of SAA and the
passport debacle and cholera raging in various provinces. Sorry? You know, itâs
a bad week.
Themba Maseko: Well, Iâm sure brands do go through difficult periods and we
accept that these negative reports are not good for the country and that is why
this Cabinet meeting took quite a bit of time, discussing these three issues -
SAA, passports and the cholera issue - and said the ministries responsible need
to actually take charge and make sure that we get to the bottom of these
issues. We believe that in fact over the past 15 years so much work has been
done to build the South African brand and we canât allow the acts of
individuals to actually tarnish the image of a nation that is at work, a nation
that is involved in rebuilding and in reinventing itself. That is why these
issues received such priority at this Cabinet meeting, and hopefully the
measures that have been suggested will get to the bottom of these issues and
make sure that we resolve it. But I agree with you that these are very negative
developments and can indeed tarnish the reputation of a nation.
Journalist: Iâm sure the Cabinet must have discussed the current situation
in Zimbabwe. I mean, quite recently we had a press briefing by Reverend Frank
Chikane where he said that the unity government was on track, but then I mean
no sooner had it formed itself when the Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Roy
Bennett, was kind of abducted and still hasnât been brought to trial. Or if he
did he might have been brought to trial yesterday. So what were your
discussions on this? I mean, does Cabinet think itâs acceptable for Robert
Mugabe to continue I mean actually arresting his own cabinet ministers?
Themba Maseko: You know, a few months ago Cabinet would have gone into
serious trouble discussing developments in Zimbabwe, especially because there
was no legitimate government. At this stage we have a situation where thereâs a
unity government that we believe enjoys the support of all Zimbabweans and that
government must be given the opportunity to address problems in Zimbabwe. So it
would not be necessary for the South African government to comment on each and
every development that is taking place in Zimbabwe. We think that the new
government in Zimbabwe must be given the opportunity to tackle all the
challenges that they face without South Africa having to comment on each and
every aspect of whatâs happening there. Our confidence at this stage is that
there is a unity government and all the parties are committed to working
together to solve all their problems to govern their country. That is their
primary responsibility.
Journalist: But just a follow-up, I mean, clearly there isnât a unity
government if one party is arresting deputy cabinet ministers from the other
party. I mean, how do you then claim that thereâs an effective unity
government? I mean, what basis do you have for that claim?
Themba Maseko: I think that if we are all observing the situation there,
very few people will dispute the fact that there is a unity government in
Zimbabwe. It has challenges including the example that youâve given. But
thereâs no question, there canât be any doubt that there is unity government in
place in Zimbabwe as we speak. And that unity government must be given that
responsibility of running their own country. You need to remember that we are
the South African Government, not the government of Zimbabwe. So our primary
focus in this meeting was to deal with the challenges facing our nation and
hope that the unity government in Zimbabwe will tackle the problems that exist
in that country.
Journalist: Given that argument, whatâs the governmentâs view on
Palestine?
Themba Maseko: Sorry, the matter was not discussed at this meeting.
Journalist: Did Cabinet discuss any possibility of a new Director-General
for the Department of Communications?
Themba Maseko: Not at this meeting. The way the process of appointment of
DGs work, the post needs to be advertised, interviews must be conducted and
Cabinet will discuss the matter if there is a recommendation for appointment.
But at this stage the person whoâs acting in that position will continue to act
until such time that Cabinet receives a recommendation for a person to be
appointed DG.
Enquiries:
Themba Maseko
Cell: 083 645 0810
Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS)
18 February 2009
