Statement on Cabinet meeting of 8 October 2003

8 October 2003

At its meeting today, Cabinet considered plans for the National Imbizo Focus week from 13 to 19 October, during which Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Premiers and MEC’s will interact with communities through the length and breadth of the country. At least 410 events have been planned, with special emphasis on explaining to the public how to access economic opportunities such as micro-credit, skills training, SMME support and the Umsobomvu Youth Fund. These interactions will also afford the public an opportunity to make proposals on how to improve these services.

Cabinet approved the following appointments:
 

• Mr Madoda David Mabunda as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SA National Parks
• Extension of the term of office of the Executive of the Films and Publications Board from 1 October until processes to appoint a new Board have been finalised;
• Members of the National Council for Library and Information Services, to be chaired by Prof S Manaka;
• Board of the Council for Geoscience, to be chaired by Mr V Khanyile; and
• Commissioners of the International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC) – which replaced the Board on Tariffs and Trade – with Ms NP Maimela as Chief Commissioner.

The meeting approved a policy framework and procedural guidelines on the management of Official Development Assistance (ODA) provided to the South African government. The guidelines deal with such issues as regulations and procedures to ensure that the country is able optimally to utilise such assistance.

Cabinet was briefed on the recent meeting between President Thabo Mbeki and the National House of Traditional Leaders (NHTL), which interactions are to be held on a regular basis in future. Cabinet endorsed the following commitments:
 

• if discussions on the White Paper and Framework Bill on traditional leaders point to the need to amend the Constitution, this would be considered by government;
• government would refer the proposal for the setting up of a continent-wide house of traditional leaders to the Chairperson of the AU;
• mechanisms would be devised to involve the NHTL in the development of programmes for rural development and the Expanded Public Works Programme; and
• the Presidency would facilitate provision of better infrastructure for the efficient functioning of the NHTL.

The meeting was briefed on the work being done by the Department of Health, working with Health MEC’s and members of the Implementation Task Team on anti-retroviral treatment in the public sector, to finalise the report for submission to Cabinet. Government welcomes the fact that the Task Team has committed itself to deal with issues raised around monitoring of patients, human resources, provincial business plans and so on with utmost urgency. It is expected that this work would be completed as soon as possible for Cabinet to finalise the matter.

The following Bills were approved:
 

• Communal Land Rights Bill (for submission to Parliament), aimed at facilitating secure land tenure rights in communally-held land within the framework of the Constitution;
• Tobacco Products Control Amendment Bill (to be released for public comment), which improves existing legislation to ensure better compliance; and
• Housing Consumers Protection Measures Amendment Bill (for public comment), aimed at improving definitions and other provisions for better protection of the public.

Cabinet also approved, for submission to Parliament, various texts of Conventions and Recommendations of the ILO.

The meeting approved a recommendation from the Board of the National Botanical Institute to change the name of the Witwatersrand National Botanical Garden to the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden.

Government, on behalf of all South Africans, congratulates Team South Africa, taking part in the All-Africa Games in Nigeria for representing the country with pride and conviction; and it wishes the Springboks all the best at the Rugby World Cup. Government also congratulates the Soccer World Cup Bid Committee for their professional presentation of the SA Bid Book at FIFA HQ, and it calls on all South Africans to support the work of the Committee, in particular when the FIFA Inspection Team visits our country in the coming weeks.

Enquiries
Joel Netshitenzhe
Cell: 082 900 0083

Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS)

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