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Statement on Cabinet Meeting, 17 August 2005 At its meeting
today, Cabinet agreed in principle to a strategy for the recapitalisation of public
schools, particularly in those serving the poorest communities. The focus of this
programme will also be on targeted development of teachers to ensure provision
of better quality. Details of this programme, including possible funding mechanisms,
are still to be finalised and the budgetary implications will be handled through
the normal budgeting process. The meeting also approved a Government-wide
Immovable Asset Management Policy to ensure uniform, efficient, effective and
accountable management of these public assets. Minimum standards will be introduced
to ensure that all organs of state manage these assets in a manner that promotes
government's objectives, including land reform, economic empowerment, poverty
alleviation and job creation. There is also a need to protect the environment
and the country's cultural and historical heritage, and to improve health and
safety in the working environment. It was also noted that, while a Government
Asset Register exists at national level, this still has to be finalised in the
provincial and local government spheres. A Bill on Government-wide Immovable Asset
Management will be introduced, applying to national and provincial departments;
with similar legislation introduced in the medium-term for municipalities and
other public entities. Further, the following other Bills were approved
for submission
to Parliament: - Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development
Amendment Bill which deals mainly with administrative issues to improve implementation
of the Act;
- National Road Traffic Amendment Act - subject to further inter-Ministerial
consultation - giving effect to principal strategies contained in the Road to
Safety Strategy; and
- Also subject to some inter-Ministerial consultation,
the National Land Transport Transition Amendment Bill to deal with issues identified
during stakeholder consultations as inhibiting the implementation of the current
Act.
Cabinet agreed on processes urgently to be undertaken to deal
with the issue of municipal demarcations as it applies to cross-boundary municipalities
(which straddle more than one province). The principle guiding this process is
that each municipality in the country should be located within one province, to
ensure more effective integrated provision of services. It was noted that the
Demarcation Board would in the next few days publish its proposed maps on the
possible new boundaries. A consultative process will then be set in motion, including
public hearings through national parliament and provincial legislatures. The
following appointments were approved: - Jabulani Isaac Sindane as DG:
Water Affairs and Forestry, currently DDG in the same Department responsible for
Regions;
- Portia Molefe as DG: Public Enterprises, currently Acting DG
in the same Department;
- Two DDGs in the Department of Environmental Affairs
and Tourism and one DDG in the Department of Public Works; and
- 3 new members
of the Board of the SA Rail Commuter Corporation.
The meeting was
briefed on the approach to be adopted by SA in preparation for the assessment
of our country through the African Peer Review Mechanism. It was agreed that SA
should use this opportunity to build a broad national vision, facilitate social
participation especially by civil society and build partnership across all sectors
of society. The period leading up to the end of this year will be used
to develop position papers on a variety of issues, and to consult through a series
of national conferences and parliament. The draft self-assessment report arising
from these processes will be finalised in early 2006 for submission to the APR
Secretariat. This will be followed by a visit by an APR Team to our country. Cabinet
agreed on a detailed programme for Ministers and Deputy Ministers to partner with
provincial and local leaders in an intensive imbizo campaign directed at municipalities
being assisted through project Consolidate. This programme, which will complement
the work already being done by the President and Deputy President, will ensure
that concrete steps identified to improve service delivery in these municipalities
are implemented as a matter of urgency. The meeting noted media reports
on government issues relating to the former Deputy President of the country, arising
from the Central Committee of COSATU. Government will await any formal submission
on these matters. It will be guided in its response by the supreme law of our
land, the constitution, which provides, amongst others, for separation of powers
between the executive and the judiciary, and directs the President to "uphold,
defend and respect the Constitution". On the issue of the composition of
the Executive, this is a prerogative of the President, and he pronounced extensively
on this matter in Parliament a few weeks ago. Issued by: Government
Communications (GCIS)
17 August 2005 For further information contact:
Joel
Netshitenzhe
082 900 0083
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