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Statement on Cabinet Meeting, 22 March 2006 Cabinet today
considered a report on the consolidation of the Commuter Rail Services, including
the sale of Metrorail as a going concern to the SA Rail Commuter Corporation (SARCC).
An agreement in this regard has been signed between Transnet and the SARCC. The
meeting agreed that the date for such transfer should be adjusted from 1 April
to 1 May 2006, in order, among others, to finalise outstanding issues among all
the affected parties. The meeting agreed on the need to speed up the process
to facilitate market access for small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs), in
particular the identification of frequently-used products for procurement by government,
which should be set aside for this purpose. Further, it was agreed that departments
would need to be more rigorous in adhering to the 30-day payment rule, which is
critical to the survival of many such enterprises. The meeting was briefed
on the investigation by the Inspector-General of Intelligence Services (IG) into
the authenticity of allegedly intercepted 'e-mail communication' among public
figures. The meeting noted the findings of the IG that these 'e-mails' were fabricated
mock-ups that were not and could not have been communicated over the world-wide
web. Overwhelming evidence, supported by independent expert testimony, points
to the fact that the 'e-mails' and chat-room conversations were patently fraudulent.
Cabinet agreed that all relevant administrative, legal and policy issues
deriving from the report should be followed up and, where required, Cabinet would
be briefed on progress in this regard. The meeting was also informed that
the President had decided to terminate the services of the suspended head of the
National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Mr Billy Lesedi Masetlha, with effect from
today, 22 March 2006. This decision, Cabinet was informed, derives from the President's
determination that the relationship of trust between him and the head of NIA had
irreparably broken down. The IG and the Minister for Intelligence Services
will brief the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence, the management and personnel
of the intelligence agencies and the media on the details of the findings in due
course. The meeting reflected on the report of the Auditor-General (AG)
on Declarations of Interest by members of the Executive and senior public servants.
With regard to members of the Executive, it emerged that: - of the 15
interests not declared, six of these were in private companies, three in close
corporations and six in Section 21 Companies;
- most of the members had
resigned as directors/members of the companies, but the Companies and Intellectual
Property Registration Office (CIPRO) database still had their names; and
- those
in Section 21 companies had been uncertain about the requirement to declare these
directorships, especially where they were appointed by government in relation
to government work, with no accruing benefits.
The meeting expressed
concern that, although the AG does acknowledge these facts including that the
CIPRO database was not timeously updated, a wrong impression was being created
in public discourse that these members of the Executive had misled Parliament
and the public. It was agreed that, where necessary, the members concerned would
clarify these issues with Parliament and the media. With regard to the
cases of senior managers, the Minister of Public Service and Administration, working
with the Public Service Commission, will indicate the process to be followed in
dealing with the alleged breaches. Cabinet noted the progress that has
been made in Burundi, Côte d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
(DRC) and Sudan to bring peace and democracy. In order to continue supporting
these processes, Cabinet agreed: - that the deployment of 950 members
of South African National Defence Force (SANDF) as part of the United Nations
(UN) Operation in Burundi (ONUB) would be extended to 31 March 2007;
- to
extend, until 31 March 2007, the deployment of 46 members of SANDF in support
of the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) and mediation process
in Côte d'Ivoire;
- to extend the existing deployment of 110 SANDF
members and deploy 14 more members (bringing the total to 124) in the DRC, until
31 March 2007, in support of two projects for the integration and military training
of the Armed Forces of the DRC; and
- to extend the deployment of 339 SANDF
members as part of the African Union (AU) Mission in the Sudan (AMIS) until 31
March 2007.
The meeting also approved the deployment of 371 SANDF
members, from 15 March to 30 June 2006, as part of the AU Military Force in the
Comoros to assist in ensuring a secure environment conducive to credible, free
and fair Presidential elections. The meeting noted that 10 tons of DDT
had been donated to Mozambique to assist that country in the campaign to control
malaria. South Africa will also assist with training in the safe handling, application
and monitoring of the use of insecticides in keeping with guidelines of the World
Health Organisation (WHO). Amendments to the Tobacco Products Control Act
were approved for submission to Parliament, taking into account the need to tighten
such controls in order to discourage smoking and protect non-smoking citizens.
The meeting endorsed the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation
(UNESCO) Convention and agreed that South Africa would submit its instrument of
ratification as a matter of urgency. In this regard, the Convention instrument
would be submitted to Parliament for consideration. The following appointments
were approved: - extension of the contract of Dr I Mosala, Director-General:
Arts and Culture for a period of one year;
- two Deputy Directors-General
(DDGs) in National Treasury;
- Mr Gabriel Davel as Chief Executive Officer
(CEO) of the National Credit Regulator; and
- Ms Cheryl Carolus (Chairperson)
and other members of the Board of South African National Parks.
Cabinet
noted that South Africa would host the African Film Summit from 3 to 6 April 2006.
The Summit is an initiative of the Department of Arts and Culture and the National
Film and Video Foundation in association with the Pan African Federation of Filmmakers
(FEPACI), endorsed by the AU and the New Partnership for Africa's Development
(NEPAD) Secretariat. The Summit will take forward the appeal of the AU for governments,
the private sector and civil society to take appropriate steps to establish an
African Commission on audiovisual and television programmes on the continent.
The Summit will be followed by a General Congress of FEPACI on 6 April. The
meeting noted preparations for Imbizo Focus Week between 6 and 13 April, which
will provide a platform for national and provincial leaders, with newly-elected
municipal councillors, to interact with the public on the development of municipal
Integrated Development Plans in line with the national Programme of Action and
Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (AsgiSA). This will
also assist preparations for municipal Growth and Development Summits, which are
meant to be held during the coming year. For further information contact: Joel
Netshitenzhe
Cell: 082 900 0083 Issued by: Government Communications
(GCIS)
22 March 2006
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