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Statement on Cabinet Meeting, 31 May 2006 Cabinet today
received an update on progress in the implementation of the Taxi Recapitalisation
Programme. The work being done in the current period includes the establishment
soon of a Scrapping Agency, further capacitation of Operating Licensing Boards
in the provinces to speed up conversion of permits to operating licences and examination
of compliance with safety requirements and colour coding. The meeting reaffirmed
that today, 31 May, constitutes the cut-off date for submission of applications
to convert the permits. In this regard, government wishes to congratulate the
overwhelming majority of taxi operators (about 85%) who have complied with this
requirement; and welcomes the fact that SANTACO has not requested postponement
of this date nor is it opposed to the programme as such. This creates conditions
for movement to new phases of the programme. Cabinet agreed that, because
some operators may have, for reasons not of their own doing, not been able to
submit applications, these operators should be allowed to do so beyond today.
This will be on condition that they are able to demonstrate in writing that they
were constrained by circumstances beyond their control. Further, the Ministers
of Transport and Safety and Security will finalise gazetted directives on the
policing of the minibus taxi industry, taking into account the need not to prejudice
those who missed the deadline for reasons not of their own making. Cabinet
noted the Report on Apartheid Grand Corruption which has emanated from the National
Anti-Corruption Forum. While the report was not commissioned by government and
uses research methodology that may not have produced exhaustive data, the meeting
was of the view that it did raise pertinent issues including matters relating
to government assets. It was agreed that, in taking the matters further, government
would do so taking into account normal legal requirements and post-TRC initiatives.
The meeting concurred with the following appointments: - Paul
Baloyi as CEO of the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA);
- Phineas
Phogole Tjie as CEO of the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF);
-
L Manala as Chairperson of the SA Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) and other
members of the Board;
- Ms KST Matthews as Non-Executive Director in the
Telkom Board;
- 2 DDGs in the Department of Social Development (one in
the SA Social Security Agency); and
- Extension of contract of the CEO
of the Government Printing Works for a period of 3 years.
Cabinet
received a detailed report on work done to assist communities who were affected
by the recent flood disaster in the Bophirima District in the Northwest Province.
The meeting agreed with the implementation plan dealing with short -term measures,
and processes to develop medium- and long-term interventions. It urged relevant
agencies to act with speed on all interventions required, given the current winter
conditions. Government wishes to express its appreciation of the positive response
and co-operation of the community, including traditional leaders, farmers and
other business-people and the local media. The meeting noted the final
draft of South Africa's African Peer Review Mechanism Country Self-Assessment
Report, and agreed that, where necessary, relevant departments would submit input
for consideration by the National Governing Council. Government wishes to thank
the mass of South Africans, NGO's, research institutions, government departments
and other structures which have played a critical role in compiling the draft,
which, after finalisation, will be submitted to the APRM Secretariat in mid-June.
Cabinet also noted that, contrary to the spirit of the open and consultative
Peer Review Process, statements were made during the course of last week about
the character of our democracy and the place and role of The Presidency in its
evolution. The meeting rejected suggestions that our democracy was under threat
from such hoary tendencies as 'marginalisation of Parliament', 'centralisation
of power in The Presidency' and 'a slide towards dictatorship'. False assertions
of this kind are not only fulminations of the imagination; but also do not reflect
the views of the majority of South Africans, as shown during the Peer Review Process,
successive elections, izimbizo and other interactions with the public. Cabinet
noted the various activities, in the context of Child Protection Week, aimed at
increasing awareness among South Africans to protect children and promote their
well-being. Since 1994, government has introduced various programmes to improve
the quality of life of SA's children. These include providing the Child Support
Grant to over 7-million children and the Foster Care Grant to 300 000 children;
improving access to quality education and the school feeding scheme; providing
free health care for children under 6 years of age; and outlawing corporal punishment
in educational institutions. The Child Protection Week is a call to action, for
all South Africans to heed the message: Every child is my child, and child protection
is everyone's business. For further information, contact:
Joel
Netshitenzhe
082 900 0083 Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS)
31
May 2006 | 
