Statement on the Cabinet Meeting, 20 January 2009

Cabinet held its first ordinary meeting of the year this morning, 20 January 2009, in Pretoria. This meeting preceded the Annual January Cabinet Lekgotla which will take place from 20 to 22 January 2009.

The first report on the implementation of South Africa's African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) programme of action was noted. The report covers the period from November 2007 to December 2008 and reflects on the progress made in the implementation of the recommendations of the ARPM Country Report. The report will be finalised after further comments are received from all government departments. The report will be presented to the APRM Forum of Heads of States during the course of 2009.

The meeting noted the 2009 Parliamentary programme and noted that the President will deliver the State of the Nations Address (SONA) to a joint sitting of Parliament on 6 February 2009. The Minister of Finance will deliver the budget speech on 11 February 2009.

The meeting noted that the eighth Bi-Annual World Conference of the International Association of Refugee Law Judges (IARLJ) will take place in Cape Town on 28 to 30 January 2009.

The employment contract of Mr Sandile Nogxina, the Director-General in the Department of Minerals and Energy, was extended for three years with effect from 1 February 2009.

Mr Taffy Adler was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the newly established Housing Development Agency. Mr Adler is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Johannesburg Housing Company.

The following were re-appointed as Non-Executive Directors of the South African Post Office for a three year period Ms V Mahlathi (Chairperson), Mr S Malebo, Mr J Hendricks, Ms P Pokane, and Advocate V Mhlongo.

Enquiries:

Themba Maseko
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Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS)
20 February 2009