Statement on the Cabinet Meeting of 8 February 2012

Cabinet held its ordinary meeting in Cape Town on 8 February 2012.

1  Current affairs 

1.1  Cabinet calls on all South Africans to be more responsible on the roads given the high road carnage over the festive period.  An unacceptably high number people died on the country’s roads from 1 December 2011 to 10 January 2012.  In line with the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020, government is going all out to ensure safer roads.  Measures include the introduction of road safety education as part of the life skills curriculum at schools, legislative amendments to ensure that dangerous drivers are removed from the roads as well as a revised road safety strategy 2012-2015.  Cabinet wants 2012 to be the year of action against those who seek to turn our roads into killing fields.

1.2  Cabinet congratulates matriculants who have completed matric and have progressed into higher learning institutions and encourages those who did not succeed not to despair but to try harder this year. Following the tragedy at the University of Johannesburg where a parent died in a stampede, Cabinet encourages this year’s matriculants to apply early. 

2  Appointments

Cabinet approved the following appointments:

2.1  Cabinet approved the extension of contract of the Director-General of the Department of Science and technology, Dr Phil Mjwara, for a period of three (3) years commencing 1 April 2012.

2.2  Export Credit Insurance Corporation in South Africa Limited (ECIC) Board: Mr Abel Mawela was appointed as a Non-Executive Director to the ECIC Board for a period of three (3) years.

2.3  National Empowerment Fund (NEF) Board: Mr Thando Mhlambiso   (Chairperson), Dr Jacqueline Williams (Trustee) and Mr Sipho Zikode (dti   representative) were appointed as members of the NEF Board for the remainder of the term ending 15 December 2012.

2.4  Airports Company South Africa Limited (ACSA) Board: Ms Busisiwe Mabuza (Chairperson), Mr Skhumbuzo Macozoma, Ms Tryphosa Ramano, Ms Priscilla Mabelane, Mr Elias Masilela, Ms Mohla Matsaba (as an alternative director to Mr Elias Masilela) and Mr Roshan Morar were appointed as Non-Executive Directors to the Board of ACSA for a period of three (3) years with effect from 1 March 2012.

2.5  Air Traffic Navigation Service (ATNS) Board:  Captain Mpho Mamashela (re-appointed as Chairperson) Ms Sindi Zilwa, Mr Kgathatso Thlakudi, Ms Nozipho Mgoduso, Major General Fabian Msimang, Ms Nomfanelo Magwentshu, Mr Sipho Mseleku and Ms Hlengiwe Makhathini were appointed as members of the ATNS Board for a period of three (3) years with effect from 1 March 2012.

2.6  Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) Board:  Mr Mitesh Patel was appointed as a Non-Executive member to the RSR Board for a period of three (3) years with effect from 1 March 2012.

2.7  Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) Board: Ms Namhla Mxenge was appointed Non-Executive member to the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) for a period of three (3) years with effect from 1 March 2012.

3  Annoucement

3.1  The Cabinet focus was on the President’s State of the Nation Address (SoNA) that will take place at the opening of Parliament at 19h00 on Thursday, 9 February 2012.  Preparations for this are well underway. The SoNA is an important occasion where the President outlines to the nation government’s priorities and plans for the year.  The post-SoNA media briefings between 13 and 23 February 2012 will unpack programmes and projects for 2012 as outlined by the President, with the Budget speech on 22 February 2012 setting   out the financial framework for implementation of these priorities.

Enquiries:

Jimmy Manyi (Cabinet Spokesperson)
Cell: 082 379 3454

Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS)
14 February 2012