CABINET MEETING: 22 MAY 1996

Issued by: Office of the President

CABINET MEETING: 22 MAY 1996

1 Cabinet held one of its regular fortnightly meeting in Tuynhuys.

2 Cabinet received reports on:

• a draft White Paper: The Development and Promotion of Tourism in South Africa, and noted the widespread consultation process initiated in its drafting and suggested certain changes before its re-submission to Cabinet for approval;
• the new Framework Agreement for Labour Intensive Construction in Civil Engineering that has the objective of promoting job creation in this sector and agreed with its content;
• the discharge of water into the Blesbokspruit by the Grootvlei Proprietary Mine Limited and supported the decision taken by the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry to prevent further pollution of the Blesbokspruit ad agreed that the Ministers of Water Affairs and Forestry, of Mineral and Energy Affairs, of Trade and Industry, of Labour, of Finance and of Environmental Affairs and Tourism meet to discuss medium term solutions to the problem;
• the revised HIV/AIDS policy in prisons, noted the reservations expressed by the National Party members of Cabinet and approved that the Minister for Welfare and Population Development review the implications of the policy with regard to, inter alia, the sexual security of young offenders in prison;
• the appointment of a team by the Minister of Labour to draft an Employment Equity Bill and concurred with the names proposed by the Minister.
• an update on the Ministers' Committee for Science and Technology;
• an update on the process to right-size the public service and, in particular, on the voluntary termination of service, and agree that this process be managed and conducted in a proper and effective manner;
• the anxiety amongst Civil servants arising from the decision of the National Party to withdraw from the Government of National Unity and agreed with the statement released by the Minister of the Public Service and Administration on this matter;
• the completion of the National Crime Prevention Strategy;
• the expiry of the periods of office of all 21 serving SABC Board members on 31 May 1996, and that in terms of the existing Broadcasting Act, it is not possible to extend the period of office of the Board, and recommended that the President use his powers in terms of the Broadcasting Act (Sections 4 and 5) to re-appoint the persons on the current SABC Board for an extended period of not longer than six months; this will enable the Ministry of Post, Telecommunications and Broadcasting to finalise the new National Public Broadcasting Bill in terms of which a new SABC board will be appointed;
• the preparation that is being made by the Ministry of Education together with Ministries of Health and of Sports and Recreation for the celebration of national Youth Day on 16 June 1996 and noted the principles of inclusivity, direct youth participation, continuity and variety, which are guiding the planning of the celebrations; the theme for the celebration is Youth in Action for Nation Building, Reconstruction and Youth Development.

3 Cabinet approved the submission of the following bills for introduction to Parliament:

• Wreck and Salvage Bill;
• Sectional Titles Bill;
• Correctional Services Bill.

4 Cabinet concurred with the person proposed by the Minister of Labour to serve as chairperson of the governing body of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).

Further information is available for or will be released by the relevant Ministries.

Cabinet Secretariat 22 May 1996