Issued by: Secretary of the Cabinet
PRESS STATEMENT
The Cabinet held its scheduled fortnightly meeting in Tuynhuys, Cape Town, this morning. The meeting, chaired by Executive Deputy President F W de Klerk, was the last to be attended by members of the National Party before their departure from the Government of National Unity at the end of the month. The President paid warm tribute to Deputy President de Klerk and his NP colleagues, and to the National Party generally, for their contribution to the process of transformation of the country and to the functioning of the Government of National Unity; and wished them well as a vibrant opposition party within the new democratic dispensation. Deputy President de Klerk and Minister R F Botha responded, thanking the President and their Cabinet colleagues for the warm and constructive relationships established in the course of working together in the Government of National Unity.
In the main the meeting considered reports from the three Cabinet Committees. The Cabinet received reports on -
1. Exploitation of living Marine Resources in the Exclusive Fishing Zone of South Africa
The Cabinet was informed that the Fisheries Policy Development Committee had formulated a draft Fisheries Policy, noted that the key challenge to have emerged from its work is how to broaden the access rights to exploit the marine life in the country's exclusive fishing zone and accordingly approved that a representative 3 to 4 person panel be established to advise the Government on future modes of access to exploit living marine resources.
2. Process Followed in Disposing of Regional Radio Stations
The Cabinet received a report on the process followed by the SABC in disposing of its six regional radio stations, noted the progress made in the process and that a clear proposal would be submitted by the Department on what the proceeds from the sale would be utilised for and approved to let the Independent Broadcasting Authority decide on the successful bidders and the issuing of the licenses.
3. Channel Africa
The Cabinet received a report on Channel Africa and approved its restructuring and continued operation as an external service to SABC.