Issued by: Office of the President
PRESS STATEMENT: CABINET MEETING: 9 OCTOBER 1996
The Cabinet held its first meeting since the start of the final parliamentary session for 1996 in Tuynhuys, Cape Town, this morning. The meeting was chaired by the Executive Deputy President.
The meeting, in the main, considered reports from the Cabinet Committees for Economic Affairs and for Social and Administrative Affairs.
The Cabinet received a report on the progress made by the Department of Public Works in the formulation of policy and the development of guidelines on a new asset procurement and operating partnerships (APOP's). The approach marks a shift from asset ownership to the purchase of the services from the private sector. The Cabinet approved the broad framework for the APOP's and the identification and implementation of a maximum of 6 pilot projects under the APOP's program.
The Cabinet was briefed that the national Urban Reconstruction and Housing Agency (NURCHA), a section 21 company, has approved finance guarantees to 13 projects valued at R14.2 million. On completion these projects will result in the construction of 6 600 housing units with a total value of R88 million.
The Cabinet received a report from the Department of Home Affairs regarding the number of public holidays and approved that the current arrangements in regards to public holidays be continued.
The Cabinet was informed that a total of 80 113 applications were received from Southern African Development Community (SADC) member state citizens requesting an exemption in terms of section 28(2) of the Aliens Control Act, 1991 from the provision of section 23(a) of the Act.
The Cabinet approved that the deadline date for the lodging of applications for the said exemption be extended from 30 September 1996 to 29 November 1996.
The Cabinet approved the submission to Parliament to obtain - a) ratification of the following instruments adopted by the 1994 Congress of the Universal Postal Union (UPU)
The Cabinet was informed that there was a significant buildup of criminal cases in the Eastern Cape Division in the Supreme Court and that the Division had lost a judge to the Labour Court and accordingly approved that the Eastern Cape division of the Supreme Court be extended by two judges from 2 January 1997.
The Cabinet approved several bills and a white paper for submission to Parliament. These are listed in the accompanying annexure.
Further information on these matters is available from the relevant Ministries and Departments.
Secretary of the Cabinet 9 October 1996
ANNEXURE
BILLS AND WHITE PAPER APPROVED BY THE CABINET FOR SUBMISSION TO PARLIAMENT:
1. Public Accountants and Auditors Bill, 1996 (Department of Finance).
2. Further Regulation of Local Government Bill, 1996 (Department of Constitutional Development).
3. White Paper on Social Welfare (Department of Welfare).
4. The Arms and Ammunition Amendment Bill, 1996 (Ministry for Safety and Security).