STATEMENT ON CABINET MEETING

Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS)

The Cabinet meeting today, 10 June 1998 was briefed about preparations for the Conference on Poverty and Inequality in South Africa, which will be held on Friday, 12 June in Midrand, Gauteng. At the Conference, government will present a comprehensive response to the Report which it received a few weeks ago.

This response is in the main guided by the principles of the RDP, including maintaining macro-economic balances, the obligation to meet social needs, ensuring a safety net to the poor, and job-creation. Cabinet reiterated that this Conference, which will be attended by Ministers and other government representatives, is part of the national efforts to address this social problem. Non-governmental organisations and other stake-holders will attend the Conference; and discussions will help ensure that all initiatives against poverty and inequality are pooled together.

The Cabinet welcomed the agreement reached with the South African Democratic Teachers Union which has averted strike action from which no one, least of all the learners, would have benefited. The meeting expressed the hope that teachers would immediately resume their duties, in the interest of our country's children. It expressed confidence that the agreement, which will also be discussed with other teachers' unions, will usher in an era of even better consultation around education issues.

Cabinet also welcomed the hearings in the TRC on the apartheid regime's chemical and biological weapons programme. The hearing is helping to uncover not only gross human rights violations, but also activities which are part of the root cause of the drugs problem in our country. The government wishes to emphasise that its position on this matter is merely that the hearing should be conducted in such a way that it does not lead to the public airing of information that would result in the proliferation of these weapons. This is government's obligation to the people of our country and humanity as a whole. An agreement in this regard has been reached with the TRC.

On the Jobs Summit, the meeting was informed of the progress that has been made in finalising the government's position. This will be discussed at the next meeting of Cabinet.

Cabinet approved the process of the sale or transfer of designated shares of the Airports Company (ACSA) to employees, management and black investors.

Cabinet approved for submission to Parliament the following Bills:

• Special Pensions Amendment Bill which lowers the age of qualification to 35 years, and that of payment to 50;
• Liquor Bill which deals with new regulations for the industry;
• National Park Amendment Bill which brings the regulations in this sector with the constitution and government policy;
• National Environmental Management Bill which deals with principles of decision-making on matters affecting the environment;
• National Forests Bill which aims at ensuring sustainable management of this resource;
• National Veld and Forest Fires Bill which introduces modern approaches and wider protection to citizens;
• Public Protector Amendment Bill which sets out mechanisms for the appointment of a Deputy Public Protector;
• Domestic Violence Bill which strengthens protection of women and children against abuse;
• National Libraries Bill which proposes the establishment of a National Library and the upgrading of the library for the blind;
• South Africa Geographical Names Bill which will see to the setting up of a Commission representative of the country's population;
• Pan South African Language Board Amendment Bill which seeks to align the country's lexicography (dictionary) with the language of policy in the Constitution;
• Cultural Promotion Amendment Bill which empowers the Minister to promote culture on a national scale, in line with the new Constitution;
• National Heritage Bill which introduces a new system to manage national heritage matters;
• Cultural Institutions Amendment Bill which proposes the restructuring and rationalisation of current museums; and
• Constitutional Amendments pertaining to the powers; functions and structures of local government; as well as the introduction of the principle of cross-border municipalities.

Cabinet also approved a number of Legacy Projects, several of which will be implemented in the next twelve months. These include the Freedom Park Project, Women's Monument, Nelson Mandela Museum, Samora Machel Monument and the commemoration of the centenary of the Anglo-Boer War.

The meeting approved the appointment of the Board of Municipal Accountants. It also appointed Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi as a member of the Minister's Committee on Service Conditions of Political Office-bearers.

10 June 1998

For further information contact: Joel Netshitenzhe 082-900-0083