Issued by: Office of the President
CABINET STATEMENT
At is meeting today, 17 March 1999, Cabinet conveyed a message of condolence to Minister Joe Modise on the passing away of his son.
Cabinet reviewed the issue of health facilities and services available to prisoners. It resolved that further work needed to be done on the issue, jointly by the Departments of Correctional Services, Justice, Welfare and Health. This matter should be handled within the context of the jurisprudence of a democratic system, the responsibility of the state towards those in its custody and ensuring that the perception does not take root that prisoners are afforded services better than those available to ordinary law-abiding citizens.
Deputy President Thabo Mbeki briefed Cabinet on the consultations he and Minister Mangosuthu Buthelezi have held with a wide range of Afrikaner organisations and leaders. The matters that have arisen from these discussions are receiving the attention of relevant Cabinet Ministers. The Deputy President and Minister Buthelezi will present their report to Parliament, on behalf of government, on Wednesday 24 March 1999.
Cabinet agreed to make a short-term contract appointment of the Chief Executive Officer of the Road Accident Fund, pending the restructuring of this body. Judge CN Greenland has been so appointed.
The meeting approved South Africa's contribution to the Africa Development Fund (a concessional window of the African Development Bank) amounting to about R17,5-m. The meeting also approved South Africa's contribution to the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency which facilitates foreign investment in developing countries, including South Africa. The increased quota for our country's contribution to the IMF was noted.
Having noted progress with regard to the country's preparedness for the so-called Y2K bug, Cabinet resolved to increase its support for the public awareness campaign of the National Year 2000 Decision Support Centre; to ensure even greater transparency in government on this matter; to liaise with Provincial Governments on their programmes; and to ensure increased dialogue between government and the private sector.
Cabinet approved South Africa's position on the revenue-sharing formula within the SA Customs Union (SACU). It also approved the industrial Development Zone (IDZ's) concept, and sanctioned the drafting of appropriate guidelines in this regard.
The meeting reviewed massive progress made in the programme to supply running water to the majority of South Africans; and reiterated its commitment to the Community Water Supply and Sanitation Programme to deal with the backlog especially in rural areas.
Cabinet approved the White Paper on International Migration, pending discussion of a number of proposals from some Cabinet members with the Minister of Home Affairs. The Paper will be made public in the next few days.
The meeting noted the introduction of Performance Agreements for senior public service managers as well as the Appraisal Report on the Transformation Process in the Service.
Cabinet noted the positive developments emanating from the meeting in Washington between representatives of US and African Governments. While wholeheartedly supporting the proposal for a mechanism to find resources to eliminate the continent's debt burden, Cabinet noted that the actual detail, such as the sale of gold reserves would have to be discussed taking into account the impact it would have on gold-producing countries, including South Africa, Ghana, the DRC, Tanzania and others. Indeed, the impact of any mechanism decided upon should not be to cause new problems.
17 March 1999
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Joel Netshitenzhe
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