At its meeting today (31March 1999), Cabinet hosted representatives of the National Party, Freedom Front, Democratic Party and African Christian Democratic Party to examine their complaints regarding information disseminated by the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS). The parties passed on apologies from the President of the PAC but assured the meeting that he fully supported what they were going to raise.
Having listened to the presentation by these parties (which have been made public), Cabinet reiterated the mandate of GCIS to inform the public about government activities, in line with the Constitution and government policy. It was emphasised that what GCIS had disseminated was based on the pronouncements of the President and Cabinet members; and that the parties had not identified anything that was false in this material. Cabinet also emphasised that the leadership of the GCIS was appointed in an open and transparent process, in line with the Constitution and the Public Service Act.
It was noted that it was inherent in the nature of the relationship between Government and Opposition Parties that there would be a contest about Government policy and pronouncements. The duty of the Opposition defined by itself is to oppose Government; but this should not be conducted in such a way as to challenge the right and obligation of government to communicate directly with the public.
The meeting also noted that during a formal election period, it may well be necessary to introduce regulations regarding the pronouncements and activities of all institutions, including GCIS. This matter needed to be handled by the IEC, the IBA and Party Liaison Committees.
While noting the apologies of the Leaders of the political parties, who had themselves asked for a meeting with the Deputy President, Cabinet welcomed the exchange of views, as part of the process of consolidating our democracy.
The meeting also received a report from the Presidential Inauguration Committee and agreed on the dates for the convening of the new Parliament (14 June 1999), the inauguration of the new President and a farewell function for outgoing President Nelson Mandela (16 June 1999).
Cabinet agreed in principle to the recommendation from the Ministry of Finance, the Reserve Bank and the Y2K Centre that 31 December 1999 and 2 January 2000 should be declared public holidays to allow four non-working days for Y2K system testing, and ensure that the country suffers the minimum possible level of disruption over this transition period.
The meeting considered the report of the bid by SAFA to host the Soccer World Cup in 2006, and it expressed satisfaction with the progress made thus far. The meeting agreed to appoint a Cabinet Subcommittee and an interdepartmental committee of relevant officials to oversee and assist the process.
Cabinet approved the South African Country Report to be submitted to the Seventh UN Commission on Sustainable Development. It also approved for submission to Parliament the UNESCO Convention Against Discrimination in Education. The meeting also noted the amendments to the White Paper of International Migration, which will be released by the Minister of Home Affairs tomorrow.
Cabinet accepted as a viable option, the electronic monitoring system for certain categories of offenders, particularly probationers and parolees.
The meeting approved the appointment of senior government representatives to serve on the South African Millennium Trust, proceeding from the premise that any such initiatives should be inclusive of all South Africans. Within government, this matter is being handled as part of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on the African Renaissance.
Cabinet approved for submission to Parliament the Limitation of Legal Proceedings against Government Institutions Bill, which seeks to provide for uniform provisions regulating the institution of action against government institutions.
Cabinet also made a number of appointments, including the Chief Land Claims Commissioner, Advocate WA Mgobi; the new Eastern Cape Commissioner of Correctional Services, and Board Members of "State Theatres" in Gauteng, Kwa-Zulu-Natal, Free State and Western Cape; the National Video Foundation; and Councils of a number of Museums.
31 March 1999
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