Issued by GCIS
26 July 2001
Introduction:
1. Cabinet held its second lekgotla for the year on 23-25 July 2001. The mid-year meeting was aimed at reviewing the implementation of the programme government announced at the beginning of the year.
2. Relevant Ministers from the various Cabinet Clusters will brief the public about details of the outcome of the lekgotla during the coming week. However, we felt that it would be necessary to give the public an overall sense of the progress we are making, the constraints and the plans to speed up the process of implementation.
General observations:
3. A number of colleagues have observed that the lekgotla was characterised by the most purposeful and enthusiastic discussion ever. This is in part reflected by the fact that having dedicated two full days for the discussions, we only finished the lekgotla and Cabinet agenda at mid-night on Wednesday.
4. The spirit in the discussions derives in the main from an appreciation that we are making real progress in harnessing the capacities of the state to make an even greater impact on the transformation of society. What made the discussions even more meaningful is that the programme we set out for the year had concrete plans and time frames for their implementation.
5. As you will know, the meeting took place against the backdrop of a major achievement for Africa and the developing world, reflected in the acceptance of the Millennium Africa Recovery Programme by the G8 countries of the North, and their commitment to work with us practically to implement the proposals made to build a better life on the continent. Preparations are under way for the WTO negotiations and other global events including the UN Conference against Racism, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance. What is most striking is that South Africa is viewed in all these and other initiatives as being among the most critical global players.
6. Within our own country, as reflected, among others, in the statistics on human development released yesterday, we continue to make steady but sure progress to improve the quality of life of South Africans, especially the poor. Despite the difficulties experienced by the global economy, South Africa continues to hold steady in respect of the major indicators. And all indications are that we are making a telling impact on the problem of crime.
7. In the overall, we can say with confidence that we are truly on course.
Governance and Administration:
8. One of the major challenges we face in this area is the strengthening of local government, and ensuring that this sphere starts its operations in earnest. Of the 284 local government structures, 249 have submitted their Integrated Development Plans; and we have decided to speed up the finalisation and operationalisation of these plans.
9. This, among others, will ensure better service to the people, and the redistribution of resources required to develop disadvantaged areas. On the part of national government, we will strengthen the DPLG for it to fulfil its mandate to exercise oversight on the implementation of these programmes. Further work is being done to find better distribution of resources to this sphere.
10. There was much reflection on the issue of the Batho Pele spirit among public servants – for us to ensure that our description of ourselves as a caring government finds concrete expression in the day-to-day interactions between public servants and the public.
11. There was self-criticism of the speed with which plans are turned into actual practical projects. It was emphasised that the process of restructuring the public service, including integrated planning and implementation should be felt and seen at middle management level. The improvements we seek, directed at better public service, should also take into account the work load on many professionals in the public service – underlining the need to augment the numbers where needed, and to improve service conditions where resources allow.
12. Better integration and co-ordination also demands greater effectiveness in the Presidency and among executive and administrative structures tasked with this responsibility. Further discussions are being held on this matter, and any decisions to be taken in this regard will be made public. The meeting also adopted the Planning Framework for Government, which helps to synchronise strategic and policy processes with the budget cycle.
13. A number of steps have been taken to take the fight against corruption to higher levels. The formation of the country’s Anti-Corruption Forum is one such instance, reflecting cross-sectoral partnership. Ensuring better co-ordination and effectiveness in the work of all of government’s anti-corruption agencies is among the urgent issues to be followed up.
14. Willie Hofmeyer has been appointed to head the Special Investigation Unit in the National Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
15. Cabinet has also decided that we should examine ways of tightening up on regulations dealing with the probity of officials involved especially in the negotiation of large contracts – without being too intrusive. This is to ensure, among others, the protection of these officials in that there should be no uncertain areas that can be misused to question government’s commitment to the fight against corruption. Further, discussion has started on devising guidelines that would give clarity to the issue of conventions that should apply to office-bearers when they live public office.
Social Sector:
16. Programmes with regard to the social sector are proceeding apace: housing, electricity connections, health, education, community water projects, telephone connections, infrastructure and so on. These will be intensified in various parts of the country and also in the context of the Urban Renewal and Rural Development Programmes.
17. Some emphasis in discussion was placed on the issue of the sanitation programme. The work that has started in KwaZulu/Natal, prioritised due to the incidence of cholera, shows that progress can be made speedily with better application. This applies both to government and communities alike – improvements in this and other areas require active participation by communities, not merely “government delivery”.
18. On reviewing the anti-HIV/AIDS programme and the implementation of health policy in general, it was noted that welcome progress was being made on all fronts. With regard to new initiatives, the lessons that are being gained in the implementation of home-based care for those adversely affected by HIV/AIDS put us in good stead to introduce the necessary improvements in the future.
19. The housing programme has resulted in more than 5-million South Africans housed directly by government in the past 7 years. The backlog remains large, and the resources not ideal. In addition, to the programmes under way, further work is being done to finalise such matters as certainty on quality of the houses; medium-density development and rental housing; as well as spatial planning in urban areas that allows for better management of relief while people are on waiting lists. Such programmes will have to take into account the holistic question of migration patterns and concrete needs among the poor, in both urban and rural areas.
20. It was further agreed that the programme for land restitution and redistribution should be speeded up.
Integrated Programmes:
21. Cabinet is satisfied that the detailed plans for Rural Development in the 13 nodes selected are being implemented with great professionalism. Various projects have been launched in these areas; and we are holding discussions at national level to further improve the system of allocation of resources to these projects. 17 nodes will be added to these later in the year.
22. The integrated urban renewal programme has seen the launch of the Alexandra project; and the seven other areas have used this experience to complete their project proposals which should be placed before Cabinet in the next few weeks. The content of these proposals will include further improving the capacity of the police and the justice system.
23. On Human Resources Development, it was noted that the programme was being implemented in line with the plans laid out at the beginning of the year, including the setting up of the majority of sector education and training structures. What was also welcome is the improvement in the indicators in this area, including the Human Development Index, Gini co-efficient and the World Competitiveness Ranking.
24. In addition to progress in the area of learnerships and attention to scarce skills, discussion was held on how to ensure that the National Student Financial Aid Scheme reaches the widest spectrum of eligible students, particularly the poorest of the poor. This includes mass communication and mechanisms that will allow students to be aware of, and have the possibility of accessing, such resources prior to registration at tertiary institutions.
Justice and Crime Prevention:
25. The Meeting noted the progress being made in reviewing the intelligence capacity of the security agencies to improve particularly our fight against crime. Combined with the improvement of the court processes, this is making an even greater impact on combating crime in virtually all categories. The meeting was informed that statistics on crime will be released in September: and the experience gained in improving the gathering and processing of these statistics will help guide future approaches with regard to regularity of such releases.
26. Matters pertaining to the continuing transformation of the judiciary were reflected upon, and a comprehensive review will be gone into early next year. This includes issues of sentencing policy; and all these matters will be dealt with on the basis of consultations with the judiciary.
27. It was decided to set up a Commission of Inquiry into the situation in Correctional Services in KwaZulu/Natal. This is with the aim of rooting out corrupt and other unsavoury elements from the ranks of the Service in this province. Note was also made of the progress in investigating the incident of the murder of the Provincial Commissioner a few weeks ago.
Economy, Investment and Employment:
28. Review of macro-economic indicators and forecasts reinforced our confidence that the economy is on a sound footing. This applies to such issues as inflation, the interest rate and net forward open position.
29. Progress has been registered in all the sectors that have been identified for special attention in order to speed up the rate of investment and employment: agriculture, mining, manufacture, information and communications technology and so on. The same applies to areas of infrastructure such as energy and transport, including roads, seaports, taxi reform process and airports.
30. Further, welcome progress is being made in the area of IDZ’s and the host of incentives decided upon, including the employment subsidy. In virtually all these areas, the targets and time frames are being met; and where there are constraints, these are being attended to.
31. As you are aware, the telecommunications policy is being finalised; and although there have been delays, all efforts are being made to ensure that the Telkom IPO process is completed as soon as possible before the fiscal year.
32. Special attention was paid to the issue of SMME’s and black economic empowerment. The conclusion was reached that this task is not one confined to a specific department (DTI), but should infuse the work of government as a whole. And it is broader than just funding assistance and procurement; but should also entail HRD and co-operation with learning institutions. It is also a matter of culture. It was decided that capacity will be created in the Presidency in order to ensure better supervision of the implementation of this programme.
33. A brief review of the challenge of job creation led to the decision that a special Cabinet discussion will be held, based on a comprehensive report on progress being made in this regard. Related to this is the on-going challenge of improving investor confidence within SA itself and attracting FDI.
International Cluster:
34. Appreciation was expressed of the work done at all levels of government to ensure that SA plays a leading role in the evolution of MAP and in mobilising the international community, particularly the G8 behind the programme. Attached to this achievement are a host of challenges, including the setting up of a dedicated government unit to ensure that the practical projects envisioned in MAP are implemented. We also have to address the challenge of communicating the implications of the formation of the AU to the public, and ensure their involvement in processes that affect them.
35. An observation was made regarding the expectations both within the continent and further afield regarding the role that South Africa has to play in world affairs. Experiences in such initiatives as MAP, negotiations on the Kyoto Agreement, preparations for the next round of WTO negotiations and the UN Conference against Racism bear this out. It is critical therefore that South Africans are fully conscious of this expectation, and as a society set out to play our part in world affairs, in our own interest.
36. Among the main issues that we are paying attention to in this period include MAP and formation of the AU, WTO negotiations, restructuring of SADC and the G8 of the South.
37. All these challenges do raise the critical question of strengthening the capacity of the Department of Foreign Affairs as the lead department in handling these matters. Cabinet has decided that requisite resources, within the constraints we face, will be availed.
Communication matters:
38. The meeting agreed on the need to have a number of multi-media campaigns by government to reach out to citizens with information they require to become part of the transformation process. This would include information products and liaison with the media, especially radio which reaches the overwhelming majority of citizens.
39. Cabinet in principle accepted the recommendations from the Cabinet/SANEF Indaba on improving relations with the media, and it tasked GCIS to ensure implementation.
For further information contact:
Joel Netshitenzhe
082-900-0083