Cabinet meeting of 4 March 2009

Briefing

04 Mar 2009

Government spokesperson, Mr Themba Maseko, reported on an ordinary Cabinet meeting held that morning.

Cabinet condemned the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore, Pakistan. The government rejected the targeting of sports teams, who could be viewed as ambassadors for all who appreciated sport.

The meeting had received a report on aid to Zimbabwe in terms of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Zimbabwean Development Assistance Framework. This framework had been assembled following a visit to Zimbabwe by an interdepartmental task team led by Reverend Chikane. The framework provided for the establishment of multi-stakeholder structures to ensure non-partisanship. These included United Nations agencies, government representatives, religious communities, farmers unions and SADC.

Cabinet was satisfied that aid had been distributed in compliance with the framework. South African aid had been received by targeted ordinary Zimbabweans. The meeting noted that some media reports were apparently confusing SADC aid with that provided to farmers by the Zimbabwean government.

The meeting welcomed the news that sale of tickets for the 2010 FIFA World Cup was proceeding well. However, Cabinet shared a concern that South Africans were not purchasing tickets. Extra measures would have to be put in place jointly with the Local Organising Committee to ensure that the Confederations Cup and the World Cup finals were marketed to South Africans.

The report on the establishment of the Education and Development Unit in the Department of Education had been received and noted.

The Inter-governmental protocol for the provision of support to the Eastern Cape Department of Education had been approved. The protocol would provide the legal basis for the Department of Education to provide technical and administrative support to the provincial department of education.

Minutes

Q: A journalist asked if energy questions had been discussed, specifically Eskom tariffs. Was the question of possible massive tariff hikes discussed? Were the extra two power stations, and the integration of regional electrical supplies, discussed?

A: Mr Maseko responded that those issues had not been on the agenda that morning. Eskom would submit a tariff application within the following ten days, at which time such matters would be discussed.

Q: A journalist referred to radio reports that morning to the effect that a FIFA official had travelled extensively in a host city, without seeing a Confederation Cup advertisement. Were the host cities doing their jobs?

A: Mr Maseko agreed that the tournament could be marketed more energetically. A meeting with the Local Organising Committee was scheduled for within the following two weeks. Mr Maseko thought that the LOC was not investing enough money in the marketing of the two tournaments. The LOC marketing subcommittee had to be encouraged to prioritise marketing.

Q: A journalist wondered if it was perhaps the LOC that was not doing its job properly.

A: Mr Maseko replied that the LOC, the host cities and the government could all come up with better performances.

Q: A journalist asked for assurance that the report on the establishment of the Education Evaluation and Development Unit would receive proper attention.

A: Mr Maseko responded that a working group had been assembled and task teams were investigating the proposals.

Q: A journalist enquired about the R300 million sent by South Africa for assistance to Zimbabwe.
Would the funds be employed for agricultural assistance?

A: Mr Maseko replied that it would indeed be employed for that purpose.

Q: A journalist sought assurance that every measure would be employed to prevent South African sport teams from suffering attacks similar to the Sri Lankan team.

A: Mr Maseko answered that all cricket boards had applied the brakes on tours to Pakistan. If and when trips were resumed, the security situation would be scrutinised intensively.

Q: A journalist asked if the government response to the economic situation, included consideration of a substantial grant to the automobile industry.

A: Mr Maseko replied that he was not aware of a bailout plan for the automobile industry. The automobile industry was due to meet with the Minister of Trade and Industry, but generally the government was in favour of a holistic response.

Q: A journalist asked if extra measures were contemplated to promote FIFA world cup marketing.

A: Mr Maseko responded that campaigns were afoot to market the tournaments to South Africans, but that more money was needed. Not even the primary sponsors were doing enough. Coke would start putting messages on cans in the near future. But additional resources were needed. Not only money, but also planning and co-ordination were required.

Q: An editor remarked that the morning’s meeting seemed to have been remarkably short. Were the media being told all?

A: Mr Maseko replied that it had in fact been a normal cabinet meeting. There had been discussion of transitional measures geared towards transition to new government, about which more would be said in future. He conceded that it was still viewed as in-house matters. Aid to Zimbabwe had been discussed extensively. Another meeting would be held with Reverend Chikane.

The media briefing was concluded.

Statement on the Cabinet meeting
4 March 2009

Cabinet held its ordinary meeting in Pretoria this morning, 4 March 2009.
Cabinet condemns the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore, Pakistan. No objective, political or otherwise, could ever justify the barbaric attack on innocent sportspeople who were in Pakistan to represent their country and its people. This government rejects, in no uncertain terms, the targeting of sports teams as they serve the important role of being ambassadors for all sports loving citizens of the world.

The meeting received a report on the aid that was provided to Zimbabwe in terms of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Zimbabwean Humanitarian Development Assistance Framework. This framework was put in place following the visit to Zimbabwe by an interdepartmental task team that was led by Reverend Chikane. This framework provided for the establishment of multi-stakeholder structures to ensure that the aid was provided in a non-partisan way. The stakeholders represented in the structures included United Nations agencies, government representatives, religious community, farmers unions and SADC. These structures were monitored by and reported to the SADC ambassadors.


Cabinet was pleased to note that all reports indicated that the aid was distributed in full compliance of the SADC framework. An interdepartmental task team that visited Zimbabwe over the past two weeks has also found that there was compliance with the SADC framework. We are therefore satisfied that the South African aid was received by the targeted ordinary Zimbabweans. The meeting noted that some media reports appeared to be confusing the SADC aid and the aid that was provided to farmers by the Zimbabwean government.

The meeting welcomed the positive news that the sale of tickets for the 2010 FIFA World Cup was proceeding well. However, Cabinet shares the concern that South Africans were not purchasing the tickets. Extra measures will have to be put in place jointly with the Local Organising Committee to ensure that the Confederations Cup and the World Cup finals are marketed to South Africans.

The report on the establishment of the Education Evaluation and Development Unit in the Department of Education was received and noted. The report will be published for public comment before the matter is finalised.

The Inter-governmental protocol for the provision of support to the Eastern Cape Department of Education was approved. This protocol will provide the legal basis for the National Department of Education to provide technical and administrative support to the provincial department of education, including clarification of roles and responsibilities between the two departments.

The meeting noted that the 13th Awards ceremony for the National Orders will
take place on 27 March 2009, at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
The following appointments were approved:
* Mr D van Schalkwyk was appointed as the Chief Operating Officer in the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism.
* The employment contract of DR RM Adam, the Chief Executive Officer of the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation, was extended for a period of three years.
* The employment contract of Mr A Zaloumis, the Chief Executive Officer of the Isimangaliso Wetland Park Authority, was extended for a three year period.
* The following were appointed to the South African Tourism Board for a period of three years; Mr J Mabuza (Chairperson); Mr F Kilbourn (Deputy Chairperson), Ms T Makgabo, Dr I Abedian, Mr B Dungan, Mr Z Mntambo, Ms S Mzimela, Ms A Malan, Ms Y Johnson, Mr M Lutzeyer, Mr M Mosola, Chairperson of the Tourism Grading Council (ex officio) and the Chairperson of Tourism Empowerment Council of South Africa (ex officio).
* The following were appointed as members of the Board of South African National Parks (Sanparks): Mr K Dlamini (Chairperson); Dr G Dry, Mr M Diemont, Ms B Kunene, Prof G Kerley, Mr T Mabilane, Dr D Mabunda, Mr F Mketeni, Ms S Rensburg Prof G Swan, Mr J Vilakazi and Prof W Van Riet.


Audio

No related

Documents

No related documents