Title: Statement on the Cabinet meeting held on 20 April 2011 1.1 Cabinet has once again called on all South Africans to observe April as Freedom Month under the theme Working together to Unite the nation, Promote democracy and Protect our freedom. This month is also an opportunity for all cultural communities to display and celebrate our national diversity.
1.2 It is against this background that as we mourn the unfortunate circumstances around the passing away of Mr Andries Tatane and Constable Fihliwe Bengeza that Cabinet urges all South Africans to remain calm and let the law take its course. Cabinet sends its condolences to the bereaved families.
Cabinet also calls on all men and women in the police service to continue to remain true and faithful to their oath and responsibility to fight crime and corruption to carry on courageously, and without fear and favour to reach their goal of ensuring that all South Africans, feel and are safe thus protecting the nation. The various arms catches and drug busts continue to provide tangible evidence that our men and women in uniform are working hard.
1.4 Cabinet expressed its full support for the National Orders. These are the highest awards that a country through its President, bestows on its citizens and eminent foreign nationals. The National Orders Awards takes place on Freedom Day to mark the contribution and selflessness that the bestowed citizens have made to our country.
1.5 Cabinet has raised serious concern regarding death on our roads especially alcohol related accidents and is calling on the nation during this Easter period not to drink and drive, to take regular rest along the long journeys, adhere to the speed limits and all other regulatory signs on the roads.
2.1 Cabinet has approved that the South African Defence Force should fine-tune its strategy to protect our waters from piracy. Being a littoral country, South Africa needs to have a balanced naval capability to effectively respond to maritime security threats affecting South Africa. Cabinet noted the incursion of maritime crime into our waters, which might affect our trade routes through the seas.
2.2 Cabinet has endorsed the decision by the Department of Minerals to invoke a moratorium on licenses in the Karoo where fracking is proposed. The Department of Minerals will lead a multi disciplinary team including the Departments of Trade & Industry, Science and Technology, amongst others, to fully research the full implications of the proposed fracking. Cabinet has made it very clear that clean environment together with all the ecological aspects will not be compromised.
2.3 Cabinet noted the resolutions of the President's Coordinating Council which sought to bring greater integration between national provincial and local government departments across all 9 provinces. All Premiers were encouraged to share best practice and ensure that service delivery is a reality on the ground. South Africa is a unitary state under the able leadership of President Zuma.
2.4 Government places high priority on issues of Climate Change. In this regard, Cabinet noted the report from Cancun COP16/CMP6 and South Africa's preparations for hosting the COP17/CMP7 in Durban as it relates to (a) international strategy towards a Durban outcome linked to COP presidency programme and (b) the national delegation preparatory programme.
2.5 In contributing to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, Cabinet approved the signing of the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their utilisation at the convention on biological diversity signing ceremony in New York on 11 May 2011 (United Nation Headquarters). South Africa is the third most biologically diverse country in the world after Indonesia and Brazil. These countries harbor the majority of the earth's species and collectively contain more than two-thirds of global biodiversity. Therefore South Africa attaches great importance to the Nagoya Protocol.
2.6 Cabinet noted progress made on the Hondeklip Bay abalone demonstrator and plans to expand the demonstrator into a commercial venture with public and private sector investment. Cabinet also noted the establishment of the abalone hatcheries in Hondeklip Bay and Hawston. The department of Health will participate in the project with a view to investigating the health related benefits and potential effects on human health. Crime related activities and illegal harvesting along the abalone industry will be closely monitored.
2.7 In taking its position internationally in terms of the space sector, Cabinet approved that the Ministers of Science and Technology and of Trade and Industry further consult on the hosting the 62nd International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2011) on 3 to 7 October 2011. The IAC is the world's premier meeting of space industry companies and space professionals which is normally attended by over 3500 conference participants and exhibitors and is held annually. This is the "FIFA CUP" of space meetings and will be attended by heads and top executives of the world's leading space agencies.
2.8 In providing a platform for South Africa to position itself internationally, the department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) will host the sixth session of the Food and Agriculture Organisation's (FAO's) sub-committee on Aquaculture in 2012. A growing aquaculture industry will provide additional economic activity linked to the sea food industry. Hosting this session in South Africa will promote the sector and enhance investment by the private sector and donors into the country and will contribute towards fast tracking the development and transformation of the aquaculture sector in South Africa and the rest of the continent.
2.9 Leading to the Youth Month in June, Cabinet noted the introduction of the National Rural Youth Service Corps (NARYSEC) programme by the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform. The main goal of NARYSEC is to enroll and develop youth to be paraprofessionals who will be trained to work in their own communities and municipalities leading to creation of employment opportunities and enterprises in the medium to long term.
2.10 In accelerating Government Land Reform Programme, Cabinet noted the introduction of the land reform recapitalisation and development programme by the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform and approved that the Departments of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and Rural Development and Land Reform collaborate on this initiative and agrees that pilot sites be identified with a view to further extending them at an appropriate time; and agree that the cluster further discusses a mechanism for extending potential aid for graduating farmers.
2.11 Cabinet noted the report by the Ministerial task team on the audit of certain categories of inmates from 1 February to 31 December 2010. This will contribute to the reform of the criminal justice system by addressing problems associated with the overcrowding of correctional centres and the treatment of vulnerable groups.
3.1 Cabinet welcomed the enthusiastic participation of South Africa in the BRIC Bloc. This participation is seen as a major milestone in asserting South Africa as a serious player in the global economic landscape.
3.2 Cabinet noted the participation of a select Cabinet Ministers in the forthcoming World Economic Forum Africa 4-6 May 2011 in Cape Town.
3.4 Cote d'Ivoire - South Africa encourages people of Cote d'Ivoire to peacefully resolve their presidential matters.
3.5 Libya - South Africa is concerned about the continued loss of human lives in Libya and once again calls for cessation of hostilities from all sides and is in full support of the AU statement that seeks to restore peace.
3.6 Nigeria - The South African Government extends its sincere congratulations to President elect, Goodluck Jonathan and wishes to reaffirm its desire to further enhance its strong relations with his Government.
4.1 Municipal property rates amendment bill, 2011. This Bill is meant to provide the regulation of the power of the Municipality to impose rates on property and to provide for fair and equitable evaluation methods.
4.2 The publication of the South African Weather Service Amendment Bill, 2011.
The amended Bill provides for further objectives and functions for the South African Weather Service pertaining to the ambient air quality information service. It further aligns the provisions pertaining to the Weather Services Board with the PFMA and the National Environment Management Air Quality Act, 2004.
4.3 The publication of the Geomatics Profession Bill, 2011. This Bill seeks to provide a mechanism to accelerate the transformation of the surveying profession in a meaningful manner which would serve the interests of both the profession and the public.
4.4 Member's Ethics Amendment Bill, 2011. This Bill will be published in the Gazette and made available for public consultation on the Departments website.
The implementation of the Bill will provide critical support to a number of noble objectives of the government especially spatial economic, human settlement, rural development and economic and job creation programmes.
4.6 Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act 1995. The regulation relating to assistance to truth and reconciliation (TRC) victims in respect of basic and higher education be published in the government gazette for public comment.
4.7 Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act 1995. The draft regulations relating to medical benefits for victims be published in the government gazette for public comment following the TRC process.
Following the call by the President of the Republic, Mr Jacob Zuma that Ministers fill vacancies, Cabinet is pleased to report the appointment of four Directors-General and three Deputy Directors-General. These senior officials in turn have an immediate task to ensure that their departments fill other vacancies as soon as possible.
5.6 Mr Sipho Reginald Zikode was appointed Deputy Director-General: Empowerment and Enterprise Development in the Department of Trade and Industry.
5.7 Mr Ronnie Mamoepa was appointed Deputy Director-General: Head of Communication at the Department of Home Affairs.
Cabinet wishes all the new appointees good innings and Cabinet pledges its full support as they carry out their respective strategic mandates.