Statement on Cabinet meeting of 19 February 2003

19 February 2003

At its meeting today, Cabinet noted a report on the initiatives to improve service delivery in line with the objectives of the White Paper on Transforming Public Service Delivery. The meeting agreed that all Departments would publish, in their Annual Reports, service delivery standards and the extent to which these have been met.

Cabinet in principle approved the submission to Parliament of the UN Convention against Trans-national Organised Crime and its Protocols, as well as the ratification of the SADC Protocol on Fisheries. The meeting also approved the Financial and Fiscal Commission Amendment Bill on the composition of the FFC, which is being released for public comment.

The meeting agreed that South Africa should prepare an Expression of Interest to host the new generation of radio telescopes, which would include radio detectors to observe radio signals from space. In the meantime, the Department of Science and Technology will continue with various investigations regarding impact assessment and any cost implications.

Cabinet approved the National Language Policy Framework which takes into account provisions of the Constitution on multilingualism. The Framework will lay the basis for a SA Languages Bill which is being finalised.

The meeting received a recommendation from the Inspecting Judge of Prisons and the National Prosecuting Authority on the ceiling for admission of guilt fines in accordance with some provisions of the Criminal Procedure Act. Taking into account a combination of factors, including inflation since the Act became operational, trends in fines imposed by the courts, overburdened court rolls and the number of awaiting trial prisoners, Cabinet agreed that the amount in relevant applications of the Act should be increased from R1 500 to R5 000.

The following appointments were approved:
 

• One DDG each in the Departments of Trade and Industry and Justice and Constitutional Development; and
• Non-executive Directors of the SA Post Office.

Acting President Jacob Zuma expressed his appreciation on behalf of Cabinet of the contribution that Minister Sankie Mthembi-Mahanyele has made to the work of the Executive in the past 8 years - this being her last meeting before she takes up her position as full-time Deputy Secretary-General of the ANC.

Enquiries
Joel Netshitenzhe
Cell: 082 900 0083

Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS)

top