The South African Government wishes to commend the leaders and the supporters of all the protest marches that took place today for the disciplined way in which they conducted themselves.
We are pleased to report that there were no reported incidents of criminal behaviour during the various marches.
The manner in which the marches were conducted and the atmosphere that prevailed, allowed people to express themselves freely and without fear.
President Mbeki has appointed the nine-member Board which will govern the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA), ushering in a new dawn for media development and diversity initiatives in South Africa, especially for the community and small commercial media sector.
The nine members of the Board are:
Thousands of Atlantis residents are expected to flock to the Multi-purpose Community Centre (MPCC) in Sherwood Park for the official launch of the centre by the Provincial Minister of Social Services and Poverty Alleviation, Marius Fransman.
The events leading to the Inaugural Summit of the African Union (AU) in Durban commences with ambassadors and ministerial meetings on Friday 28 June. The Assembly of Heads of States will commence from 8 July.
All government communicators will for the first time have the opportunity to be publicly recognised for a job well done.
In July 2000, the Minister in the Presidency and political head of the GCIS, Dr Essop Pahad, tasked the GCIS to explore ways in which an award mechanism could be introduced to recognise improved delivery, innovation and excellence in government communication.
The proposal for the creation of the Presidential Press Corps was formalised at the Indaba between editors and senior journalists under the umbrella of the South African National Editors Forum (SANEF) and Cabinet in May 2001.
The public hearings on the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) Bill mark a critical stage on the path towards an agency that will help ensure that the constitutional rights of freedom of expression and information are enjoyed in practice by all South Africans.
In his remarks at the closing of the debate on the State of the Nation Address in Parliament yesterday, 14 February 2002, President Thabo Mbeki indicated that the process of examining the overall social security system is continuing. In his own words:
"We will also focus on the issue of the completion of the work concerned with the consideration of a Comprehensive Social Security System."
Draft legislation for the establishment of a Media Development and Diversity agency was today introduced in Parliament by the Minister in the Presidency.
The public is invited to submit comment on the draft legislation to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications by 27 February. The Portfolio Committee will be holding public hearings on the bill.
In response to media enquiries regarding proposals that have been publicly made for investigations into the causes of the depreciation of the Rand, we wish to make clear that government has received a variety of proposals from citizens on this subject. We will weigh them all on their merits through the relevant authorities to determine what action if any should be taken in addition to what is already being undertaken. If and when necessary a public statement will be issued.
