[ Home ] [ Speeches & statements ]

The Cabinet held its regular fortnightly meeting in Tuynhuys today, considering the main reports from the three Cabinet Committees. It also received a detailed briefing on South Africa's bid for the 2004 Olympic Games. The Cabinet decision in this regard had already been dealt with in a separate press conference chaired by the Minister of Sport and Recreation. The Cabinet decisions on the other matters are tabulated below.

1. GROOTVLEI PROPRIETARY MINE: DISCHARGE OF MINE WATER INTO THE BLESBOKSPRUIT

The Cabinet noted that the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry had agreed to issue a temporary permit to the Grootvlei Mine to pump mine water via temporary settling ponds into the Blesbokspruit. The permit would be valid until the end of September 1996, by which date permanent settling facilities should be in place.

The Cabinet recommended to the Treasury Committee that it approves an additional R8,5 million allocation for the Department of Mineral and Energy Affairs to be utilised towards the operating costs of settling facilities (incurred both with the temporary and permanent settling and mud handling facility) at Grootvlei Mine.

Some of the issues that the Cabinet took into consideration in arriving at this decision were:

the need to protect 6500 jobs;

the estimated annual turnover of R250 million of the mines in the vicinity:

the fact that about 250 000 people are directly dependent on incomes generated by the mining and related activities.

2. WHITE PAPER: THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTION OF TOURISM IN SOUTH AFRICA

The Cabinet concurred with the policy proposals contained in the White Paper and approved that it be tabled in Parliament.

3. MEMBERSHIP OF THE AFRICAN REGIONAL LABOUR ADMINISTRATION CENTRE (ARLAC)

The Cabinet approved South Africa's accession to membership of ARLAC.

4. ADMINISTRATION OF LOTTERIES AND GAMBLING LEGISLATION AND RELATED POLICIES

The Cabinet approved the assignment of lotteries and gambling legislation and regulations to the Department of Trade and Industries. The necessary budgetary planning and staffing for the implementation of policy and legislation would be managed by the Department of Trade and Industry in consultation with the Department of Constitutional Development.

5. CONSTITUTIONAL COURT CERTIFICATION OF KWAZULU/NATAL PROVINCIAL CONSTITUTION

Cabinet noted that there may be some clauses in the KwaZulu/Natal constitution adopted by the KwaZulu/Natal Provincial Legislature and currently before the Constitutional Court awaiting certification, which might be inconsistent with the Constitution, and approved that -

(a) the Ministry for Provincial Affairs and Constitutional Development submit the legal opinions of the GNU to all parties that were involved in the drafting of the said constitution; and

(b) The Constitutional Court be informed of the willingness of the GNU to assist with the process of the certification of the said constitution.

6. CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL DEFENCE FORCE IN THE UPHOLDING OF LAW AND ORDER IN CO-OPERATION WITH THE SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE

The Cabinet noted that the SANDF was currently employed in the upholding of law and order in co-operation with the SAPS, and was rendering this service within the entire geographic area of the Republic and that the President had decided to re-evaluate the continued necessity for such employment from 18 June 1996.

The Cabinet recommended to the President the re-employment of the SANDF with effect from 19 June 1996, for the rendering of service in the upholding of law and order in co-operation with the SAPS, as envisaged in the Constitution. This service would be rendered in all 9 provinces and the employment would run concurrently with the development, implementation and execution of the National Crime Prevention Strategy (NCPS).

7. LEGISLATION APPROVED FOR SUBMISSION TO PARLIAMENT

A number of Bills were submitted to the Cabinet, seeking its approval for submission of the Bills to Parliament. The Cabinet approved that the following Bills be submitted to Parliament in the current session:

Draft Environment Conservation Extension Bill

Aviation Laws General Amendment Bill

Labour Relations Amendment Bill

The Abolition of Corporal Punishment Bill

Divorce Courts Amendment Bill

Criminal Law Amendment Bill Note: The National Party requested that the Cabinet note that it favoured the re-imposition of the death sentence.

Dental Technician Amendment Bill

Nursing Amendment Bill

Labour Relations Amendment Bill.

8. APPOINTMENTS

The Cabinet approved the appointment of -

2 persons to the Board of Denel;

an additional person to the committee looking into the Future of Robben Island. Note: A vacancy in the committee arose from the resignation of Advocate Dikgang Moseneke.

Further information is available from or will be released by the relevant Ministries.

Secretary of the Cabinet

4 June 1996

Issued by: Office of the President

<EOD>