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The Cabinet held its regular fortnightly meeting in Tuynhuys, Cape Town. The meeting considered in the main the reports from the Cabinet Committees.

The Cabinet approved the establishment of a Co-ordination and implementation Unit in the Office of the Executive Deputy President.

The Cabinet received a report that unemployment represents a major threat to economic growth, development and stability and approved, in line with the recommendation of the Comprehensive Labour Market Commission, the convening of a Presidential Jobs Summit which would bring together the social partners to agree on strategies for employment generation with economic growth. The Presidential Jobs Summit will be held in October.

The Cabinet received the Defence Review Second Report and approved the policy proposals contained in the Review, concerning Defence Posture, Defence Functions, Defence Force Design, Human Resources and Part-time Forces.

The Cabinet received a report on redundant, obsolete, unserviceable and confiscated small arms and ammunition held in stock by the Department of Defence, other government departments and parastatals and approved of their disposal by means of destruction.

The Cabinet received a report on education exchanges between the United States of America and South Africa and approved the establishment of the Fulbright Commission to manage such exchanges.

The Cabinet received a report on the meeting of the Police Chiefs of the 11 member countries of the South African Development Community and approved the signing of the Multi-lateral Co-operation Agreement in the field of combating crime that was negotiated at that meeting.

The Cabinet approved the promotion of Mr JK (Joel) Netshitenzhe, head of Communications in the Office of the President, to the rank of Deputy Director-General.

The Cabinet considered and approved the following White Papers:
- White Paper on Transforming Public Service Delivery
- White Paper on Environmental Management Policy
- White Paper on Conservation and Sustainable Use of South Africa's Biological Diversity

The Cabinet considered a number of Bills and Conventions and approved that the following be submitted to Parliament during the current session. These are:
- Ship Registration Bill, 1997
- Aviation Laws Amendment Bill, 1997
- Framework Convention on Climate Change
- National Parks Amendment Bill, 1997
- South African Passports and Travel Documents Amendment Bill, 1997
- Correctional Services Third Amendment Bill, 1997
- Organised Local Government Bill, 1997
- South African Revenue Service Bill, 1997
- Marine Living Resources Bill, 1997
- Magistrates' Court Second Amendment Bill, 1997
- Repeal of Local Government Bill, 1997
- South African Citizenship Amendment Bill, 1997
- South African National Roads Agency Bill, 1997
- Convention of International Civil Aviation Organisation on the Marketing of Plastic Explosives for the Purpose of Detection.
- Explosive Amendment Bill, 1997
- Post Office Second Amendment Bill, 1997
- Independent Broadcasting Authority Amendment Bill, 1997
- Medicines and Related Substances Control Amendment Bill, 1997
- Pharmacy Amendment Bill, 1997
- Medical, Dental and Supplementary Health Service Professions Amendment Bill, 1997.
- Extension of Terms of Office of Members of Certain Councils Amendment Bill, 1997.
- Measuring Units and National Measuring Standards Amendment Bill, 1997.

More information on these matters is available from the relevant Ministry and/or Department.

Issued by the Office of the President, 18 June 1997

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