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Cabinet met today 3 March in ordinary session.

The meeting decided to send a message of condolence to Minister Zola Skweyiya and family on the tragic death of their son.

Cabinet was briefed on the report of the South African Law Commission regarding proposals for legislation pertaining to HIV/AIDS. Government will make an input to the Law Commission on the issues that the report raises. Related to this, a meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on AIDS recently received a report on latest statistics regarding the rate of transmission of HIV, and the IMC decided that a public presentation should be made on the matter.

Cabinet received a further briefing on the issue of Higher Education, with a view to the development of policy in the medium-to long-term.

On reviewing the security situation in the Western Cape, Cabinet decided to recommend to the President not to accede to the request from various quarters to institute a judicial inquiry into the fact that one of the suspects was an intelligence informant.

The matter is rightfully in the hands of the Courts. The meeting also approved for introduction to Parliament the Arms and Ammunition Amendment Bill which limits the scope of non-licence holders possessing firearms with the permission of a licence
holder.

Cabinet also noted the judgement of the Cape High Court regarding the rights of same-sex life partners to permanent residence or citizenship in South Africa. Government will appeal the judgement.

The meeting approved the appointment of the Board of the National Research Foundation and Members of the Council of Northern and Southern Flagship Museums.

Cabinet welcomed an offer from the government of Cuba for South Africa medical students in that country not to pay for their studies. Cabinet authorised the Minister of Health to make a donation to Cuba which would not exceed the amount that would have otherwise been paid in any given year in terms of the original intergovernmental agreement. The meeting received and approved plans for the commemoration of 1999 as International Year of Older Persons.

Cabinet approved a recommendation to undertake a feasibility study into the full economic implications of acquiring and operating a South African regional communications satellite.

The meeting was briefed on continuing liaison with the European Union in order to resolve the impasse on the trade agreement.

Cabinet also approved the submission to Parliament of the following legislation:
* Amendment to the National Gambling Act, to allow Public Investment Commissioners time to off-load any share-holding in gambling operations in line with the Act;
* Road Traffic package of Bills dealing with the setting up of agencies, adjudication of traffic offences and so on pending further consultation;
* Abolition of Certain Title Conditions Bill, which removes the obligation in certain circumstances for the President or a Minister to provide permission for the alienation or transfer of immovable property.

For further information contact: Joel Netshitenzhe (082-990-0083)

ISSUED BY: GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATIONS
03 MARCH 1999

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