Pretoria - The first Cabinet Lekgotla, for the new administration, got underway today at Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House, in Pretoria.
The meeting, which brings together ministers, provincial premiers and senior government officials, will map the programme of action for the year, which will be outlined by President Jacob Zuma in the State of the Nation Address, next week Tuesday.
Following his release from hospital, President Jacob Zuma is not attending the meeting as he continues to rest at home. The meeting is being chaired by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Speaking shortly before the start of the meeting, Minister in the Presidency, Jeff Radebe, told reporters the main items on the agenda was the Medium Term Strategic Framework, the National Development Plan (NDP) as well as the current mining strike in the platinum belt.
“As you know last month South Africans gave the ruling party the mandate to govern South Africa for the next five years. The election manifesto will be the focal point to ensure that those commitments that the party made are implemented by government,” Minister Radebe said.
He said the cabinet ministers will also look into the NDP as well as the election manifesto of the African National Congress (ANC), which they will put into a programme of action, with the aim of moving South Africa forward.
For the ordinary person in South Africa – Minister Radebe said the Lekgotla is about service delivery, especially at local government.
“Our president is deeply concerned about the protests that have been happening around the country. We are going to make sure that we go into those areas with concrete responses,” Minister Radebe said, optimistic that this administration will rise to the occasion of bringing quality services to the people to deal with the challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality.
During his inauguration, President Zuma said the new administration will push ahead with the implementation of the NDP, which has been labelled a roadmap to promote inclusive economic growth and job creation. This administration’s priority is also economic growth and development.
Platinum strike
However, the platinum strike -- Minister Radebe said, has had a debilitating impact on South Africa.
Members of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) had downed tools, on 23 January, demanding a basic monthly salary of R12 500.
So far, the industry and employees have lost billions in earnings and forfeited wages.
This prompted government to set up an intergovernmental technical task team, two weeks ago to intervene. But today the Mineral Resources Minister Ngoako Ramatlhodi announced that he has pulled the team out of mining negotiations to exert pressure on platinum producers and unions to move towards a common ground.
Minister Radebe says the impact of the strike goes to show that the mining sector still plays a major role in the country’s economy.
“We need to ensure that we encourage the resolutions of the strike so that we can begin with the implementation of the NDP,” Minister Radebe said.
President Zuma’s health
Turning to President Zuma’s health, Minister Radebe said Deputy President Ramaphosa is in constant touch with the President.
“The President is improving. The deputy president has reported to us that he is resting to ensure that he is ready for the State of the Nation Address next week,” he said, adding that Deputy President Ramaphosa will execute the mandate of the President at the Cabinet Lekgotla.
President Zuma's office said he had already met with all his new ministers and deputy ministers in May, to go over the policy priorities and his expectations of them.
The Cabinet talks will continue until Thursday. – SAnews.gov.za
