Mon séjour en Afrique du Sud (Cape Town)

Cabinet today received the first of the two-monthly reports from all the clusters on the implementation of government's Programme of Action for 2005. The meeting expressed appreciation for the work done, and agreed on various measures to improve government's work.

Based on these reports, the programme on the government web site ( www.gov.za ) will be updated, and coordinating ministers will brief the media, during the course of next week.

The meeting was briefed on, and welcomed, the outcome of Bandung Conference which marked the 50th anniversary of the gathering which set the stage for the establishment of the Non-Aligned Movement and consolidation of Afro-Asian solidarity. The conference resolved on many practical actions to further strengthen South-South cooperation in improving the lives of billions of the world's poor. SA [South Africa] and Indonesia, which co-hosted the conference, have been tasked with following up on the decisions taken, and government will put in place various mechanisms to ensure that this work is done.

Cabinet noted the successful celebration of the anniversary of Freedom Day, as we enter the 12th year of democracy in our country. The enthusiasm shown throughout the country reflects South Africans' determination to deepen our freedom and advance the cause of building a better life in a SA that truly belongs to all. It was agreed that further work would be done to ensure even greater impact of these celebrations, including those of other national days.

Government has approved the extension of SANDF [South African National Defence Force] deployment in Burundi as part of its role in providing VIP security and assisting in the process towards democratic elections and lasting peace. It was agreed that the SANDF contingent will remain in that country until at least March 2006, and that the work of facilitating the peace process, including interactions during the course of next week in SA, will be intensified. The meeting also agreed to respond positively to a request from the AU for additional South African personnel in the African Mission in the Sudan. [Passage omitted]

The meeting noted and welcomed the presence in SA of a delegation from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which is to have discussions with our government on taking the process of reconciliation and reconstruction in that country forward, and on strengthening relations between SA and the DRC. In the same vein, a delegation of leaders of various military groups in the Ivory Coast is in our country to discuss matters pertaining to integration of military forces.