Cabinet's 4-day lekgotla gets under way
2013-02-05 14:31
Pretoria - Cabinet held the first day of its lekgotla at
President Jacob Zuma's presidential guesthouse in Pretoria on Tuesday.
The meeting allows the government to discuss the upcoming
year and decide on a way forward.
Minister in the Presidency Collins Chabane said Cabinet
would discuss the youth wage subsidy, as well as the ANC's intention to have
education declared an essential service, if these topics were raised.
"Part of the priorities we will be discussing is unemployment.
It [the youth subsidy] would then fall within that context," Chabane told
reporters.
"It is not a separate agenda. It is part of the issues
we may be discussing."
African National Congress secretary-general Gwede Mantashe
said on Monday that the party supported the youth wage subsidy proposal. The
scheme seeks to pay incentives to companies that employ young people.
He said the ANC would also ensure education was declared an
essential service.
NEC lekgotla
Both topics were discussed at the party's national executive
committee lekgotla in Irene, south of Pretoria, last week.
Chabane said the ANC had not told Cabinet what had been
discussed at its lekgotla.
"We heard the ANC made that decision, but those of us
in government have not heard from the ANC that these are the issues we need to
deal with," he said.
"Nevertheless, given the challenges we face and the
fact that education is a priority, we are looking at all the options to be able
to improve... the profile of our educational system."
He said Cabinet would discuss investor confidence in the
country as well as its downgrading by ratings agencies.
"The minister of finance from time to time has
indicated that these downgrades have not been doing us [any] good,"
Chabane said.
"We as South Africa need to take steps to ensure that
we don't slide down again, and improve the situation as we move forward."
NDP
He said Cabinet would also discuss the implementation of the
National Development Plan (NDP).
In the banquet hall at the Sefako M Makgatho guest house,
Zuma and deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe sat next to each other at the main
table.
The ministers and their deputies sat at parallel tables near
the two.
When journalists were brought into the hall for a photo
opportunity, Home Affairs Minister Naledi Pandor joked with Public Service
Minister Lindiwe Sisulu about Minister in the Presidency Trevor Manuel.
"I think Trevor was wearing the same shirt last
year," Pandor said.
Zuma and Motlanthe also shared a few chuckles over a private
joke.
The ministers and their deputies mingled during a tea break,
sharing a few laughs amid animated conversation.
Some went outside to sneak a quick cigarette before the
lekgotla continued. It is scheduled to conclude on Friday.
- SAPA
