Government departments work in five ‘clusters’ to address challenges like skills development, job creation, poverty and service delivery. At the beginning of each year, after the President’s State of the Nation Address, the Cabinet Ministers brief the media on how the clusters - and the skills development programme - will contribute to government’s Programme of Action for the Year. Here are just a few of the highlights from the media briefings.
Economic
Ombudsman - a person who represents consumers.
The Credit Information Ombudsman is there to help people who are unhappy with the way the Credit Bureau handled their problems. When people call about problems that have nothing to do with credit, the ombudsman will not be able to help. There are different ombudsmen and bodies that deal with specific problems.
The Credit Ombudsman can only help you:
Fast track to realize dreams...
Fighting poverty, creating jobs, reducing unemployment and building a stronger economy. These are the aims behind Asgisa - the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa, said President Thabo Mbeki when he addressed the nation at the opening of Parliament in February.
Tlala o kotsing. These Sesotho words loosely translate as “hunger you are in trouble”. They were repeatedly used by Finance Minister Trevor Manuel during his Budget Speech.
PUTTING OUR YOUTH FIRST
Women’s March, 9 August 1956
On 9 August each year, South Africa celebrates National Women’s Day. On this day in 1956, some 20 000 women from all over the country marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria. They protested against the unjust pass laws of the apartheid government.
Government workers who receive social grants illegally should come clean. This is a message from the Department of Social Development to 43 000 government workers. The department’s external director of communications Kgati Sathekge said the government was losing R7, 3 million a month because of corrupt officials. “We have now adopted zero tolerance against anyone misusing public funds.
