Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has briefed the media on a variety of post-Cabinet decisions taken by members of Parliament following a Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday.

These include the withdrawal of funding by the US, cannabis, foot-and-mouth disease, crime prevention, employment statistics, the misinformation campaigns by AfriForum and other right-wing organisations, as well as the country's state of readiness to host the G20 Summit and registration of spaza shops, among many other issues.

On the misinformation campaign led by Solidarity, AfriForum and other right-wing forces, including the dispute in the farm murder statistics and Land Expropriation Act, the minister indicated that the government has been in talks with some of the right-wing forces while investigation into their behaviour is being handled by law enforcement agencies.

Last month, Afrikaner rights organisations Solidarity and AfriForum met with top representatives of US President Donald Trump's administration to thank the new leader for his support for on the Land Expropriation Bill after they went to the White House to deliver a "Washington Memorandum", asking that the US to provide humanitarian assistance for an Afrikaner development.

"On the misinformation and disinformation campaigns, Cabinet has noted with concern, the continued misinformation campaigns by Solidarity, AfriForum and their allies and law enforcement agencies are investigating the violations of South African laws.

"To prevent further misinformation, the South African Police Service met with AfriForum to clarify the allegations of white genocide with reference to farm murders. At the meeting, AfriForum conceded that the current statistics as released by the Minister of Police are accurate, including on farm murders," she said.

Ntshavheni indicated that the government is committed to creating an enabling job creation environment to improve the country's unemployment rate, which showed a bit of improvement in some sectors of the economy, saying: "The recent statistics have shown employment gains in the trade, business services, transport sector, and the electricity sector.

"Despite the modest improvement, employment remains lower than a year ago. Cabinet has committed to drive structural reforms and implement economic growth-focused programmes in order to create a conducive environment for job creation."

With the deadline for the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) card migration having been extended to the end of April, the minister said the Cabinet was satisfied with the migration process, adding that the extension of the deadline will ensure no one is left behind in the process.

The minister indicated that while more than a million SASSA beneficiaries have swapped their gold Postbank SASSA grant cards for new black ones, more than 800 000 have yet to do so.

"The registration is completed. The deadline for SASSA beneficiaries to swap their old cards has been extended to allow SASSA to complete the migration process and we are confident they will be able to complete the process before then. SASSA has assured the SA Reserve Bank that those who haven’t made the switch will do so by the end of April," she added.

On the country's state of readiness for the G20 Summit, the minister said most of the country's World Heritage Sites are ready to host international visitors later this year.

"The G20 Financial Sector Group met on 20th March to deliberate on Africa's debt crisis. Cabinet received an assessment on the status and preservation of South Africa's World Heritage Sites in line with the G20 minimum standards for preparation and hosting of the G20 Summit. Cabinet noted that seven out of the 12 South Africa's World Heritage Sites are ready to host the G20 guests, but some refurbishments are required to enhance visitor experience," she said.

siyabonga.sithole@inl.co.za

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Cabinet confronts 'misinformation': minister reveals AfriForum conceded on farm murder statistics