Drought: Govt gives R130m

The cabinet decided on Wednesday to review the country's disaster management system completely and has allocated more than R200m for drought and disaster relief.

Government spokesperson Joel Netshitenzhe said R75m would go towards local disasters and R130m to drought relief.

A further R15m had been allocated to victims of the December 26 Asian tsunami disaster, he said.

The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting where a "programme of action" for the coming year was finalised, said Netshitenzhe.

Another matter discussed was the government's obligation in terms of combating terrorism.

South Africa, as a United Nations member state, was obliged to prosecute or extradite anyone supporting or taking part in terrorist acts, Netshitenzhe said.

He said the government already had instituted all measures to comply with the United Nations resolution, and was committed to work to "combat this scourge (terrorism)".

The cabinet also approved changes to the correctional services system to promote a more-integrated approach with civil society, and a focus on rehabilitation, said Netshitenzhe.

These changes would be promulgated in a white paper on corrections shortly.

The government also allocated R1m to the South African Development Community HIV/Aids trust fund, which contributes to HIV/Aids programmes on the basis of need.