/ 23 January 2007

Mbeki gears up for year ahead

President Thabo Mbeki and top decision makers in the government gathered for a meeting to discuss the state’s programme action for the year at the Presidential Guesthouse on Tuesday.

The reason for the meeting — or Cabinet lekgotla — is partly to decide on the contents of Mbeki’s State of the Nation address next month, the South African Broadcasting Corporation reported.

It is believed the three-day lekgotla will also review government policies, their implementation and service delivery.

The African National Congress’s national executive committee held its annual lekgotla last weekend and on the agenda was the establishment of a broad front for development.

After the meeting, the party repeated its commitment to the fight against poverty.

Mbeki has yet to give an indication of what the theme of the State of the Nation address would be. — Sapa