South Africa

Polokwane - Limpopo's Department of Local Government and Housing has increased the number of RDP houses it has built from 11 000 in the 2008/2009 financial year to 16 000 this year.

Bushbuckridge - Mpumalanga's MEC for Human Settlements, Madala Masuku, has assured disabled people living in Bushbuckridge that the provincial government will provide them with houses that suit their needs.

Johannesburg - Gauteng MEC for Infrastructure Development Nonhlanhla Mazibuko has lashed out at contractors employed to renovate the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital after discovering the shocking lack of progress on the project.

Pretoria - Operations at coal fired power station Kusile have not been hampered as a result of a Greenpeace protest, Eskom says.

Cape Town - FIFA President Sepp Blatter has described today's meeting of the football body's Executive Committee, on Robben Island, as historic.

Pretoria - The Telkom Foundation on Wednesday launched its Entrepreneurship Programme aimed at up-skilling individuals to start and grow their businesses.

Nelspruit - The long-awaited extension of the child-support grant has been rolled out in Mpumalanga.

Pretoria - The South African Police Service and the South African National Defence Force Board of Inquiry are investigating a shooting incident at Kansasvlakte Oudtshoon.

Pretoria - As the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign reaches its half way mark, government is calling on all stakeholders to intensify efforts to prevent gender-based violence and child abuse.

Nairobi - The Coca-Cola and FIFA World Cup Trophy has arrived in Kenya, where it was received by President Mwai Kibaki in the capital, Nairobi.

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma on Friday reiterated that no police officer has permission to shoot suspects in circumstances other than those provided for by law.

Pretoria - Members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) who passed away after a vehicle accident in Ladysmith last Friday will be laid to rest at Chesterville cemetery in Durban on Sunday.

Pretoria - Five KwaZulu-Natal children with heart problems, who received lifesaving heart surgery at the Netcare Sunninghill Hospital in July, will be reunited on Thursday to celebrate the success of their operations.

Cape Town - FIFA President Sepp Blatter is adamant there would be no change in refereeing methods during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Pretoria - South Africa is looking forward to working with Nigerian businesses to further open up trade opportunities and allow investment to grow between the two countries, says Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe.