South Africa

Pretoria - Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande has rejected calls for the scrapping of Services Sector Education and Training Authorities, known as SETAs.

Cape Town - Teams from the Department of Defence are to visit Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom next month to learn what accounting and auditing systems these countries have in place for their defence force.

Pretoria - Access to Further Education and Training (FET) colleges need to expand to meet the demand for increased training opportunities, says Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande.

Pretoria - Basic Education Minister Education, Angie Motshekga, has encouraged learners to read and help turn South Africa into a prosperous development state.

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has wished the Muslim community a happy Eid ul-Fitr.

Durban - A conference is currently underway in Durban to examine the role culture plays in how society deals with HIV and Aids.

Pretoria - Police are searching for an armed gang which killed six people at two houses near the Shongweni Dam in KwaZulu-Natal on Monday.

President Jacob Zuma yesterday convened a special cabinet meeting to discuss the key economic challenges facing South Africa and endorsed a proposed new growth path for the country that will place employment at the centre of government economic policy.

Pretoria - Pupils and public servants who missed the opportunity to show their support for people with disabilities by participating in Casual Day will be given a second chance.

Cape Town - Government's efforts to eradicate poverty will be extended to all sectors of the South African population and was not dependent on race.

Louis Trichardt - More than 100 families in seven villages in the Makhado local municipality in Limpopo were left homeless after their houses were damaged or destroyed by a devastating storm on Sunday night.

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has extended condolences to the families of the 19 South Africans who were killed in two tragic road accidents on Wednesday.

Pretoria - North West MEC for Human Settlements, Desbo Mohono, has wished matriculants the best as they sit for their final examinations.

Pretoria - As matric pupils sit for their second paper today, President Jacob Zuma has added his voice to those who have wished the Class of 2010 good luck.

Pretoria - Correctional Services Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has wished all the offenders writing matric exams at correctional centres countrywide success in their efforts to empower and improve their lives.