South Africa

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has declared that former Minister of Corporative Governance and Traditional Affairs Sicelo Shiceka is to receive an official funeral.

Pretoria- Former President Nelson Mandela has undergone a procedure via endoscopy to have gall stones removed.

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma says "phenomenal strides" have been made in the past 18 years in promoting national unity and reconciliation among South Africans.

Pretoria - Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande has appointed University of KwaZulu-Natal Vice Chancellor Professor Malegapuru Makgoba to head the Ministerial Oversight Committee on Transformation.

Pretoria - Public Enterprises Minister, Malusi Gigaba, has appointed South African Airways (SAA) executive chairperson Vuyisile Kona as the airline's acting CEO.

The Gauteng Department of Agriculture has developed a bold plan that will create more jobs for the province's unemployed women and youth.

Pretoria - Members of the public wishing to register to attend public hearings into Eskom's 16% tariff increase to the National Energy Regulator have until 4 January to do so.

Pretoria - The HIV epidemic in South Africa has in the last six years shown stabilisation and the country is on its way to reaching the Aids Millennium Development Goal of reducing the HIV prevalence rate to 25% by 2015.

Pretoria - Cabinet has once again reassured the public that all steps in line with the expectation of the Constitution have been taken to ensure that these remission of sentences do not result in unintended consequences.

Pretoria - Cabinet has appointed a committee to be chaired by Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe to coordinate all work around the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP).

Pretoria - The economic zones that are proposed in the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) Bill will boost the economic growth of KwaZulu-Natal, says Economic Development and Tourism MEC Michael Mabuyakhulu.

Pretoria - Following a mediation process, Sishen Iron Ore Company (SIOC) and ArcelorMittal (AMSA) have reached an agreement on conditions that iron ore will be sold to the steel producer, says the Department of Trade and Industry.

Pretoria - Cabinet has given the nod to South Africa hosting the 2013 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the 2014 African Nations Championships (CHAN).

Government is looking at increasing the number of doctors produced by the country to ensure the success of the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme.

Pretoria - Cabinet has given the nod to South Africa hosting the 2013 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the 2014 African Nations Championships (CHAN) and has announced the cities that will host these tournaments.