South Africa

Bushbuckridge - The Bushbuckridge local municipality in Mpumalanga kicked off a Condom Week campaign on Wednesday in an effort to reduce new HIV infections in the area.

Johannesburg - Heavy rains and localised flooding across southern Africa are raising fears of a repeat of the devastating floods of 2000, when thousands of people were plucked from rooftops by helicopter, several hundred died and Mozambique's agricultural production was severely impacted.

Mbombela - Sports fans have been urged to wear cricket, netball and rugby jerseys every Friday in support of national teams participating in international tournaments this year ahead of the launch of Magnificent Fridays in Mpumalanga.

Abidjan - Cote d'Ivoire's Alassane Ouattara has ordered the suspension of the country's cocoa and coffee exports.

Johannesburg - The Emergency Management Services (EMS) are always on standby to help, but there are actions people can take to stay safe during heavy rainstorms.

Pretoria - With the 2010 World Cup a thing of the past, South Africa's tourism players are setting their sights forward with the aim of promoting the country as a world-class host for future large scale, international events.

Pretoria - Absa has responded to the call from government to assist in raising money to provide relief to victims of the recent floods that have devastated various parts of the country.

Pretoria - Public service unions will finalise consultations on government's wage offer by Friday, says the Public Service and Administration Department.

Pretoria- Floods in South Africa, Australia and Brazil have left death and destruction in their wake. Many have lost their lives and thousands have been displaced.

Phalaborwa - Award-winning artists like Judith Sephuma, Professor, Malatji, Candy, Liquid Deep, Future Sound and Revolution, are part of the line-up at this year's Marula Festival in Limpopo.

Pretoria - The South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) on Wednesday insisted that the open road tolling tariffs to be introduced on Gauteng's freeways are affordable.

Pretoria - The ability to contribute to job creation, while at the same time strive for decent work will be the key challenge of the Department of Labour's policies in the years ahead, says Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant.

Pretoria - Online gambling in South Africa remains illegal, despite the number of operations increasing, the National Gambling Board (NGB) said on Wednesday.

Pretoria - Despite the current heavy rainfall and subsequent floods in many parts of the country, there have been no reports of any outbreaks of diseases. But, the Department of Health is watching the situation closely.

Mashishing - The Thaba Chweu local municipality in Mpumalanga has inaugurated a new mayor to replace Clara Ndlovu, who was sacked in 2009 following a series of service delivery protests.