South Africa

Pretoria – Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa has issued a notice of intention to declare fracking a controlled activity of the National Water Act.

Pretoria - The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) says after 2017, they will be able to pay social grants in-house.

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has extended his condolences to the families and friends of the victims of the fatal crash, which killed seven people on the N2 between Grahamstown and Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape earlier today.

Pretoria - Government has recovered R330 million after investigations into allegations of corruption received by the National Anti-Corruption Hotline, which is run by the Public Service Commission.

Pretoria - Correctional Services Minister Sibusiso Ndebele has conveyed his condolences to the families of the three Eastern Cape Correctional Officials, who were killed in a car accident this morning.

Pretoria - Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies has launched the Small Business Connect newspaper, which will help close the information gap and provide small business with the information necessary to make their ventures successful.

Pretoria - The Gauteng Health Department has announced that it has processed a payment of R1.5 million, which will ensure the availability of electricity at the new Natalspruit Hospital.

Pretoria – The National Health Amendment Act, 2013, which will enable Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi to establish the Office of Health Standards Compliance (OHSC), is now effective.

Johannesburg - The countdown to the 20th anniversary of freedom and democracy is set to begin when government launches Freedom Fridays on September 20.

The issue of jobs and job creation is never far from the minds of South Africans. If asked, people are likely to point to agriculture, manufacturing, or mining as the industries that provide the most jobs. In contrast, few are likely to point to tourism as a major- role player in the job market although in 2011 alone the industry contributed R84 billion to the gross domestic product (GDP) and employed approximately 598 432 people.

Pretoria – The Free State Education MEC, Tate Makgoe, has called on parents to support the 408 094 learners in grades 1 - 6 and 9, who will be sitting for the Annual National Assessment (ANA) examinations from 10 - 13 September 2013.

Pretoria - International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister Marius Fransman has arrived in Lima, Peru, as part of his four-nation tour to Latin America.

Pretoria - The South African Police Service (SAPS) says it has learned a lesson which will see additional checks and balances being implemented to prevent a recurrence of the controversial appointment this weekend of the Gauteng police head while he faces criminal charges.

Johannesburg - Government will honour former President Nelson Mandela by erecting a golden statue of Madiba at the Union Buildings.

Pretoria – Although economic recovery is underway from the shock of the worst global financial crisis since the 1930s, observers are adamant that with persistent unemployment and many countries battling with tax evasion, the upcoming G20 summit in Saint Petersburg, Russia, is expected to be another test for world leaders.