South Africa

Cape Town - Minister of Mineral Resources Susan Shabangu says government is taking strong action to combat illegal mining and criminal syndicates are feeling the heat.

Boksburg – President Jacob Zuma has commended Community Development Workers (CDWs) for the manner in which they execute their duties to help government provide services at grassroots level.

Pretoria - Cabinet had some strong words for people who commit violent acts in the name of protesting, indicating its growing impatience with law-breakers.

Cabinet re-affirmed its commitment to implement the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) system in partnership with all the stakeholders, particularly the taxi industry. The BRT initiative is aimed at improving and changing the way commuters can travel in our major cities. Improving public transport for South Africans is not negotiable as it has the potential to improve the quality of life of our citizens and to increase productivity across the board.

Cape Town - MEC for Education in the Western Cape, Donald Grant, has condemned the stabbing of two learners at Arcadia Secondary School in Bonteheuwel during school's interval.

Johannesburg - Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk has encouraged South Africans to travel more domestically and contribute to the local tourism industry.

Pretoria - The Producer Price Index (PPI) fell by 3.8 percent year-on-year, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) reported on Thursday.

Johannesburg - Students at the Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg are expected to continue their protest against proposed fee increases for 2010 on Wednesday.

With only a few weeks left before almost 100 countries gather in Copenhagen for yet another round of talks on climate change, pressure is mounting for both the developed and developing nations to change their behaviour, writes Chris Bathembu.

Cape Town - President Jacob Zuma has described his meeting with political parties in Cape Town as "constructive" and "frank."

Willowvale - The newly-renovated Gangatha Secondary School in Willowvale in the Eastern Cape is set to change the lives of members of this small community.

Johannesburg - Power utility Eskom has recorded a revenue increase of 21 percent, the company's financial results released on Thursday indicated.

Thohoyandou - Water shortages may be a thing of the past for communities in Limpopo's Vhembe District Municipality, where some residents have never had clean running water.

Please rise and join me in a toast to the people of Zimbabwe,
and to peace and prosperity! To the cherished success of the Global
Political Agreement.

Johannesburg - Operation Bhadala is yielding positive results with R927 million being paid to suppliers owed money by the Gauteng Provincial Government.