South Africa

Parliament - Government is determined to deal with crime through the creation of a new modernised, efficient and transformed criminal justice system.

Port Elizabeth - Construction at the Nelson Mandela 2010 FIFA World Cup stadium reached a significant milestone on Wednesday when the last of 36 roof truss girders was fitted, signalling that the stadium was nearing completion.

Pretoria - The Eastern Cape Department of Education has launched a social support programme to help matriculants manage their stress levels during the examination period.

Johannesburg -The Constitutional Court has ruled that South African citizens abroad who are registered to vote will be allowed to vote in the 22 April general elections.

Pretoria - More than 100 motorists, mostly taxi operators, have been arrested in Johannesburg's Central Business District for reckless and negligent driving as a result of Operation Nomakanjani.

Harare - The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) has reported that falling prices of basic commodities has resulted in the breadbasket for a family of six for the month of February dropping by 20 percent to $122 from $153 in January.

Johannesburg - The Gauteng Department of Health has confirmed four more cases of meningitis and restated that only one person has died from the disease in the province.

Pretoria - President Kgalema Motlanthe has assured the National House of Traditional Leaders that government, under a new administration, will remain committed to strengthening the House and its institutions.

Pretoria - With four consecutive months of negative growth in manufacturing data, the sector could be heading for a recession with production dropping 11.1 percent from January 2009 compared to January last year.

Pretoria - The South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP) has urged all social workers and social auxiliary workers to renew their annual registration by 31 March.

Durban - South African writer Mandla Langa has scooped the Commonwealth Writers' Prize Best Book Award in the Africa Region 2009 for "The Lost Colours of the Chameleon".

Pretoria - Police are closely monitoring two service delivery hotspots in Sakhile, outside Standerton, and in Diepsloot, north of Johannesburg, as service delivery protests intensify.

Johannesburg - Education Minister Naledi Pandor visited the University of Witwatersrand on Thursday to check on whether the investments made by the department for infrastructure development were being properly utilised.

Pretoria - The Department of Public Works has launched a dedicated hotline aimed at ensuring that payments are processed much faster

Pretoria - The Department of Health has urged the public not to panic over the reported cases of meningitis, especially in Gauteng.