South Africa

Pretoria - The Union Buildings was abuzz this morning with school children aged between 7 and 13 checking out the Presidency's new children's website.

Durban - To get the youth of KwaZulu-Natal to take a more keen interest in reading, the province is introducing new literacy initiatives to stimulate a love of the written word.

Harare - Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is expected back in the country on Tuesday from Durban, South Africa, where he has been resting and recuperating in the wake of the tragic accident that claimed the life of his wife, Susan.

Pretoria - Economists have predicted that the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will announce a 100 basis point cut at the least in the repo rate on Tuesday after their two-day meeting.

Cape Town - The Department of Water and Environmental Affairs is aware of US studies suggesting that fracking - a method of gas extraction - could contaminate drinking water sources with radioactive material.

Johannesburg - Electricity utility Eskom is calling on all South Africans to participate in the worldwide climate change awareness programme by switching off the nation's lights for an hour during the evening of 28 March.

For two Johannesburg youth, volunteering for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup tournament will provide more than just an opportunity to meet new people and make new friends, writes Simangaliso Zwane.

Johannesburg - A report released by Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Sicelo Shiceka has shown the good, the bad and the ugly picture of the state of local government in South Africa.

Port Shepstone - A newly opened Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR)-TB centre on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast is set to benefit patients in this area.

Pretoria - The South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) is to finalise a Male Circumcision Policy to articulate the role of circumcision in the context of men's sexual health.

Pretoria - President Kgalema Motlanthe has requested the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) to send a team of election observers to monitor the upcoming elections in South Africa.

Pretoria - As the country prepares to mark National Labour Day on Monday, Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant is set to bring illegal child labour practices to the nation's attention.

Pretoria - South Africa's employment growth rate decreased in the fourth quarter of 2008 compared to the fourth quarter of 2007, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) reported on Tuesday.

Pretoria - South Africans, hard-hit by the increasing cost of living under the current economic climate, have been granted reprieve by the Reserve Bank which announced a 100 basis points cut in the repo rate on Tuesday.

Pretoria - Transport Minister Jeff Radebe has condemned the violence perpetrated by Johannesburg taxi operators on Tuesday.