South Africa

Pretoria - Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan has announced increases in excise duties on alcoholic beverages and tobacco products.

Cape Town - Those who rake in gambling winnings of over R25 000, including payouts from the National Lottery, will from next year have to pay a 15 percent withholding tax, the Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan announced in his Budget Speech on Wednesday.

Pretoria - It's just a pity that you cannot satisfy everyone, but for me the government is doing more than enough to take care of us. These were the words of an elated young mother, Lindiwe Makua, 22, from Mamelodi after hearing the news that the child support grant will be increased in April.

Pretoria - Director General in the Department of Public Works, Siviwe Dongwana, has been placed on three months suspension, the ministry has announced.

Cape Town - Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan's Budget Speech was widely welcomed on Wednesday with organised business and youth formations lauding the commitment made towards skills development and employment creation for young people.

Pretoria - With the increases in vehicle, petrol and road tax announced by Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan earlier today, accounting and consulting firm Grant Thornton says it is a relief that Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele has suspended the tariffs gazetted for the tolling of Gauteng's freeways.

Pretoria - The National Association of People Living with HIV and Aids (NAPWA) has welcomed government's budget allocation towards boosting hospital facilities that will see the phasing in of the National Health Insurance (NHI).

Pretoria - Political parties have broadly supported Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan's Budget Speech, especially the focus on economic growth, job creation and poverty alleviation.

Pretoria - The Department of Mineral Resources has warned of a syndicate that is fraudulently ordering goods and services under the pretence that it is for the department.

Pretoria - Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale will meet 60 youth leaders in Johannesburg today as part of efforts to encourage increased youth involvement in human settlements development.

Mbombela - An outbreak of meningitis has been reported in Mpumalanga's capital city.

Pretoria - The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is expected to explain its decision to give former municipal manager, Graham Richards, a golden handshake to Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister, Sicelo Shiceka.

Pretoria - The public have been warned by the Gauteng Health and Social Development to take anti-malarial medication before they visit malaria endemic areas.

Pretoria - Christmas came early for the residents of Port Alfred in the Eastern Cape when Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale handed over 500 houses to the community on Tuesday.

Pretoria - The South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) has commended government's determination to prioritise education as a key tool to addressing the country's problem of skills' shortages.