South Africa

Pretoria- The South African Revenue Service (SARS) successfully thwarted an attempt to smuggle two rhino horns out of the country at OR Tambo International Airport.

Pretoria - Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown has appealed to municipalities who are in arrears with Eskom to approach the utility and reach an agreement to settle their debt.

Pretoria – The number of inmates escaping from South Africa’s correctional centres has dropped significantly in the last 20 years, says Deputy Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Thabang Makwetla.

Pretoria – The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has announced that South Africa has earlier this month exported its first air shipment of litchis to the United States.

Pretoria - The South African Police Service (SAPS) management has announced the finalisation of various interventions to boost the morale in the SAPS.

Pretoria – The Department of Water and Sanitation says Cuban experts in the water and sanitation sector, which have been contracted to work in South Africa for two years, continue to be productive.

Pretoria - Over 31 000 travelers are passing through the Beitbridge border post daily as the festive season gets into full swing.

Pretoria - The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has extended the fishing rights allocation process 2015/16 until the end of February next year.

Pretoria - As the December 2015 initiation season draws to a close, the Eastern Cape Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) says 40 initiates have died.

Pretoria – The number of Saudi Arabia tourists visiting South Africa has increased steadily over the past few years with about 6 000 tourists per annum visiting the country, the Department of Tourism says.

Pretoria – Minister in the Presidency for Women Susan Shabangu has welcomed the appointment of Justice Nonkosi Zoliswa Mhlantla as a Judge of the Constitutional Court as well as the appointment of eight women as judges out of 12 appointments.

Harding – Christmas has come early for an elderly woman living in the small village of Xhamini in a mountainous area outside Harding in KwaZulu-Natal.

Pretoria - South African Airways (SAA) will go ahead with a swap transaction, which will see the national carrier swap the purchase of ten A320 aircraft for a lease of five A330-300 aircraft, said National Treasury.

Pretoria - The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has set aside a total of R1.4 billion to pay institutions upfront at the beginning of 2016 academic year.

Pretoria - Five liquor outlets were closed down, 17 compliance notices were issued and fines to value of R4000 were issued during an inspection blitz in KwaZulu-Natal, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (dti).