South Africa

Pretoria - The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, has announced the cancellation of the process of purchasing a new Boeing 777-2-LR aircraft for VVIPs.

Pretoria - Correctional Services Minister Sibusiso Ndebele has expressed delight at South Africa's election as Chair of the African Correctional Services Association (ACSA).

Johannesburg - Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa has called on learners to take up studies in Maths, Science and Technology in order to close the gap in skills and address the challenges facing the water sector.

Pretoria - The Presidential Infrastructure Commission (PICC) will address the pace of infrastructure development in the country, which is lagging behind what the country needs, says Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe.

Pretoria - Government says it is appalled by Zapiro's "disparaging and repulsive" cartoon in today's edition of the Mail & Guardian.

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has congratulated Cosatu, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the Chamber of Mines on their successful meeting on Friday.

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma met with suspended national Police Commissioner General Bheki Cele in Durban on Friday to discuss the Board of Inquiry report.

Richards Bay - Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant has urged unemployed youth to consider establishing their own businesses so they can create jobs for other unemployed youngsters.

Johannesburg - With days to go before Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma leaves the country to take up her post as Chairperson of the African Union Commission, the former Home Affairs Minister on Monday reflected on her time in government.

Johannesburg - A Grade 11 learner from KwaZulu-Natal, Mvumikazi Mcelwane, has been named the overall winner of the 2012 Youth Water Awards.

Pretoria - Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe is to undertake a working visit to Italy on Tuesday.

Pretoria - The South African National Parks (SANParks) has launched the second phase of the SANParks Kudu Green School Initiative (KGSI) at the Pilanesberg National Park.

Pietermaritzburg - Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has made an earnest appeal to private doctors to offer four hours of their services to public clinics in a bid to ease congestion at these facilities.

Pretoria - South Africa's infrastructure programme must unlock the economic potential of the country, says President Jacob Zuma.

Pretoria - The Gauteng Department of Education is to provide assistance to 1000 schools that do not have sufficient funds to procure Curriculum Assessment and Policy Statement (CAPS) textbooks for 2013.