South Africa

Johannesburg - South Africans braved freezing weather to join in the ceremony to officially mark the start of the Unite behind the Springboks 2011 Campaign on Wednesday.

Pretoria - Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has urged citizens who are concerned about the establishment of the National Health Insurance (NHI) to be patient as government is working around the clock on this issue.

Mbombela - Mpumalanga residents have been warned to be on the alert for runaway fires as the dry winter season sets in.

Midrand - Government remains committed to working with the mining industry to enable it to achieve optimal returns on investment in a manner that will serve the best medium and long term interests of all South Africans.

Pretoria - The Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) has continued to benefit community media and small commercial media, Deputy Minister in the Presidency Dina Pule says.

Pretoria - The Thusong Service Centres have significantly contributed to rural development by ensuring people in rural areas had more access to information.

Cape Town - The Department of Mineral Resources is to tackle mine safety by creating regional inspectorates, following an 8 percent increase in mine fatalities in the second quarter, the Minister of Mineral Resources Susan Shabangu said.

Cape Town - Transport infrastructure in South Africa is expected to radically change over the next two year, says Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele.

Durban - Health services in rural Harding, south of KwaZulu-Natal, received a much needed boost with the opening of two clinics worth R14 million.

Polokwane - Limpopo farmers have suffered an estimated R6 million in damages as a result of overflowing farm dams.

Pretoria - Government says it continues to render "consular support" to the families of two South Africans abducted by Somali pirates in October last year.

The medical team looking after former President Mandela led by the Surgeon General Veejay Ramlakan has reported that he had a restful and peaceful night. President Mandela is said to be responding to medication and treatment. The close monitoring and 24 hour care from the team of specialist continues.

Pretoria - Defence and Military Veterance Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has honoured former South African National Defence Force (SANDF) Chief Godfrey Ngwenya at a handing over parade dinner.

Pretoria - South African National Aids Council (SANAC) head, Nono Simelela, has been appointed an adviser to Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe on HIV and Aids, TB and other health matters.

Pretoria - New legislation that will have a bearing on the mandate of the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) will give the body the "necessary teeth" it needs.