South Africa

Pretoria - Home Affairs has more than halved the average time it takes for a person to get an Identity Document, thanks to the implementation of its turnaround strategy.

Pretoria - Sport Minister Fikile Mbalula says the 2010 FIFA World Cup has demonstrated the importance of sport as a catalyst for infrastructure development and a platform upon which social mobilisation can be achieved.

The Department of Home Affairs says it has identified a massive backlog in the review of decisions not to grant asylum to asylum seekers, however it is working hard to clear the backlog.

Pretoria - Government has conceded that while the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme (CRDP) has had its successes, implementing the CRDP in all poor households could come at a high cost financially.

Pretoria - The Department for Women, Children and People with Disabilities is to release a review on violence against children, which will include the roles and commitments of all government departments in response to the scourge.

Pretoria - The Film and Publication Board (FPB) has given the portrait by Brett Murray, which depicted President Jacob Zuma in a denigrating manner, a 16N rating.

Pretoria - South Africa has seen an overall decrease in serious crime from approximately 3 800 to approximately 3 600 per 100 000 of the population between 2010 and 2011.

Pretoria - South Africa will become the first African country to host the coveted Basketball without Borders NBA programme.

Pretoria - South Africa's power supply is expected to be tight over the next few weeks, Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba says.

Pretoria - Government is in the process of finalising consultations on women empowerment and gender equality policy in preparation for the Women Empowerment and Gender Equality Bill.

Pretoria - Corporates have been urged to invest in The President's Award for Youth Empowerment to ensure that the benefits received by the young people being reached by this initiative, continue.

Johannesburg - Government on Friday unveiled a plan that authorities hope will turn the country's major cities into sustainable economic hubs.

Pretoria - The West African Cable System (WACS), which is geared towards improving bandwidth connectivity and intra-country trade, among other things, was formally launched on Friday.

Pretoria - The Defence Review Committee, appointed by Defence and Military Veterans Minister Lindiwe Sisulu last year to look into updating the policy of the South African National Defence Force, on Thursday handed over a Draft Defence Review report to the minister.

Pretoria - An HIV testing campaign, targeting first-year students at universities across the country, has spread its message of awareness to young South Africans, with 21 000 students tested since the campaign started four months ago.