Features

Hazyview - Mpumalanga MEC for Education, Reginah Mhaule, has urged parents to take a direct interest in their children's education.

Cape Town - Zola Pahlana inherited a school with dilapidated buildings and teachers who didn't pitch for class. Seven years later Pahlana is a proud principal of a school with an 80 percent matric pass rate.

Thohoyandou - Five impoverished schools in the rural area of Thohoyandou in Limpopo have each received R10 000 worth of school books and cleaning materials.

Cape Town - Pupils and teachers at Groenvlei Secondary School were overjoyed on Wednesday when the MEC for Education, Donald Grant, pledged to help the school raise funds to build a school hall.

Johannesburg - While access to universities must increase, enrolment in colleges should double in the next five years, Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande said on Wednesday.

Nzhelele - Limpopo's MEC for Public Works, George Phadagi, has urged Grade 12 learners at Mphephu High School near Nzhelele in Makhado to take their education seriously so that the school can improve its matric results.

Pretoria - The validity of a learner's licence has been extended from 18 to 24 months and driving licence tests may now also be taken on Sundays.

Pretoria - Public Protector Advocate Thuli Madonsela says her office will partner with state organs such as the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) to address backlogs that hinder service delivery in municipalities.

Pretoria - A Johannesburg couple has been arrested for allegedly running an underground abortion clinic in Bruma.

Johannesburg - Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande will be meeting with the chairpersons of councils of all the 23 universities in South Africa to discuss the Soudien report on racism at higher education institutions.

Pretoria - Limpopo Education MEC Dickson Masemola is to acknowledge the best performing Grade 12 learners and schools in the province during an annual award ceremony in Polokwane.

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has been named the Newsmaker of the Year for 2009 by the National Press Club-Glenrand MIB.

Pretoria - South Africa's trade conditions declined to 42 index points in December, reflecting a normal seasonal phenomenon, the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci) said on Thursday.

Pretoria - There will be no service delivery interruptions as a result of a planned march by members of the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU), said the Ekurhuleni Municipality

Pretoria - Correctional Services Deputy Minister Hlengiwe Mkhize has officially opened the newly launched Training Centre for Women Survivors of War in Uganda which will give much needed support to the victims of war.