South Africa

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma is satisfied with the way government works but has ordered Director Generals (DGs) to tighten the screws on corruption.

Pretoria - The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has been directed by government to probe alleged corruption in government departments, municipalities and institutions, President Jacob Zuma said.

Queenstown - Drought-stricken Chris Hani District municipality in the Eastern Cape plans to hold a summit to discuss the worsening plight of residents, businesses and farmers.

Cape Town - President Jacob Zuma's State of the Nation Address has been welcomed by political parties with some describing it as "fantastic".

Cape Town - Government has promised to give the country's health system a boost, with the revitalisation of nursing colleges, the hiring of qualified people and the country's HIV and Aids prevention campaigns.

Pretoria - Underperforming government officials have been given a stern warning to get their act together.

Cape Town - Labour federation Cosatu and the Democratic Alliance welcomed President Jacob Zuma's proposal in the State of the Nation address tonight to merge the government's small business finance institutions into a single funding body.

Pretoria - Unemployed Tembisa residents have been thrown a lifeline by the government's Community Works Programme (CWP), which aims to provide them with much needed work.

Pretoria - Truck drivers across South Africa have been encouraged to lead a healthy lifestyle by making use of the 20 roadside wellness centres countrywide.

Cape Town - President Jacob Zuma appears to have impressed his ministers during the third State of the Nation Address that was widely welcomed on Thursday.

Pretoria - The SA Police Service (Saps) Forensic Science Laboratories (FSL) have made a significant dent in their backlog, which in turn has seen the early prosecution and conviction of criminals.

Cape Town - Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has emphasised that the key driver for success is the "Triple T" - teachers, textbooks and time.

Mbombela - The Green Scorpions have descended on Mpumalanga's Eskom power stations to inspect the electricity provider's compliance with environmental laws.

Pretoria - Students interested in the law discipline now have an opportunity to enrol for a brand new programme in Occupational Risk Law at the University of the Free State (UFS).

Pretoria - Two underperforming provinces will lose R463 million in low-cost housing grants, which will be redistributed to provinces that met their targets, Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale announced on Tuesday.