South Africa

Pretoria - The Free State Provincial Government has refuted media reports that some provincial departments have been place under administration.

Durban - The development of renewable energy in South Africa is to receive a boost after government joined forces with the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, Norway and the European Investment Bank (EIB).

Pretoria - The Energy Department has released its first list of preferred Independent Power Producers (IPPs) which will contribute to the country's energy mix.

Cape Town - The South African Air Force has been taken to task by MPs after Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe missed his Finland leg of a recent trip to the Nordic countries because of aircraft technical problems.

Durban - With less than 24 hours left before the world sees an end to another climate change conference, COP17 negotiators in Durban are working around the clock to salvage the talks with the African group vowing on Thursday to ensure some kind of deal was achieved.

Pretoria - Although the South African economy continued expanding in the third quarter, this was at a lacklustre pace, the Reserve Bank said.

Pretoria - Correctional Services Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqcakula today announced the appointment of her department's new Inspecting Judge of Correctional Centres, Judge Vuka Tshabalala.

Pretoria - Tourism Minister, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, has announced the appointment of Thulani Nzima as the new Chief Executive Officer of South African Tourism.

Cape Town - Frustrated with the slow pace of transformation in the South African Air Force, MPs have asked Chief of the Air Force, Lieutenant General Carlo Gagiano when he would retire.

Pretoria - The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) will finance 12 of the 28 preferred bidders to contribute to the country's energy mix.

Pretoria - Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa has laid down the law to the police and criminals in the North West at the official opening of the Jourberton Police Station on Thursday.

Pretoria - It was a tough-talking Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi who met with the media on Thursday, in what was the acting National Police Commissioner's first public appearance.

Pretoria - Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has condemned incidents in Johannesburg in which learners where forced out of school to join today's ANC Youth League's march.

Pretoria - The Presidency has noted weekend newspaper reports implying that President Jacob Zuma may have misled the National Assembly when he said he had a mortgage bond on his residence in Nkandla.

Cape Town - Eskom has announced that its profits for the six-month period beginning on April 1 and ending 30 September 2012 dropped to R12.6 billion from R12.8 billion a year ago. Releasing the power utility's interim results on Tuesday, Eskom CEO Brian Dames said the seasonal nature of the business could mean an even steeper decline in profits by year end.