South Africa

Pretoria - The public will be able to request more information or ask specific questions related to the H1N1 Influenza, or swine flu, via a hotline, from Wednesday.

Pretoria - South Africa and Zimbabwe are to reinforce bilateral relations at the South Africa-Zimbabwe Business Forum, to be held next week.

Nelspruit - Agricultural bodies have welcomed a commitment by the Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Administration to address a critical skills shortage in the farming sector.

Bushbuckridge - Before revealing who she was during a surprise visit to Machaye High School in Agincourt village on Tuesday, MEC Reginah Mhaule asked matrics what they would ask the education MEC if they met her.

Pretoria - Voters who will be in hospital or housebound on Election Day have until today to submit their applications to vote at the office of their respective Municipal Electoral Officer.

Berlin - South African 800m runner Caster Semenya is widely tipped to claim a gold medal in the final tonight at the 12th International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) World Championships.

Johannesburg - Thousands of singers, painters and other artists countrywide are gearing for the largest football spectacle which comes to South Africa next year, the FIFA World Cup.

North West - MEC for Public Safety in the North West, Howard Yawa, has warned that police conduct should at all times be above reproach and in line with the pledge to protect and serve.

Pretoria - Correctional Services National Commissioner Tom Moyane presented the department's five-year strategic plan, which provides bold and clear performance targets, to the Portfolio Committee.

Pretoria - The Ministry for Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities has welcomed the heavy sentence handed down to serial rapist and murderer David Randitsheni by the Modimolle Circuit Court in Limpopo.

Pretoria - The Merchant Shipping (Safe Containers Convention) Bill 2010 will assist South Africa carry out its obligation to maintain the highest standards with regards to the safe carriage of containers over the country's water.

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has assured political parties that he has not appointed nor has he taken a final decision on whom to appoint as the country's new Chief Justice.

Pretoria - Local government will never be the same again after the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs unanimously passed the Municipal Systems Amendment [Bill 22 of 2010] on Tuesday.

Pretoria - National Police Commissioner Bheki Cele says he has found "pockets of excellence" in some parts of the country during his visits to police management in all nine provinces.

Pretoria - The organisation behind the Earth Hour campaign, which saw more than a million South Africans switching off their lights for an hour to highlight the effects of global warming, has scooped the prestigious Mail & Guardian Greening the Future Award.