South Africa

Pretoria - While there's lot of gift exchanging in celebrating the festive season, South Africans are being reminded to give the gift of blood and save lives during this period.

Pretoria - The Gauteng Education Department is taking decisive action to change the landscape of school grounds, which have been marred by alarming reports of incidents of sexual abuse and violence.

Pretoria - Graphic stories of fatal collisions will always make headlines, especially now that the festive season is in full swing. However, it's not very often that survival tales get into the papers, never mind the front page.

Pretoria - Minister in the Presidency Collins Chabane on Tuesday accepted the declaration of the 17th World Festival of Youth and Students as delegates marked an end to the week-long event in Tshwane.

Pretoria - There will be no excuse for bad behavior and drunk driving on the country's roads this festive season.

Pretoria - Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Hlengiwe Mkhize, says there are other options available to students, especially those who could not secure a space at universities.

Pretoria - The smooth running of trains in the Western Cape have been temporarily withdrawn due to bad weather conditions.

Pretoria - A total of 6 256 flood-affected families have so far received immediate disaster relief from the Social Development Departmental Social Relief of Distress (SRD).

Pretoria - The Department of Home Affairs Director General, Mkuseli Apleni, has extended well wishes to former President Nelson Mandela on behalf of Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and the IEC chairperson, Dr Brigalia Bam.

Pretoria - With the deadline for Zimbabwean nationals to regularise their stay in South Africa fast approaching, Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has once again stressed that the 31 December cut-off date would not be extended.

Cape Town- The achievement of government priorities is largely dependent on clean administration of affairs within state organs said Justice Minister Jeff Hadebe.

Pretoria - Government has stepped up interventions to assist areas affected by floods and minimise the loss of life.

Pretoria - Government has moved to allay fears about former president Nelson Mandela's health, saying medically there was no need to panic.

Mbombela - The number of liquor licences awarded in Mpumalanga is raising concern among the police and organisations that work with alcohol addiction.

Washington - The US State Department on Thursday wished former South African President Nelson Mandela a speedy recovery, calling the 92-year-old elder statesman "a truly global citizen."