South Africa

Pretoria - The Department of Trade and Industry has withdrawn proposed changes to the Broad - Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) codes on socio-economic development.

Pretoria - Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant has urged both labour and business to reach a speedy resolution in the ongoing petrochemical industry strike, saying the industry was critical to South Africa's economy.

Cape Town - President Jacob Zuma today lauded Adam Kok I, the Griqua leader who 300 years ago stood up to colonial authority, as "one of the greatest warriors ever produced by our country" and said a new bill would aim to empower the Khoi, San, Nama, Korana and Griqua communities, which continued to be disadvantaged.

Pretoria - Relations between South Africa and Tanzania are set to soar to higher levels following the signing of two bilateral agreements.

Pretoria - Higher Education and Training Minister Dr Blade Nzimande has sent his condolences to the family and friends of Professor Jakes Gerwel, who passed away on Wednesday at the age of 66.

Pretoria - As part of preparations for the upcoming UN climate change summit in Durban, the Department of International Relations is to hold a consultative dialogue on women and climate change this week.

Pretoria - Government has called on members of the public, who will be marching against e-tolling, to exercise their right to protest within the boundaries of the law.

Pretoria - The Executive Mayor of the City of Tshwane, Kgosientso Ramokgopa, has warned that illegal taxi ranks and illegal trading in the city will not be tolerated.

Pretoria - The Presidency says government is looking forward to more "consultative dialogues" with the media following what it called a "successful" meeting between the two parties on Friday.

Pretoria - While the cost of living has been considered in the latest petroleum wage offer, a double digit wage increase demand is unreasonable, the South African Petroleum Industry Association (Sapia) says.

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma met with the leaders of the National Religious Leaders' Council (NRLC) at the Union Buildings on Wednesday in Pretoria.

Pretoria - The Hawks have arrested 19 suspects, including three SAPS members, believed to part of a syndicate involved in abalone related crime.

Johannesburg - US acting secretary of commerce Rebecca Blank on Wednesday launched the Doing Business in Africa Campaign, while also expressing concern at the recent labour strikes in South Africa.

Pretoria - The South African National Defence Force's operations conducted throughout the country have continued to yield positive results, with more illegal weapons, contraband and dagga having been confiscated at the country's borders.

Pretoria - The Department of Public Works (DPW) has noted Public Protector Thuli Madonsela's report on an investigation into allegations of a breach of the Executive Ethics Code by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Tina Joemat-Pettersson.