South Africa

Cape Town – The old age and disability grants will increase from R1 270 to R1 350 in April, says Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan.

Cape Town – National government will allocate R105 billion in grants to municipalities over the next two years for free basic services such as water, sanitation, electricity and refuse removal.

Cape Town – If you have been planning to quit smoking, this is probably the best time to do that. Smokers will from now on pay roughly 68 cents more for a packet of cigarettes.

Cape Town – Education will receive a share of 20% (R254 billion) of government’s consolidated expenditure -- higher than any other sector.

Cape Town - Government spending on health is expected to exceed R492 billion over the next three years, as part of a plan to strengthen the health system, in preparation for the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme.

Cape Town – The state will build 216 000 houses and connect 905 000 households to electricity over the next two years, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said in Parliament on Wednesday.

Pretoria – The Minister for Women, Children and People with Disabilities, Lulu Xingwana, says even though progress has been made in certain sectors, the battle for gender equality is far from over.

Pretoria – The bodies of five illegal miners have been discovered at the old Durban mine in Roodeport, opposite Matoleville in the Johannesburg area.

Pretoria - Acting North West Premier Paul Sebegoe has signed a proclamation declaring May 7 as the election date for the North West Provincial Legislature.

Pretoria - Five-time World Cup winners Brazil are scheduled to arrive in South Africa on Monday, 3 March, for their match against the national squad, Bafana Bafana.

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has signed a proclamation authorising the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate a multi-million rand tender, which the Department of Communications awarded to Media Corner.

Pretoria - Two men will appear in the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court today in connection with the attempted murder of a miner at Anglo American Platinum's Khuseleka 1 shaft.

Pretoria - South Africa has the largest private security industry in the world; as a result, the regulation of the industry needs to be strengthened, says Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa.

Pretoria – Government says it has taken note of the recent developments regarding the situation of lesbians, gays, bisexual, transsexual and intersex (LGBTI) persons worldwide.

Pretoria - The Department of Higher Education and Training says it will not tolerate any unconstitutional activities being carried out at any of the country’s tertiary institutions.