South Africa

Parliament - Government plans to create about 500 000 job opportunities between now and December.

Cape Town - In order to initiate the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme, an urgent rehabilitation of public hospitals will be undertaken through Public-Private Partnerships.

Klerksdorp - The North West Provincial Government is committed to working together with youth organisations to overcome challenges affecting the sector.

Cape Town - President Jacob Zuma is to meet school principals to share government's vision on the revival of the country's education system.

Pretoria - Although its parent company is in the process of rebuilding itself under a court supervised process, General Motors (GM) South Africa will not be affected by the move, says its president and managing director Steve Koch.

Parliament - Government is to put in place a comprehensive rural development strategy linked to land and agragrian reform and food security.

Pretoria - Mining Minister Susan Shabangu is expected to visit the Harmony Gold mine, where 36 suspected illegal miners died at the weekend.

Parliament - President Jacob Zuma's State of the Nation Address has received mixed reaction from political party leaders and organisations.

Pretoria - South African national flags are to be flown at half-mast from Thursday to mark the death of former Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs, Advocate Dirk Cornelius du Toit.

Pretoria - The Department of Defence is currently selecting school learners who had applied to take part in the department's Military Skills Development System (MSDS).

Cape Town - Final preparations are underway for the country's newly-elected President's maiden State of the Nation Address to the first joint sitting of a newly-constituted Parliament.

Pretoria - Bafana Bafana fans are confident that nothing will stop the national team from defeating Poland ahead of the crucial FIFA Confederations Cup.

Johannesburg - Gauteng MEC for Health and Social Development, Qedani Mahlangu, has called for an urgent meeting to discuss the recent strike action by emergency services workers.

Pretoria - Although Iraq has not yet won any of their friendly games, the unpredictable Asian champions might prove to be a force to be reckoned with, when they take on host Bafana Bafana during the upcoming FIFA Confederations Cup.

Pietermaritzburg - More than 180 social workers have been recruited to be based in especially rural areas in KwaZulu-Natal.