South Africa

Pretoria - Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe and US Vice President Joe Biden had their scheduled bilateral meeting on Tuesday, which was a spin-off from talks held last year in June.

Bhisho - Public hospitals in the Eastern Cape have not been affected by the doctor's strike thus far, the provincial Department of Health has said.

Pretoria - School principals in Mpumalanga are expected to receive a briefing by the provincial Education Department this afternoon on what is expected from them with regards to improving the management and governance of schools.

Durban - The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Development is committed to working with traditional leaders in the province to develop rural areas.

Johannesburg - The first completed Gautrain train set was unveiled and given a test drive at the Gautrain depot in Midrand on Tuesday, its operational home.

Pretoria - A Committee for Male Initiation Affairs has been established by the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs to draw up an intervention strategy to prevent young boys dying at initiation schools.

Pretoria - The Ekurhuleni Metro Police have arrested three suspects in connection with setting alight of a councillor's house in Palm Ridge last night.

Despite the further cut in the repo rate which will bring reprieve to cash-strapped South Africans, consumers should still be wary about spending beyond their budgets and buying on credit, writes Neo Semono.

Pretoria - The Radiological Society of South Africa (RSSA) has encouraged women, especially those in the high risk category, to have a mammogram for early detection of cancer.

Pretoria - Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi assured doctors on Friday that government was working around the clock to address the challenges they faced.

Cape Town - Foreign Deputy Minister Sue van der Merwe is expected to meet with Qatari Assistant Foreign Minister for Follow-up Affairs Mohammed Abdullah Al-Rumaihi are expected to meet in Cape Town on Wednesday to advance bilateral relations.

Queenstown - Most towns and cities in South Africa will not host 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup and World Cup matches, however, local residents still stand a chance to benefit either directly or indirectly from the historic soccer tournaments.

Nelspruit - Deputy President Baleka Mbete is confident that the Mbombela Local Municipality will deliver on its 2010 FIFA World Cup commitments within the set deadline.

Cape Town -The Southern African Development Community (SADC) believes regional integration needs to be achieved before the formation of a single African Union (AU) government can be realised.

Johannesburg - South Africans could soon be paying an additional 45 percent on their electricity bill every year over the course of the next three years, power utility Eskom said on Tuesday.