South Africa

Milan - The South African Government says it is putting the final touches to its preparations for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.

Durban - There is hope and it is never too early to start educating children about the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse.

Pretoria - The North West Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs says its recently assembled town planning support forum will stimulate development in the province.

Pretoria - Sunward Park High School in Boksburg has become the first public school to transform learning into a fully digital platform.

Johannesburg - The OR Tambo International Airport will from 1 April start to multi-use terminals in order to process international and domestic flights interchangeably.

Johannesburg - State owned utility Transnet has signed a R4 billion loan agreement with the Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) to fund the widening and deepening of the Durban harbour.

Pretoria – A North West farmworker, who was buried on the side road of a farm after he was evicted, is be exhumed and reburied as part of a provincial event to celebrate Human Rights Day on Thursday.

Rustenburg - South Africans have been called on to rally behind the national soccer team ahead of the big international spectacle on Saturday - the Mandela Challenge Cup - which will be a test of preparations towards hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Pretoria - The Minister in the Presidency Responsible for Monitoring and Evaluation, Collins Chabane, has welcomed proposals for the establishment of an independent agency to investigate corruption - but cautioned such an initiative should be within the framework of the law.

Bushbuckridge - Mpumalanga's Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Administration MEC Candith Mashego-Dlamini will inspect farming projects in Bushbuckridge on Friday.

France - In recognition of Dulcie Evon September's contribution towards the liberation of South African people, government is expected to launch the Dulcie September Legacy Project in Arcueil, France.

Pretoria - Medical doctors affiliated to the South African Medical Association (SAMA) and employed in public health facilities are not planning to go on strike.

Pretoria - South Africans across the country will join more than one billion people in 1 000 major cities worldwide in switching off their lights for an hour on Saturday in support of the Earth Hour campaign.

Pretoria - A cleansing and healing ceremony will be performed at Freedom Park on Sunday to mark the return of the spirits of South African activists who died in Zambia during the liberation struggle.

Pretoria - President Kgalema Motlanthe has conferred national orders to 28 heroes and heroines who have made outstanding contributions to nation building in South Africa.