South Africa

Pretoria - Gauteng Transport MEC, Bheki Nkosi, has urged soccer fans to arrive early at match venues to assist the easy flow of traffic.

Pretoria - With only three days left to the FIFA World Cup, host cities around the country are gearing to provide efficient transport services to soccer fans attending matches at stadiums and FIFA Fan Fests,

Johannesburg - A special World Cup service is set to be laid on by Rea Vaya, Joburg's Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, on match days to get football fans to the stadium as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Pretoria - As part of activities planned to commemorate the 1956 women's march to the Union Buildings, the North West will build and complete 1 956 houses by the end of August.

Johannesburg - Everything from arts and crafts, to business, fashion, music and food will be on display at the Afrika Village 2010 Business and Arts Festival, running daily during the month-long 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Pretoria - The billions of rands spent on upgrading South Africa's public transport for the 2010 World Cup will benefit South Africans long after the final match of the tournament is played.

Pretoria - Eighty thousand mobile phones have been handed over to the Health and Police Ministries to enable the departments to deal effectively with emergencies during the FIFA World Cup.

Pretoria - The positive global media coverage South Africa has received during the 2010 World Cup has exceeded all expectations and will benefit the country's tourism industry long after the tournament ends.

Pretoria - The Department of Environmental Affairs in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), have launched the Green Passport Campaign aimed at encouraging visitors to make responsible travel choices whilst visiting South Africa for the FIFA World Cup.

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has accepted diplomatic credentials from six new ambassadors and high commissioners during a ceremony at the Presidential Guest House on Tuesday.

Johannesburg - The opening match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup between Bafana Bafana and Mexico at Soccer City on Friday promises to be a thrilling encounter, but Bafana players are more than aware that the Mexicans will be tough opponents to beat.

Government calls on South Africans to stand to attention - with their hands placed at their sides - while singing the National Anthem.

Durban - KwaZulu-Natal's new website will help tourists to make last minute bookings for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and beyond.

Durban - Nomfundo Dzingwa was excited about the 2010 FIFA World Cup like all South Africans but a phone call from her fianc,e changed that.

Pretoria - South Africa's Advanced Passenger Processing (APP) system has proved to be effective, with the detection of football hooligans this week.