South Africa

Pretoria - Household expenditure in the last quarter of 2009 rose by 1.4 percent, said the Reserve Bank.

Pretoria - South Africans will now have instant access to the latest information on air quality within their areas on their fingertips.

Johannesburg - In the next three years, the Gauteng Provincial Government is expected to provide 40 000 job opportunities through its Community Works Programme

Pretoria - One of the suspected rapists involved in the brutal assault of two Emergency Medical Services (EMS) officials three weeks ago appeared at the Roodepoort Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

Pretoria – The Department of Higher Education and Training has developed a vision for post-school education and training and has already begun to improve opportunities for youth and adults in acquiring further education and skills.

Cape Town - The Department of Economic Development has identified several areas of the economy with potential to create new jobs as government embarks on a shift to a more labour-absorptive economy.

Cape Town - Government's training layoff scheme has managed to save more than 15 000 workers from retrenchment since the scheme was introduced to companies last year.

Ermelo – The construction of a new by-pass road to alleviate traffic congestion on three national roads passing through the mining town of Ermelo could begin by 2017, the SA National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) said on Wednesday.

Pretoria - In an effort to provide support to the curriculum, the Department of Basic Education has distributed 13 900 workbooks to schools that offer Grade R.

Pretoria - A programme to revive the practice of male circumcision in KwaZulu-Natal will kick off this winter, says Premier Dr Zweli Mkhize.

Pretoria - Trade and Industry (DTI) Minister Rob Davies is expected to make a pronouncement on the findings of an investigation into alleged corruption at the Companies and Intellectual Property Registration Office (CIPRO) after he has studied the forensic report.

Pretoria - FIFA President, Joseph Blatter, has been appointed co-chair of 1GOAL, a campaign championing global education.

Pretoria - Minister of Transport, Sibusiso Ndebele, says his department is still committed to engaging taxi operators on the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system.

Cape Town - South Africa needs to break away from orthodox economic models and start focusing on policies that will respond to the country's development needs, says Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel.

Pretoria- The Consumer Price Index for February fell to 5.7 percent, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) announced on Wednesday.