South Africa

Pretoria - Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies opened the R1 billion metal coating facility operated by Safal Steel in Cato Ridge, KwaZulu-Natal on Monday.

Pretoria - Parliament has opened books of condolences for three of its members who passed away recently - Minister of Public Service and Administration, Radhakrishna "Roy" Padayachie, former Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Sicelo Shiceka and Florence Ntombizodwa Nyanda, Member of Parliament (MP).

Pretoria - The eThekhwini Municipality is currently assessing damage caused by the heavy rains and strong winds experienced in the area as a result of tropical storm Irina.

Johannesburg - The Gauteng Provincial Government has set aside R30.6 billion of its total budget of R69.311 billion to go towards infrastructure development, including the building of new health facilities.

Durban - Visionary, father, friend, leader and servant of the people - these are just some of the words the country's number one citizen used to describe the late Public Service and Administration Minister, Roy Padayachie.

Pretoria - The Gauteng Department of Education has reiterated that the principle of 'no work, no pay' will be applied to those department employees who will be participating in the planned march in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

Pretoria - Police have dubbed 2012 as The Year of the Detective and will direct their energies to 10 priorities, says Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa.

Pretoria - Government will hold service delivery assessment sessions across the country's nine provinces to engage with traditional leaders, residents and all stakeholders.

Cape Town - The SABC task team has made steady progress in cracking down on abuses in the organisation uncovered by the Auditor General - with nine criminal cases having been lodged and over R200 000 recovered.

Thabazimbi - A new R7.9 million environmental education centre is expected to serve as a meeting point for young people to share ideas on how to address environmental challenges.

Johannesburg - Providing quality basic education for the province remains a key priority, Gauteng Finance MEC Mandla Nkomfe said on Tuesday.

Johannesburg - The Gauteng Provincial Government is committed to stabilising the provincial health department, says MEC for Finance Mandla Nkomfe.

Pretoria - The Consumer Price Index (CPI) in May rose above market expectation to 4.6 percent, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) said on Wednesday.

Johannesburg - Unemployment in Gauteng is to receive attention with several projects receiving funds to alleviate the problem.

Pretoria - The planned Cosatu industrial action has the potential to damage the South African economy, the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) has warned.