South Africa

Pretoria - The body of an illegal miner has been retrieved from an underground shaft in Roodepoort in the West Rand, where a group of other miners is still trapped.

Pretoria - The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training has condemned a reported racist attack on black students at the University of the Free State.

Pretoria – Transport Minister Dipuo Peters has officially opened the Chota Motala Interchange on the N3 in KwaZulu-Natal, a move she described as a milestone in the country’s efforts to improve and develop sustainable transport infrastructure and services.

Pretoria - The North West Provincial Bursary Programme awarded grants amounting to R49.5 million to 1 035 needy young people to pursue studies over the past five years, Premier Thandi Modise reported in her State of the Province Address delivered on Friday.

Pretoria - The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Elizabeth Thabethe, has urged Limpopo learners she hosted for lunch to arm themselves with education in order to free themselves from the clutches of poverty, unemployment and inequality.

Pretoria - Cabinet has welcomed the roll out of the Human Papillomavirus Vaccination (HPV), which is expected to get underway next month.

Pretoria - Cabinet has applauded the millions of eligible South Africans who have registered to vote in the upcoming general elections.

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has on Friday signed a proclamation setting 7 May 2014 as the date for the National Assembly elections in the country.

Pretoria- Cabinet has this week approved the Merchant Shipping Amendment Bill which is expected to improve the operations and image of the maritime industry.

Pretoria - Cabinet says it remains positive about the mediation process to resolve a strike in the platinum sector.

Pretoria - A total of 193 869 patients are on Antiretroviral Treatment in the Free State, says Premier Ace Magashule.

Pretoria - The Free State has recorded progress in improving education, by not only achieving the highest matric pass rate in 2013, but by also building 18 schools in the last five years, Premier Ace Magashule said on Friday.

Pretoria - North West Premier Thandi Modise says her province is hard at work to ensure that more homes get access to clean running water, and plans are well underway to eradicate the sanitation backlog.

Pretoria - Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu has called for more sustainable methods to ensure the closure of open holes, shafts and underground tunnels to prevent illegal miners from reopening sealed access points.

Pretoria – South Africa and Azerbaijan have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Regular Political Consultations, which will see the two countries strengthening cooperation in various fields such as energy, defence, education and skills development, trade and investment.