South Africa

Pretoria – The Department of Basic Education, together with the social and law enforcement agencies, has launched a campaign to ensure schools are drug and alcohol free zones.

Pretoria – Cabinet has weighed in on the reported deaths of young initiates, saying while it fully supports the traditions and cultures of all South Africans, these should be balanced with the country’s constitutional rights.

Pretoria – As the Diepsloot area remains tense following days of looting of shops owned by foreign nationals, government has called on communities to be vigilant against the possible resurgence of criminal violence targeting foreigners.

Pretoria - Gauteng police administration staff are set to take to the streets this morning as they demand better salary grades.

Cape Town – Africans must stop blaming outsiders for the continent’s ills and unite to solve their own problems, the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation,, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, said today, echoing President Jacob Zuma’s call earlier this month for the setting up of a rapid deployment unit mooted by the AU.

Pretoria - The Department of Trade and Industry (dti) has urged Japanese companies to choose South Africa as a preferred investment destination.

Pretoria – OR Tambo International Airport and the South African Police Service (SAPS) will embark on a Fire and Safety Campaign in communities adjacent to the airport.

Pretoria - The United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) has lauded the South African government for the remarkable progress it has made in making essential services available to vulnerable children and youth, and keeping their parents and caregivers alive.

Pretoria - The Department of International Relations and Cooperation says they are doing all they can to secure the safe release of the two South Africans kidnaped in Yemen.

Cape Town – The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries intends to ring fence a certain percentage of fishing quotas for youth-owned companies.

Pretoria - South Africa says the political solution in the on-going conflict in Syria must be reflective of their will and aspirations, and protect the inalienable rights of ordinary people.

Cape Town – Danny Glover, a star of Hollywood and an anti-apartheid activist, popped in at Tuynhuys to visit President Jacob Zuma.

Pretoria – The City of Tshwane says it is awaiting an application for settlement from the community of Kleinfontein, situated east of Pretoria.

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma will depart for Japan to join over 40 Heads of State and Government to attend the fifth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD-V) Summit to be held in Yokohama.

Cape Town – Out of a total prison population of 152 514, only 107 471 have been sentenced and are serving time, while 45 043 people or 29.5 percent are detainees on remand, who are clogging up the system.