South Africa

Pretoria - Cabinet has approved the marking of the month of March as the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) month.

Tzaneen - Limpopo's first female Shangaan traditional leader, Hosi Phyllia Nwamitwa, has turned her home into a training centre where young people from poor families are taught basic life skills.

Johannesburg - Re-appointed Bafana Bafana coach, Carlos Alberto Parreira, is confident that his players will reach the knockout stages of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, despite its recent ailing performance.

Johannesburg - Reserve Bank Governor Tito Mboweni says no emergency meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has been convened as yet.

Pretoria - Rape and murder of children happening across South Africa remains a serious public challenge, says Minister of Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities, Noluthando Mayende-Sibiya.

Cape Town- Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has called on Southern African Development Community (SADC) members to celebrate their commitment to democracy, peace and good political and economic governance this year.

Pretoria - Government will embark on a week-long public participation (Imbizo) drive from Monday which will see Cabinet Ministers communicating progress on the implementation of the Programme of Action.

Parliament - Pretoria, Mangaung, Durban and the Nelson Mandela Metro are some of the host cities that have reported to Parliament, saying they are ready to host the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in June.

Pretoria - South Africa will strengthen relations at the 4th Forum on Africa-China Cooperation (FOCAC) which kicks of today in Egypt.

Pretoria - Police National Commissioner Bheki Cele is confident that the new Tactical Response Team (TRT) will play a critical role in minimising serious crime situations.

Pretoria - As Gill Marcus takes over as Governor of the Reserve Bank today, economists have praised her experience in the banking sector.

Pretoria - Entrepreneurship remains one of the best ways to boost job creation, Deputy Trade and Industry (dti) Minister Elizabeth Thabethe says.

Cape Town - South Africa is to explore ways in which green energy can be used to operate the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope.

Pretoria - Gauteng Traffic Police on Wednesday impounded 31 taxis in Johannesburg for operating without permits.

Bulwer - A freak storm destroyed 178 homes, left 66 people injured and one dead in Nkwzela in the Ingwe Local Municipality near Bulwer.