South Africa

Pretoria - The Gauteng provincial government has set a target to reduce new HIV infections by 50 percent by 2011.

Durban - The USA handed Bafana Bafana their first defeat in four games to claim the 2010 Nelson Mandela Challenge Trophy at the Green Point Stadium in Cape Town, last night.

Pretoria - Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane has committed herself to restore the culture of learning and teaching in one of the worst performing schools in the province.

Pretoria - The President of Madagascar's Highest Transitional Authority (HAT), Andry Rajoelina, has reaffirmed control of the state machinery despite an alleged attempted coup d'etat in the Indian Ocean island country on Wednesday.

Pretoria - Home Affairs Deputy Minister Malusi Gigaba has called for collective action among Southern African Development Community countries to combat human trafficking.

Cape Town - A shipment of aid is expected to leave South Africa on Freedom Day, April 27, for Haiti in solidarity with the world's first black republic, the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Lindiwe Sisulu, announced today.

Pretoria - The Police Ministry has dismissed reports that police reservists would "feel the chill" of a draft policy, which would see changes to their uniforms and reporting structures, labeling the reports as misleading.

Cape Town - If the World Bank chose not to approve the $3.75-billion loan to help build two new power stations, we can "essentially say goodbye to our country", said Minister of Public Enterprises Barbara Hogan in Pretoria today.

Pretoria - Government says it's committed to ensuring that the capital investment programme of state-owned entities remains on course while work is underway to strengthen their management and oversight.

Pretoria - The South African government is taking a fresh approach in dealing with the scourge of alcohol abuse, especially amongst pregnant women.

Pretoria - Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane has called on the province's people to work together with the government in ensuring that guests arriving for the 2010 FIFA World Cup spectacle have a pleasant stay.

Pretoria - The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality is inviting learners with good matric results who also come from indigent families, child-headed families and families in distress to apply for mayoral scholarships before the end of this week.

Pretoria - An investigation into the exact cause of Tuesday's explosion at the Bloed Street Mall is underway.

Durban - The South African government has appealed to trade unions not to use the 2010 FIFA World Cup as leverage should a strike within the health sector prevail as recent media reports suggest.

Pretoria - The Albertina Sisulu Freeway, formerly known as the R21/R24 - the highway that links Joburg to all other Gauteng municipalities - will be completed by the end of April, to the relief of many motorists.