South Africa

Pretoria - As violence and intimidation continues to flare in the nationwide public servants' strike, government has interdicted unions in order to ensure that essential services continue.

Cape Town – No decision had been taken by the government on whether or not to apply an export levy to coal, Minister of Mineral Resources Susan Shabangu said on Wednesday.

Pretoria - The process of issuing Zimbabweans with relevant South African permits for business, study and work will commerce on 20 September, Home Affairs announced on Friday.

Pretoria - Ekurhuleni Mayor Ntombi Mekgwe and has added her voice to the chorus of support for the Class of 2010 and sent them her best wishes for their final matric exams.

President Jacob Zuma has welcomed the letters he has received from various media groupings locally and internationally, raising their concerns about the Protection of Information Bill, as well as the ruling party's Media Appeals Tribunal.

Pretoria -Strategies to deal with crime must come from the people, believes Gauteng's new Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Mzwandile Petros.

Pretoria- Cabinet has expressed its full support to the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans following reports that the Minister had refused to table an interim report to the Portfolio Committee on Defence.

Pretoria - The Department of Correctional Services has refuted reports that Clive Derby-Lewis, who is serving a life sentence for the murder of Chris Hani, is to be placed on parole in October.

Pretoria - Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor has encouraged delegates at the 22nd International Committee on Data for Science and Technology (CODATA) conference to use science as a means to address the challenges that stand in the way of development.

Pretoria - A total of 365 117 people in the North West province have been tested for HIV since the launch of HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) campaign in April.

Pretoria - The new growth path, aimed at providing a policy framework for a labour intensive growth strategy, is currently being finalised within government.

Soweto - The graves of struggle heroines Charlotte Maxeke, Helen Joseph and Lillian Ngoyi were declared heritage sites in Soweto on Friday.

Plettenberg Bay - The mood was jubilant when several residents from the impoverished township of Kwanokuthula in Plettenberg Bay were given keys to their new homes over the weekend.

Plettenberg Bay - Unless serious interventions are taken to address poverty at household level, government may struggle to address the plight of poor South Africans for years to come, warned Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe.

Pretoria- The Labour Court granted government an interdict on Saturday prohibiting those employed in essential services from participating in the public servants strike.