South Africa

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma says restoration of land to rightful owners was one of the biggest responsibilities given to the democratic government.

Bushbuckridge - Mpumalanga's most improved no-fee school went from a matric pass rate of below 20% to 100% in the space of one year.

Pretoria – The Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster of the government said its saddened by the untimely death of Colonel Patrick Karegyeya and passes condolences to his wife and children.

Pretoria - Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande says there is a catalogue of opportunities available to the Class of 2013 wishing to further their studies.

Pretoria - The 2013/2014 festive season death toll on the country’s roads has declined slightly, according to the preliminary reports released by the Department of Transport on Thursday.

Pretoria - The SA National Roads Agency (SANRAL) says that people who have received a huge e-toll bill have failed to comply with the timeframes stipulated in the enforcement of e-toll violations.

Pretoria – Brand South Africa has welcomed all soccer players and football fans to South Africa ahead of the 2014 Orange African Nations Championship (CHAN) scheduled from 11 January to 1 February 2014.

North West Premier Thandi Modise says bursaries worth R61 million will be given to the province's top matrics.

By Thabisile Khoza

Pretoria - Women, Children and People with Disabilities Minister Lulu Xingwana has welcomed the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NPA) announcement to call for a maximum sentence against the accused in the brutal murder case of 4-year-old Jasmin Pretorius.

Hazyview - Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza has congratulated the provincial Education Department for improving the matric pass rate from 70% in 2012 to 77.6% in 2013.

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma will on Thursday hand over land to the N'wandlamhlarhi Community Property Association made up of communities who claimed land from Mala Mala game reserve in Mpumalanga province.

Cape Town – Top jazz guitarist Jimmy Dludlu and house music trio Mi Casa are among a number of artists set to perform at the opening ceremony of the third Africa Nations Championship on Saturday, in what singer and musical director Sibongile Khumalo has promised will be better than the opening ceremony of Afcon 2013.

Phalaborwa - The Department of Water and Environmental Affairs (DWEA) has laid criminal charges against the owners of a tailing dam that overflowed and caused extensive pollution of the Selati and Olifants rivers in Limpopo.

The SA National Roads Agency (SANRAL) has clarified confusions over e-tolls bills that were sent to unregistered road users a month after the system was introduced.