South Africa

Pretoria - Government has increased the age of its child support grant beneficiaries to 15 years, in an attempt to reach more vulnerable children.

Pietermaritzburg - Various celebrities will be rolling up their sleeves this weekend to assist with building houses and raising funds, among other things, for victims of the recent natural disasters in KwaZulu-Natal.

Cape Town - Cape Town's City Traffic Services will be out in full force this weekend as an estimated 40 000 people are expected at the annual J & B Met to be held at Kenilworth.

Johannesburg - Volunteers are a key element to the successful hosting of the FIFA Confederations Cup, says FIFA Head of Communication Delia Fischer.

Pretoria - The South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) is to raise a further R25 billion in debt finance to upgrade and improve critical road networks in the country.

Africa's current leaders have a great responsibility to realise the dream set out by the continent's forefathers of independence years ago, that of a politically and economically united continent, writes Bathandwa Mbola.

Johannesburg - Ecstatic South African soccer fans are confident that Bafana Bafana will make them proud by walloping Iraq.

Johannesburg - The opening match for the FIFA 2009 Confederations Cup between South Africa and Iraq is underway.

Bisho - Robust research inputs from South Africa's academic and research institutes are needed to better the lives of people by delivering quality social services.

Johannesburg - The atmosphere generated by the South African fans at the Ellis Park stadium is incredible, particularly to international soccer fans who are experiencing it for the first time.

White River - More than 100 wild animals and plants were seized during a two-month operation aimed at combating cross-border trade in great apes and other wildlife.

Cape Town - Effective and decisive action is needed in the fight against piracy, oil theft and drug trafficking off Africa's coastline, says Chief of the South African Navy Vice Admiral Johannes Mudimu.

Johannesburg - Bafana Bafana and Iraq played a goalless draw in the thrilling opening match for the FIFA Confederations Cup at Ellis Park on Sunday.

Cape Town - President Kgalema Motlanthe has approved the National Prosecuting Authority Amendment Bill, 2008 and the South African Police Service Amendment Bill, 2008.

Pretoria - Google has announced a R8.6 million grant to the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory that will help to preserve and give unprecedented digital access to thousands of archival documents, photographs and audio-visual materials about the life and times of Madiba.