South Africa

Cape Town - Government could soon look into the possibility of retiring teachers over the age of 55 in a bid to address the problem of excess teachers in the country's schools.

Pretoria - The Department of Home Affairs has expressed shock and sadness over the treatment of some Nigerian nationals at OR Tambo International Airport during an incident in which 125 of that country's citizens were deported.

Cape Town - More youngsters in the country's schools are completing Grade 9 - from 80% in 2003 to 88% in 2010 and more are also successfully completing their Grade 12 with over 24% qualifying for Bachelor of Arts studies at universities, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said on Friday.

Pretoria - The Nicholson Inquiry says bonuses paid to Cricket South Africa (CSA) boss Gerald Majola and his staff members may be recovered through civil proceedings in a court of law.

Kimberley - The official opening of the Northern Cape Provincial legislature has been postponed after Premier Hazel Jenkins collapsed during her State of the Province Address.

Pretoria - Government on Friday said it would comply with provisions in the judgement of the merger between Malmart and Massmart.

Mafikeng - Eskom has invested R10.85 billion in electricity infrastructure for the next five years in the North West, the province's Premier Thandi Modise announced on Friday.

Utrecht - In a bid to increase citizens' awareness of its programmes and to foster a culture of participation, government is embarking on a series of engagement seminars with communities around the country.

Pretoria - In the on-going fight against poverty, Western Cape Premier Helen Zille says the province will continue to prioritise job creation and creating conditions needed for an inclusive economic growth in 2012

Pretoria - Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) has welcomed the decision to grant Eskom a reduced tariff increase of 16%, down from the original 25.9% approved in the Multi-Year Price Determination (MYPD 2).

Cape Town - The Department of Health has embarked on a massive audit of clinics and hospitals in preparation for the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI), the Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi said today.

Pretoria - Government has identified business incubation as a priority area in helping transform the economy to promote industrial development, investment, competitiveness and employment creation.

Pretoria - At least 11 people have been confirmed dead after a suicide bomb blast rocked a church in central north Plateau State in Nigeria on Sunday.

Pretoria - Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini has moved to allay fears that there will be disruptions in the paying of social grants during the process to re-register more than 15 million social grant beneficiaries in the country.

Cape Town - The Department of Energy has highlighted some of the lessons it learnt during the climate change conference, COP17, in December.