South Africa

Durban - South African writer Mandla Langa has scooped the Commonwealth Writers' Prize Best Book Award in the Africa Region 2009 for "The Lost Colours of the Chameleon".

Johannesburg - Education Minister Naledi Pandor visited the University of Witwatersrand on Thursday to check on whether the investments made by the department for infrastructure development were being properly utilised.

Skukuza - The Kruger National Park will ban visitors from using any alcohol in public areas as of next week.

Pretoria - The City of Tshwane is slowly restoring its bus service after it was interrupted last week by the striking employees.

Cape Town - Government might consider banning alcohol adverts in its concerted effort to fight the serious problems associated with substance abuse facing the country.

Mafikeng - The Department of Education, the FIFA Local Organising Committee and the United State Consul General, Andrew Passen visited the Redibone Middle School in Mafikeng on Thursday to meet the winners of the provincial leg of the School Confederations Cup.

Pretoria - All registered South Africans living abroad and wishing to vote in the 2009 general elections must notify the Chief Electoral Officer of their intention to vote within 15 days.

Johannesburg - Training for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup volunteers has officially kicked off, marking another significant milestone for the 2010 FIFA World Cup appetizer.

Johannesburg - The provincial commemoration of the National Youth Day in Gauteng started with the opening of a multi-million rand upgraded Koma Road this morning in Soweto.

Horsham, Britain - G20 finance ministers and central bank governors have pledged to take further action to find solutions to the current global financial crisis.

Mossel Bay - An investigation into the death of a worker at PetroSA's Mossel Bay gas-to-liquids refinery is to be launched.

Pretoria - Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele has called upon the country's youth to be ambassadors for road safety by being cautious on the roads and obeying the rules of the road.

Mafikeng - The North West Department of Education has started the Letsema Cleaning Campaign to ensure that leaning resumes smoothly on the first day when schools open.

Johannesburg - A new Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP) aimed at creating and retaining jobs is to be in place early next year, says Minister of Trade and Industry, Rob Davies.

Johannesburg - The struggle may be different from the one in 1976 but the Gauteng youth's message is clear - they will not give up.