South Africa

Pretoria – Pretoria Magistrate Desmond Nair has ruled that athlete Oscar Pistorius will be released on bail after the killing of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Durban - The year 2010 is an exceptionally significant one in South Africa. It was the first time that Africa hosted a FIFA World Cup and the second milestone celebrated throughout the year is the 150 year anniversary of the arrival of indentured Indians in the country. Kemantha Govender takes a look at the importance of the event.

Pretoria - The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) CEO, Smunda Mokoena, has been placed on a leave of absence.

Pretoria - When Bafana Bafana were held to a 1-1 draw by Namibia on Wednesday, their first opponents at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Mexico were intensifying their aggressive winning spree.

Pretoria - The Limpopo Department of Health and Social Development will on Friday admit 234 auxiliary nurses and 347 enrolled nurses into its ranks to help ease the load in provincial healthcare institutions.

Pretoria - South Africa needs to use next year's climate change talks in Durban as an opportunity to fight global warming, says environmental lobby group, Greenpeace Africa.

Pretoria - North West MEC for Public Safety Howard Yawa has vowed to root out corruption within the driving license testing centres in the province.

Cape Town - A project by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development to tackle the backlog of court cases resulted in the finalisation of 18 271 cases between November 2006 and December 2009, Minister Jeff Radebe said on Thursday.

Cape Town - The completion of the New Generation Kimberley Correctional Centre will add an extra 3 000 bed spaces for prisoners and is set to go a long way in alleviating overcrowding in prisons, Minister of Justice Jeff Radebe said on Thursday.

Pretoria - The Department of Defence and Military Veterans is looking at innovative ways to deal with the critical skills shortage in some of its wings.

Cape Town - Minister of Justice Jeff Radebe says his department plans to conduct an annual survey of victims of crime in a bid to build a more effective and caring criminal justice system.

Johannesburg - The South African tourism industry is standing in wait to cash in on the 2010 FIFA World Cup which will be held for the first time in Africa.

Johannesburg - Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk has commissioned Grant Thornton to investigate allegations that some accommodation providers are hiking prices excessively for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Pretoria - Higher Education South Africa (HESA) has condemned students who engaged in violent protests to voice their demands for free education in public higher education institutions.

17 February 2010

Honourable Speaker
It is my privilege to present the first budget of the administration of President Zuma to this House.
Last week we had the special honour of hosting former President Mandela in Parliament. He exuded his inimitable magic. He reminded us of what we have achieved in our struggle for freedom and in our democratic journey. He reminded us that South Africans are capable of extraordinary things. We are, as you also reminded us, Mr President, an extraordinary people.