South Africa

Johannesburg - West Ham United striker, Benni McCarthy, was the major casualty when the Bafana Bafana final 23-man World Cup squad was announced on Tuesday.

Pretoria - South African referee, Jerome Damon, is among the 19 out of the 29 referee trios who has been retained for the quarter-final games by the FIFA Referees Committee.

Pretoria - Seventy-six families are to receive new houses to commemorate Youth Month, the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) said on Tuesday.

Pretoria - One of the 2010 FIFA World Cup surprise packages, Korea DPR, arrived at OR Tambo airport a short while ago, to take part in the upcoming football spectacle.

Durban - Cristiano Ronaldo is a sporting idol, revered by young children around the world for his masterful skills with the ball, and they can only dream about a moment with the star. But for a few ball crew members and flag bearers in Durban, the dream of getting a glimpse of their football heroes became a reality, writes Kemantha Govender.

Cape Town – South African Airways (SAA) says it will be ready to present its turnaround strategy to national government by early April.

Pretoria - As part of the preparations for this year's 2010 FIFA World Cup, Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) is to impose restrictions on hand luggage for domestic flights.

Durban - TB advocacy and community mobilisation will be among the topics to be covered by experts during the 2nd TB Conference currently taking place at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Convention Centre.

Cape Town – There should be consequences for police that do not perform; teachers that do not deliver quality teaching and civil servants that do business with the state, National Planning Minister Trevor Manuel said on Tuesday.

Cape Town - Minister for Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities Noluthando Mayende-Sibiya has urged parents to be responsible during the World Cup which will see the closure of all schools in the country.

Durban - Partnerships are seen as the way forward in eliminating TB and HIV in the country.

Pretoria - South African paralympic star, Oscar Pistorius, who is standing accused of murdering his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, has been remanded in police holding cells.

Pretoria - Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan agrees that there is a need for the reduction of some banking fees

Pretoria - A mass escape by prisoners at the Harrismith Correctional Centre on Monday has led to the summarily dismissal of two Correctional Services officials who were linked to the escape.

Pretoria - Retail trade sales in November 2009 fell by 6.6 percent, indicating that South African households are still facing tough times.