South Africa

Cape Town – Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene says he is confident that despite a turbulent economic climate, government will over the next three years reduce its budget deficit.

Pretoria - While strides have been made since the establishment of the Department of Energy in 2010, Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson says that the country needs to engage in a national dialogue about its energy future.

Pretoria – Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson says R850 million of her department’s R7.4-billion budget will go towards nuclear development.

Pretoria – Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Minister Jeff Radebe says his newly reconfigured department remains in a strong position to carry out the planning function throughout government.

Pretoria - Police have confirmed that they have found five-year-old Mongezi Phike, who was kidnapped during a car hijacking.

Pretoria – A crime intelligence-based operation, on Sunday, led to the arrest of a most wanted suspect in connection to a number of house robbery cases and a car hijacking, in Limpopo.

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has called on the public to help law enforcement authorities to bring back five-year old, Mongezi Phike, safe and unharmed after a horrible hijacking.

Bojanala – For Ntshabele Virginia’s six-year-old niece life will never be the same again, thanks to the new crutches she received to help her move freely around.

Malamulele - Communications Minister Faith Muthambi says the Malamulele Hospital in Thulamela, Limpopo, should be a facility of choice, where quality healthcare services should be the order of the day.

Pretoria - Government has thanked all South Africans, from all sectors, for working together and dedicating 67 minutes of their time to clean up their surroundings.

Durban - Through Operation Phakisa government aims to implement its policies and programmes better, faster and more effectively.

Giyani – Communications Minister Faith Muthambi has taken the Evuxakeni Psychiatric Hospital, in Giyani, Limpopo, under her wing to help improve and make it a centre of hope for the patients living there.

Pretoria - After the first Mandela Day in 2009, Mandela thanked all who had supported it. He said: “It is our hope that people will dedicate their time and effort to improve the conditions within their own communities. We thank you for participating in Mandela Day”.

Pretoria - A 72-year-old, Emily Serebolo of Santa Santa, in Kimberley, watched in amazement and with teary eyes as an army of Mandela Day spirit-filled-workers gathered in her yard to give her a new warm home.

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma will today launch the first phase of Operation Phakisa -- an initiative aimed at fast-tracking the delivery of the priorities outlined in the National Development Plan (NDP).