South Africa

Durban - Gary Kirsten has been appointed coach of the South African cricket team, while AB de Villiers will be captain of both ODI and T20 squads.

Pretoria - Eastern Cape Premier Noxolo Kiviet has called on all government structures in the province to work collectively in assisting the Departments of Education and Health, which account for more than 75% of the provincial budget.

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma is in the Eastern Cape to assess and evaluate the functioning of government in the province.

Pretoria - The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) says more than R3 million has been paid to 445 Soweto train accident victims.

Pretoria - Three Mozambican rhino poachers have each been sentenced to 25 years imprisonment by the Phalaborwa Regional Court, says the South African National Parks (SANParks).

Pretoria - Acceleration of service delivery, job creation and ensuring the continuation of good governance practices will be among the key priorities of the new eThekwini Municipality mayor during his term of office.

Mount Frere - Education officials in the Eastern Cape's Mount Frere district are still upbeat despite having to deal with some of the country's worst teaching and learning conditions.

Pretoria - The Eternity Flame of Remembrance at Parliament has been switched back on after it was switched off in December.

Pretoria - Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has directed her department to put in place urgent measures to help victims of the recent tornado in Free State and Gauteng.

Pretoria - Tshwane mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa has welcomed investigations by the Public Protector into allegations of misusing public funds and resources to campaign for his re-election as chairperson of the ANC's Tshwane region.

Johannesburg - The on-going fatal crashes across the province will not stop until irresponsible drivers are strictly punished, says Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC, Ismail Vadi.

Buenos Aires - More than 100 flights have been cancelled in the last 24 hours in Argentina due to a towering plume of ash blown into the country from the erupting Puyehue volcano in neighbouring Chile.

Cape Town - Justice Minister Jeff Radebe has rolled out a number of building projects meant to improve South Africans' access to justice.

Pretoria - The Gauteng Health Department has vehemently disputed a media report about uncollected rape kits, which have run out of storage at provincial hospitals.

Cape Town - In a bid to clear the court case backlog and ensure faster finalisation of cases, the Chief Justice has established a coordinating committee to deal with case flow management.