South Africa

Pretoria - The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) is to spend R136 billion to acquire about 7000 new trains and upgrade and modernise train stations.

Cape Town - Partnerships between the state and private sector are key if government is to train more people and create more jobs, the Minister of Tourism Marthinus van Schalkwyk said on Thursday, while delivering his Budget Vote speech in Parliament.

Cape Town - Opposition members have welcomed President Jacob Zuma's announcement in his State of the Nation Address that government would spend more on infrastructure development, but urged the President to focus more on developing skills, implementing labour reforms and tackling corruption to ensure that the country overcomes unemployment and poverty.

Pretoria - The Department of Home Affairs is to issue 2000 smart card ID's during the project's pilot phase, the Home Affairs Director-General Mkuseli Apleni has announced.

Durban - With a staggering number of teenagers consuming alcohol in South Africa, government has partnered with the private sector to tackle the problem of underage drinking.

The Gauteng Department of Health has urged people in the high risk groups to immunize against influenza.

Pretoria - Communications Minister Dina Pule is heading a South African delegation to Geneva that will participate in the International Telecommunication Union's World Radio communications Conference.

East London - Eastern Cape Economic Development MEC Mcebisi Jonas says social housing projects are an integral part of government's quest to enhance racial integration.

Cape Town - The Department of Arts and Culture is aiming to create tens of thousands of jobs through its rolling out of 28 heritage projects and with the launch of various new programmes under a new arts strategy, the Minister of Arts and Culture Paul Mashatile revealed in his Budget Vote speech on Thursday.

East London - Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale says people should start building their own homes and stop relying on government alone to provide RDP houses.

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has declared that former Minister of Corporative Governance and Traditional Affairs Sicelo Shiceka is to receive an official funeral.

Pretoria- Former President Nelson Mandela has undergone a procedure via endoscopy to have gall stones removed.

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma says "phenomenal strides" have been made in the past 18 years in promoting national unity and reconciliation among South Africans.

Pretoria - Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande has appointed University of KwaZulu-Natal Vice Chancellor Professor Malegapuru Makgoba to head the Ministerial Oversight Committee on Transformation.

Pretoria - Public Enterprises Minister, Malusi Gigaba, has appointed South African Airways (SAA) executive chairperson Vuyisile Kona as the airline's acting CEO.