South Africa

Johannesburg - Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has assured the public that the proposed National Health Insurance (NHI) should not be perceived as a "monster".

Pretoria - The African National Congress (ANC) on Thursday announced who would be filling the post of premier in eight of the country's provinces.

Pretoria - Over 70 pensioners at the Sonnheim Retirement Centre could not hide their joy on Monday as they cast their special votes for the country's fourth democratic elections.

Durban - Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has arrived in South Africa, ahead of Wednesday's elections.

Mafikeng - North West Public Safety MEC, Howard Yawa, has appealed to companies in the transport industry to put their drivers through driver skills enhancement programmes.

Johannesburg - Given the potential for fires in winter, Joburg's Emergency Management Services (EMS) is urging people to take precautions against the dangers associated with heaters, candles and paraffin stoves.

Johannesburg - Minister in the Presidency Manto Tshabalala-Msimang has urged persons with disabilities to declare their disability status when seeking employment.

Johannesburg - The second round of ticket sales for the 2010 FIFA World Cup has started, with approximately 100 000 tickets available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Pretoria - Government has acknowledged the important role that South Africans abroad played in voting in last week's special votes.

Pretoria - The laboratory results on the one suspected case of swine flu from the Western Cape province has come back negative.

Pretoria - The sports ministry has expressed its dissatisfaction with
Athletics South Africa's (ASA) President, Leonard Chuene, for admitting that he lied about his knowledge of gender tests conducted on Caster Semenya.

Pretoria - Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele has conveyed condolences to the families of at least 20 people who were killed on the country's roads at the weekend.

Tshwane - City residents have been reminded that some streets around the Union Buildings will be closed tomorrow as final preparations for Saturday's Presidential Inauguration are made.

Pretoria - The Automobile Association has welcomed the decision by the
National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) to reduce the cost of transporting petroleum through Transnet's pipelines.

Pretoria - The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has launched an investigation into the discovery of a number of ballot papers in Mpumalanga.