South Africa

Cape Town - The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has indicated that it is ready for the upcoming local government elections on 18 May.

Johannesburg - The contraction of South Africa's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 3 percent for the second quarter of 2009, indicates the economy is still in recession, says Business Unity South Africa.

Pretoria - Weaknesses in communication, accountability, skills shortages and lack of community involvement in some municipalities were among the contributory factors to service delivery backlogs, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe said on Tuesday.

East London - The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has developed a housing turnaround strategy in an attempt to tackle its housing backlog.

Johannesburg - The Department of Higher Education and Training hopes to increase student enrolment at Further Education and Training (FET) colleges to at least one million by 2015.

Pretoria - The public will be able to request more information or ask specific questions related to the H1N1 Influenza, or swine flu, via a hotline, from Wednesday.

Pretoria - South Africa and Zimbabwe are to reinforce bilateral relations at the South Africa-Zimbabwe Business Forum, to be held next week.

Nelspruit - Agricultural bodies have welcomed a commitment by the Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Administration to address a critical skills shortage in the farming sector.

Bushbuckridge - Before revealing who she was during a surprise visit to Machaye High School in Agincourt village on Tuesday, MEC Reginah Mhaule asked matrics what they would ask the education MEC if they met her.

Pretoria - Voters who will be in hospital or housebound on Election Day have until today to submit their applications to vote at the office of their respective Municipal Electoral Officer.

Berlin - South African 800m runner Caster Semenya is widely tipped to claim a gold medal in the final tonight at the 12th International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) World Championships.

Johannesburg - Thousands of singers, painters and other artists countrywide are gearing for the largest football spectacle which comes to South Africa next year, the FIFA World Cup.

North West - MEC for Public Safety in the North West, Howard Yawa, has warned that police conduct should at all times be above reproach and in line with the pledge to protect and serve.

Pretoria - Correctional Services National Commissioner Tom Moyane presented the department's five-year strategic plan, which provides bold and clear performance targets, to the Portfolio Committee.

Pretoria - The Ministry for Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities has welcomed the heavy sentence handed down to serial rapist and murderer David Randitsheni by the Modimolle Circuit Court in Limpopo.