South Africa

Pretoria - Four suspected rhino poachers were arrested this week during an anti-rhino poaching operation at the Kruger National Park.

Cape Town - Three government ministers are expected to attend Nedlac sessions soon to expedite the debate around the implementation of a youth-wage subsidy, the Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe revealed on Wednesday.

Pretoria - The Gauteng e-tolling system will soon be a reality even though government and stakeholders are not at a point of conclusion at their final round of talks, but are getting closer to finding a consensus.

Pretoria - Women, Children and People with Disabilities Minister Lulu Xingwana says the Women Empowerment and Gender Equality Bill will help enforce gender parity both in the private and public sectors.

Pretoria - The foreign ministers of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - known as the BRICS countries - have expressed their "deep concern with the escalation of violence and the deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation in Syria".

Mbashe - Tucked away below the green rolling hills and rugged grasslands found in the belt of the former Transkei, a stones-throw away from the famous Mbashe River, lies a promising village with people who have stories to tell.

Pretoria - The Financial Services Laws General Amendment Bill, 2012, was this week tabled in Parliament, according to the National Treasury

Pretoria - The current situation in Syria is a major concern for South Africa, says International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister Marius Fransman.

Pretoria - As South Africa looked forward to the second century of modern mining, things would need to be done differently from the previous century, says Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu.

Pretoria - The Women Empowerment and Gender Equality Bill, which was approved by Cabinet last week, has been published in the Government Gazette and is ready for public comments.

Johannesburg - Nations fail because they don't have inclusive political and economic institutions, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said on Thursday.

Pretoria - The decision by rating agency Moody's Investor Services to downgrade South Africa's government bonds to Baa1 from A3 with a negative outlook has been noted by Government, said National Treasu

Pretoria - Claims for HIV, AIDS and TB-related conditions are among the top ten cost drivers for medical claims made annually, and employees are accessing disease management packages at an advanced stage of their HIV infection, usually with low CD4 counts, according to the annual key health trends reported by the Government Employee Medical Scheme (GEMS).

Mbombela - Parents in Mpumalanga have one month left to register their children early for the 2013 school year.

Pretoria - South Africa and Slovakia have signed a joint declaration to boost bilateral economic relations at the 4th session of the Slovakia-SA Joint Council for Economic Cooperation.