South Africa

Pretoria - The Johannesburg Labour Court has granted the Department of Correctional Services an interdict against striking department officials.

Durban - King Goodwill Zwelithini has called for the KwaZulu-Natal Agriculture Department's initiative, One Home, One Garden, to become even more effective in the province.

Polokwane - National Police Commissioner General Bheki Cele has told officers to exercise caution when dealing with children to avoid deaths such as that of a school pupil in the Free State this week.

Pretoria - Defence and Military Veterans Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has praised members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) for availing their services at the various country's hospitals during the public service strike.

Pretoria - Despite prelims being disrupted in most of provinces, KwaZulu-Natal schools have not experienced any of this since exams started on Monday. This was confirmed by Education MEC Senzo Mchunu.

Pretoria - A call centre has been established by the national Department of Health to provide assistance to patients who are on chronic medication and are encountering difficulties accessing their treatment during the ongoing public service strike.

Pretoria - Parliament's two-day Women's Summit on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) kicks off today.

Mbombela - Mpumalanga's Department of Education has been grilled for paying R23 million in performance bonuses in the 2008/2009 financial year, even though the province produced a matric pass rate of just 51.8 percent.

Pretoria - With a housing backlog of over two million and more than 12 million people in dire need of houses, government is embarking on radical changes that could turn the tide of housing delivery in the country, reports Chris Bathembu.

Pretoria - Three proposed higher education and training Amendment Bills will see the department taking on functions previously vested with the Basic Education and Labour Departments.

Pretoria - A Limpopo woman has walked away with the 2010 Female Entrepreneur of the Year Award pledging to make an impact on the lives of rural communities in her province.

Cape Town - The proposed Protection of Information Bill is to be overhauled to make it easier to understand and eliminate any confusion that might arise, the Minister of State Security Siyabonga Cwele said in Parliament today.

Pretoria - An anti-alcohol abuse lobby group has welcomed reported plans in legislation to deal "harshly" with alcohol abuse by teenagers in Gauteng.

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma on Monday heaped praise on the Indian community in South Africa saying they have contributed "a great deal" to the country's economic and political landscape.

Tokyo - Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan unveiled the roster of a fresh Japanese Cabinet early Friday afternoon, naming Seiji Maehara as new foreign minister.