South Africa

Pretoria - The National Council Against Smoking says the increase in excise tax on cigarettes announced by government yesterday is inadequate.

Pretoria - The strike by SATAWU and UTATU trade unions has been temporarily called off, with both unions saying workers will return to their stations during the course of the day.

Pretoria - Siyabonga Gama has been reinstated to the executive committee of Transnet, the transport parastatal announced on Wednesday.

Pretoria - The Gauteng Department of Health is expected to speed up the construction of a new multi-drug resistant TB complex at Sizwe Tropical Disease Hospital.

Pretoria - The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) has welcomed Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan's announcement to allocate an additional R2.1 billion to increase police personnel from 190 000 to 202 260 in 2013/14.

Pretoria - A 4.4 percent decrease in the number of sexual offences reported in the past year may be a step in the right direction, but there is still a mountain to climb when it comes to addressing the problem of sexual assault and rape in South Africa.

Pretoria - Gautengers will today get an opportunity to participate in the public hearings currently underway, into the country's Integrated Resource Plan (IRP2010)

Pretoria - More political parties have commended Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan's 2011 budget for his commitment to job creation, but were cautious about whether there will be actual results.

Pretoria - Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan's 2011 budget reinforces government's commitment to job creation and the relief of poverty, law firm Deneys Reitz Attorneys said.

Pretoria - Gauteng Education MEC Barbara Creecy will on Saturday unveil the expanded Secondary School Improvement Plan (SSIP) aimed at assisting schools that achieved less than 80 percent pass rate in last year's matric exams.

Pretoria - The Institute for Democracy in SA (Idasa) has reacted to the 2011 Budget with cautious optimism, but has warned that debt servicing is by far the fastest increasing budget item over the medium-term.

Pretoria - Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Gugile Nkwinti has extended the consultations process for the draft Land Tenure Security Bill.

For National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) Chairperson Andile Lungisa, helping the youth deal with their daily struggles is a passion rather than a job and this calling is set to be revved up when South Africa plays host to the 17th World Festival for Youth and Students for the first time next month.

Pretoria - Basic Education Minister Angie Motshegka has no intention of adjusting the 2010 matric results and they will be a true reflection of learners' achievement, says the department's Granville Whittle.

Pretoria - Generating electricity with the use of nuclear power technology is an option being considered by government, says Energy Minister Dipuo Peters.