South Africa

Pretoria - The City of Johannesburg has hit back at claims that it denied the existence of billing problems, saying it is well aware of the extent of the problem and determined to deal with it.

Brisbane - The flood ravaged northern Australian state of Queensland is now within 12 hours of facing down what experts are saying is the most powerful cyclone to hit Australia in generations.

Pretoria - Jimmy Manyi, the Director-General of the Department of Labour, will take over from Themba Maseko as Chief Executive Officer of GCIS and Cabinet spokesperson with immediate effect.

Pretoria - One of the world's largest petro-chemical company Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) has opened an office in Cape Town.

Polokwane - Almost half a million job opportunities will be created in Limpopo this year, provincial government authorities have said.

Polokwane - A Limpopo district municipality has appointed a watchdog body to monitor the use of municipal funds.

Pretoria - A million passengers have been transported on the Gautrain between Sandton and OR Tambo International Airport since its launch.

Pretoria - South African stock piles to keep the lights on are at an average of over 40 days, says power parastatal Eskom.

Durban - Emerging black farmers in Bergville, northern Drankensburg, have been given an opportunity to supply yellow maize to South African Breweries (SAB).

Pretoria - World leaders have voiced confidence that with renewed global commitment, the targets to slash hunger, poverty, disease and a host of other social ills can still be achieved by 2015.

Pretoria - National Treasury has welcomed the Open Budget Index Survey results that put South Africa second out of 100 countries in the transparency of its budget processes.

Pretoria - The South African National Blood Services (SANBS) has made an earnest appeal to regular group O blood donors to donate blood as the stocks have fallen to less than three days' supply.

Pretoria - The Gauteng Department of Health and Social Development is to physically verify all of its employees to validate the number of workers in the department.

Ermelo - Government is to spend over R800 billion on energy infrastructure over the next few years.
The announcement was made by President Jacob Zuma on Saturday at the re-opening of the Camden power station in Mpumalanga.

Pretoria - Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe concluded a two-day working visit to Syria with a vow that the two countries will work together in removing all other impediments to trade and investment.