South Africa

Pretoria - The youth has a pivotal role to play in restoring the dignity and bettering the lives of South Africans, says Home Affairs Deputy Minister Fatima Chohan.

Cape Town - There never was anything wrong with Madiba, the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Lindiwe Sisulu said today after the former President yesterday underwent a planned medical procedure.

Carletonville - Despite the many advances in mining legislation, poor living conditions and general negligence of health issues were still evident in the country's mines, Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu said at the weekend.

Johannesburg - The Department of Education has welcomed the report compiled by Professor Mary Metcalf into the delivery of textbooks to Limpopo schools, saying that the report adequately captures the complexities of the Section 100 (1)(b) intervention in that province and the difficulties experience by national government in terms of the provision of textbooks to schools in Limpopo.

Cape Town - The Minister of Correctional Services Sbu Ndebele said it was regrettable that some of the prisoners that were pardoned in April had re-offended.

Carletonville - As the world marked Tuberculosis Day on Saturday, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe urged South Africans to regularly test for TB and HIV, saying government would continue to implement programmes to fight the diseases.

Pretoria - Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan has asked the Financial Services Ombud Schemes (FSOS) Council to ensure that it operates efficiently and effectively, and that all rulings by financial services ombuds are free of interference by interested parties.

Pretoria - Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk has announced the appointment of the new board members of South African Tourism (SAT), which will now be headed by Frank Kilbourn, the deputy chairperson of the previous SAT board.

Pretoria - KwaZulu-Natal Premier Dr Zweli Mkhize has arrived in Osaka on an official visit aimed at getting companies in Japan to invest in the province of KwaZulu-Natal.

Pretoria - Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) has confirmed that it will be sending a delegation of over 50 companies to South Africa's second BRICS Business Forum in New Delhi, India, which kicks off on Wednesday.

Pretoria - Higher Education and Training Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, has approved an outstanding pay progression for Limpopo Further Education and Training (FET) college staff as part of administrative intervention in the province.

Pretoria - Ahead of International Mandela Day on Wednesday, Correctional Services Minister Sbusiso Ndebele and offenders have donated school uniforms and food to residents of Donkerhoek near Piet Retief in Mpumalanga.

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma is in Seoul, South Korea, for the Nuclear Security Summit that will see discussions around a guarantee on safety of nuclear materials and technology in efforts to prevent nuclear terrorism.

Pretoria- Government has not taken a decision on whether to reduce crude oil imports from Iran with a response expected in May, the Department of Energy has said.

Pretoria - Two Gauteng educators have been dismissed by the provincial Basic Education Department after being found guilty of three counts of misconduct.