South Africa

Polokwane - An estimated 50 000 people are reported to have visited wildlife resorts in Limpopo over the festive season - more than double the number of visitors in 2010.

East London - The Eastern Cape Education Department is scrambling to fill vacant teaching posts in some of the province's most understaffed schools.

Pretoria - Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe on Wednesday paid a visit to schools in Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape.

Pretoria - Facing what many would deem as insurmountable challenges, a triumphant Tinos Sibanda has managed to obtain six distinctions, including distinctions in Maths and Science.

Pretoria - Two suspected rhino poachers were killed after a shootout with rangers on the eastern boundary of the Kruger National Park on Wednesday.

Pretoria - With a few weeks to go before Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan tables the 2012 budget in Parliament, the public is called upon to send in their tips to the minister.

Cape Town - Despite the ongoing worldwide economic dip resulting in shrinking tourism figures, South Africa's Western Cape tourism industry showed significant growth in 2011.

Pretoria - The Department of Higher Education and Training has launched the Green Paper for Post-School Education and Training, which will see the country move towards producing more graduates with the in-demand skills necessary to grow the economy.

Johannesburg - Corruption ought to be declared as the enemy of all South Africans, says Justice Minister Jeff Radebe.

Pretoria - The Department of Higher Education and Training plans to raise the number of student enrolments in colleges and post- school institutions to 4 000 000 by 2030, Minister Blade Nzimande announced today.

Pretoria - Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele has urged senior managers in his department to accelerate service delivery this year.

East London - The fifth East London leg of the gruelling Spec-Savers 70.3 Ironman has attracted the largest number of triathletes since the competition was first hosted by the city in 2008.

Pretoria - Communications Minister Dina Pule introduced recently appointed SABC CEO Lulama Mokhobo to staff at the public broadcaster on Wednesday.

Pretoria - Arts and Culture Minister Paul Mashatile has paid tribute to acclaimed guitarist George Nxusa, who died on Saturday.

Cape Town - Lobby group Human Rights Watch has warned that housing rights for farm workers in the fruit and wine industries in the Western Cape are being abused.