South Africa

Pretoria - The country's real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the fourth quarter of 2011 rose to 3.2%, says Statistics South Africa (Stats SA).

Pretoria -Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele says the Road Accident Fund (RAF) will cover the burial costs of the couple who died after a Putco bus crashed into their house in Braamfischerville, Soweto.

Pretoria - Government is hoping to sustain between 50 and 100 000 jobs in the construction sector as it rolls out the country's large scale infrastructure plan announced by President Jacob Zuma during the State of the Nation Address, earlier this month.

Sandton - Health stakeholders from the private and public sector have pledged their support for the National Health Insurance (NHI), although some are still concerned about how the scheme will be implemented.

Roodepoort - Home Affairs Deputy Minister Fatima Chohan has urged pupils in Roodepoort to be proud of their South African citizenship and to work hard to attain their goals.

East London - Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini has challenged communities to start championing the right for children to have access to quality early childhood development centres.

Soweto - Having lived in a hostel since 1968, Edmond Ngwenya never believed that the "face of hostels" would change in his lifetime.

Cape Town - The independence of the judiciary is not under threat, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Jeff Radebe assured South Africans on Tuesday.

Johannesburg - Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport Ismail Vadi has urged Gauteng motorists to register for the e-tolling system and get their e-tags ahead of the implementation of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Programme (GFIP).

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has invited Brics countries at the bloc's summit in New Delhi to explore the investment opportunities that exist in South Africa's infrastructure development projects.

Pretoria - The Northern Cape is ready for the establishment of special economic zones, says the Department of Trade and Industry (dti).

Durban - The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has donated R10 million to assist the Republic of Congo after the March 4 explosions in Brazzaville that left hundreds dead.

Ladysmith - As South Africa forges on with its infrastructure build, electricity remains a key developmental goal with government aiming to electrify every household in the country, President Jacob Zuma said on Saturday.

Pretoria - National Treasury says it disagrees with rating agency Standard and Poor's (S&P) assessment, which downgraded South Africa's outlook from stable to negative.

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has extended his good wishes to the national women's soccer squad, Banyana Banyana, ahead of their final Confederation of African Football (CAF) African Women's Championships in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea on Sunday.