South Africa

Cape Town - MPs have warned the Onderstepoort Biological Products Company (OBP) to get its house in order after the company received a qualified report from the Auditor-General (AG).

Pretoria - The planting of cherry blossom trees will be the order of the day when the Department of International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister Marius Fransman and Japanese Ambassador to South Africa, Toshiro Ozawa, get together later today to celebrate a hundred years of relations between the two countries.

Pretoria - Eskom has set up an expert review team to determine whether the first unit of the Medupi power station it is on track to come on line in 2012.

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has, on behalf of the government and people of South Africa, issued a message of condolence to the Kingdom of Thailand following severe flooding that has ravaged the country.

Pretoria - Key national issues, such as the economy, vacancies in the public sector and the performance of government departments fell under the spotlight on Tuesday at a meeting of the President's Coordinating Council (PCC).

Pretoria - International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane has congratulated Judge Albert J Hoffmann on his appointment as Vice-President of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma says he is saddened by the death of his "number one protector", Patrick "Sho" Maphumulo.

Cape Town - Schools are "the bedrock" on which democracy is built, and which will determine whether democracy will work or not, Western Cape Premier Helen Zille said on Wednesday.

Atteridgeville - Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has reiterated the call for educators and learners to effectively use the time allocated for learning and teaching during school hours, and to ensure that nothing interferes with teaching time.

Springs - Now is the time to put away cellphones, stop attending parties, buckle down and focus on your books, says Gauteng Education MEC Barbara Creecy.

Durban - The KwaZulu-Natal Education Department says it is ready for the 2011 National Senior Certificate Examination, with great importance placed quality invigilation and prevention of irregularities.

Pretoria - Security operations for the Census 2011 are running smoothly, says the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (Natjoints).

Pretoria - The 2011 Matric Results will be published in all accredited media, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) has announced.

Pretoria - The Department of Human Settlements has received yet another clean audit, making it the 17th year in a row that it has achieved that feat.

Cape Town - The Department of Home Affairs has urged parents to register their children within 30 days of birth.