South Africa

Pretoria - The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has welcomed the sentencing of international rhino horn smuggling syndicate kingpin and Thai national Chumlong Lemtongthai.

Pretoria - The Department of Trade and Industry has clarified media reports stating that the revised Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Codes could ruin charities, saying the B-BBEE process contributes to economic transformation while seeking to create an equitable society.

Pretoria - The Ministry for Performance Monitoring and Evaluation has, since its establishment, introduced a range of performance monitoring and evaluation practices that have made government effective, President Jacob Zuma said.

Pretoria - The North West provincial government has welcomed the release of the Census 2011 results by Statistics South Africa as a helpful set of data that will assist in effectively planning for the needs of its people.

Pretoria - The South African government has committed itself to helping Angolan refugees return to their home country.

Pretoria - The Department of Home Affairs will extend operating hours at a number of ports of entry to accommodate the high traveller volumes expected over the Easter period.

Pretoria - New generators installed at various primary health care clinics in Orange Farm and Soweto are expected to curb disruptions and allow health practitioners to carry out their work, in the event of power outages.

Pretoria - Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi and the Chief Executive Officers of leading healthcare companies in South Africa have signed a social compact agreement aimed at, among other things, addressing the shortage of medical doctors and fighting the scourge of TB, HIV and Aids.

Pretoria - Investment in youth programmes is a necessity for South Africa, says Deputy Minister for Performance, Monitoring and Evaluation Obed Bapela.

Cape Town - Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe has called on mining houses to change their conditions of employment to enable miners to visit their homes and see their families more often.

Pretoria - The number of rhinos poached in South Africa since the beginning of the year now stands at 281, with a total of 176 arrests being made in connection with the activity.

Cape Town - The Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande, says more opportunities need to be made available to empower the millions of young South Africans who are unemployed.

Pretoria - Home Affairs Minister Naledi Pandor has congratulated Home Affairs Deputy Director-General for Information Services, Sello Mmakau, who has been named the Visionary Chief Information Officer (CIO) for 2012.

Pretoria - National Treasury has set up a system to track government departments' compliance with the provision of paying service providers within the 30-day period as stipulated in the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).

Cape Town - The launch of a state-of-the-art forensic laboratory in Cape Town, by the Minister of Police Nathi Mthethwa today, is to help police to fight crime more smartly.