South Africa

Pretoria - The South African senior women's team, Banyana Banyana, has been drawn in the toughest group of the 2012 London Olympics, which includes World Cup champions, Japan.

Cape Town - Universal health coverage is a worldwide phenomenon supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO), Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi reiterated on Tuesday when tabling his department's Budget Vote in Parliament.

Pretoria - Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe will on Sunday lead the South African delegation to the 19th International Aids Conference, where he is expected to highlight the vision of South Africa's Strategic Plan 2012 - 2016.

Galeshewe - President Jacob Zuma has called on communities to expose and report all those who abuse children.

Pretoria - South Africa stands ready to work at bringing in necessary investment that will ensure the success of the massive infrastructure roll-out plan, says Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba.

Cape Town - South African and Namibian ministers have signed three agreements with one another, including one to set up a bi-national commission, following a meeting between President Jacob Zuma and his Namibian counterpart President Hifikepunye Pohamba.

Cape Town - Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba received a rousing reception by MPs in the National Assembly today as he saluted the strong bonds between his country and South Africa.

Pretoria - Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa has called for a strict sentence to be imposed on rhino poaching kingpin and Thai national, Chumlong Lemtongthai.

Pretoria - Expenditure by South African households has increased by 24.6% between the years of 2005/2006 and 2010/2011, the Income and Expenditure Survey (IES) of 2010/2011 has found.

Pretoria - Higher Education South Africa (HESA) has welcomed the Budget Vote delivered by Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande in Parliament on Tuesday, saying it commits to on-going funding to enhance the capabilities and capacities of public universities.

Cape Town - South Africa's depleted abalone stocks will not recover unless illegal fishing is reduced dramatically.

Pretoria - Reserve Bank Governor Gill Marcus on Tuesday became the first person to use the country's new bank notes bearing the face of former President Nelson Mandela at a Pretoria green grocer.

Pretoria - Bafana Bafana will play Norway in an international friendly at the Green Point Stadium in Cape Town on 8 January 2013.

Pretoria - South Africa will kick off the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) Week celebrations at Freedom Park in Pretoria on Wednesday with a prayer session for the successful hosting of the 2013 tournament.

Pretoria - Banyana Banyana will be out to record their first ever win over Nigeria when the two African women's football powers meet in the semi-final of the 2012 CAF African Women Championship.