South Africa

For centuries humankind has looked at the stars in awe of what may lie beyond our solar system. The answer to this timeless question may be closer than ever before.

At the beginning of this year President Jacob Zuma fired the first salvo against construction firms engaged in collusive and anti-competitive behaviour in order to line their bank accounts at the expense of taxpayers and the economy.

Durban –The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government is to host the 3rd BRICS Co-operatives Summit in October in Durban - a first for South Africa.

Pretoria - The provincial government's free basic services programme should be accelerated by municipalities as a safety net for the poor, says North West Premier Thandi Modise.

Durban - A raft of new measures to take co-operatives to new heights can be expected when the Co-operatives Amendment Bill is signed into law later this year, says Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies.

Cape Town – Parliament has vowed to stay true to the legacy of former President Nelson Mandela, particularly his heritage of unifying South Africans.

Pretoria – Grade 10 learner, Lerato Tshivhula, is excited about the multi-purpose sports court which is to be built at her school in Mabopane because it will not only develop her sports skills and that of her peers, but keep her focused and out of trouble.

Pretoria – The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has prevented drugs worth millions of rands from entering or leaving the country in the month of June.

Pretoria - The South African Local Government Association (Salga) intends to explore damage claims from construction companies involved in bid rigging for the 2010 FIFA World Cup infrastructure in some host municipalities.

Johannesburg - Energy Minister Dipuo Peters has commended energy company BP’s R105 million investment over the next six years to develop South African youth.

Pretoria – Two tax Bills that will give employees some breathing space will today be published for public comment.

Pretoria – Government has called on law enforcement authorities to leave no stone unturned in bringing to book those who rape and abuse children.

Pretoria – The Department of Labour has released the Unemployment Insurance Amendment Bill - which aims to address the issue of workers who are presently excluded in the Unemployment Insurance Act - for public comment.

Pretoria - Over R706 million has been allocated to address the sanitation backlog within the Bojanala Platinum District Municipality, Executive Mayor Louis Diremelo says.

Pretoria – The Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) is to meet today to discuss the situation in Egypt.