South Africa

Pretoria - SA Air Link became the first airline to land on the new runway of the Mthatha Airport on Thursday, provincial authorities said.

Pretoria – Cabinet has welcomed the incremental introduction of an African language in Grade R and Grade 1 where such languages are not yet offered.

Pretoria - The Green Paper on Policing, which aims to position the South African Police Service (SAPS) to respond to the constantly evolving criminal landscape of the country, has been approved by Cabinet, and will be published in the Government Gazette for public comments.

Pretoria – Cabinet has noted the progress made by the police, community leaders and other structures in Eldorado Park under the leadership of the Gauteng Provincial Government, says Public Service and Administration Minister Lindiwe Sisulu.

Johannesburg – The process of appointing a service provider to clean-up Gauteng’s asset register is at an advanced stage.

Pretoria - Poachers have killed 367 rhino since the beginning of the year, the Environmental Affairs Ministry said on Thursday.

Pretoria – The Department of Basic Education, together with the social and law enforcement agencies, has launched a campaign to ensure schools are drug and alcohol free zones.

Pretoria – Cabinet has weighed in on the reported deaths of young initiates, saying while it fully supports the traditions and cultures of all South Africans, these should be balanced with the country’s constitutional rights.

Pretoria – As the Diepsloot area remains tense following days of looting of shops owned by foreign nationals, government has called on communities to be vigilant against the possible resurgence of criminal violence targeting foreigners.

Pretoria - Gauteng police administration staff are set to take to the streets this morning as they demand better salary grades.

Cape Town – Africans must stop blaming outsiders for the continent’s ills and unite to solve their own problems, the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation,, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, said today, echoing President Jacob Zuma’s call earlier this month for the setting up of a rapid deployment unit mooted by the AU.

Pretoria - The Department of Trade and Industry (dti) has urged Japanese companies to choose South Africa as a preferred investment destination.

Pretoria – OR Tambo International Airport and the South African Police Service (SAPS) will embark on a Fire and Safety Campaign in communities adjacent to the airport.

Pretoria - The United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) has lauded the South African government for the remarkable progress it has made in making essential services available to vulnerable children and youth, and keeping their parents and caregivers alive.

Pretoria - The Department of International Relations and Cooperation says they are doing all they can to secure the safe release of the two South Africans kidnaped in Yemen.