South Africa

Cape Town - A new bus operator will begin ferrying commuters in Durban from next month, says Transport Minister Sbu Ndebele.

Johannesburg - Farmer unions and the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) have signed an agreement which will ensure that all farm workers are able to cast their votes in a free and fair manner on 22 April.

Pretoria - Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe said a partnership between government, labour, business and other role players was indispensable for recovery from the job losses experienced in the past few years as a result of the global economic meltdown.

Cape Town - After consulting with stakeholders in the taxi industry, government is ready to establish a negotiating forum to produce new and lasting solution regarding the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRT).

Pretoria - The countdown to this year's Local Government Elections has begun, with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) publishing the final election timetable on Friday, which outlines the electoral process until Election Day on 18 May.

Pretoria - Applications for special votes for the 18 May local government elections will start on 15 April, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) chief electoral officer, Adv Pansy Tlakula, announced on Friday.

While research on HIV Prevalence, Incidence and Communication conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) in 2008 showed a decline in new HIV infections among teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19 as well as a lowered prevalence among children between the ages of 2 and 14, the Department of Basic Education hopes to play a more active role in reducing the number of new infections, writes Gabi Khumalo.

Pretoria - It will never quite be business as usual in South Africa, as the new National Consumer Commission (NCC) is set to change the experience of customers and business owners, introducing a range of benefits for both parties.

Cape Town - Government is investing R25 billion over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework period to stabilise and upgrade rail passenger transport services in the country.

Cape Town - Over 13 million citizens are currently receiving social assistance benefits and of these beneficiaries, nine million are children.

Pretoria - The bilateral relationship between South Africa and Iran was in the spot light this week, when Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for African Affairs, Dr Hadi Solaimanpour, met with International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister Ebrahim Ebrahim.

Parliament - Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele has vowed to combat fraud and corruption with regards to procurement and tender processes, the Road Accident Fund and issuing drivers' licences.

Pretoria - Cabinet has taken exception to the financial settlement reached between the Board of South African Airways and its former Chief Executive Officer Khaya Ngqula.

Pretoria - Cabinet has taken exception to the financial settlement reached between the Board of South African Airways and its former Chief Executive Officer Khaya Ngqula.

Pretoria - The ban on the movement of all cloven-hoofed animals and their products in KwaZulu-Natal has been lifted, except in the Umkhanyakude, uThungulu and Zululand districts.