South Africa

Pretoria - Employees of the Department of Education had to be evacuated on Thursday after a fire broke out at the Sol Platjie building.

Johannesburg - Mandela Day celebrations in Gauteng got off to a start on Thursday with City of Joburg staff planting a "Mandela tree" a stones throw away from the former President's home in Houghton.

Pretoria - The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police have urged motorists to avoid the city centre, especially Bree and Simmonds Streets, due to the march by protesting taxi operators expected later this afternoon.

Pretoria - The Refugee Amendment Bill will not only streamline the application process for those seeking asylum in South Africa, but will also simplify and make it more efficient, Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma said.

Pretoria - African countries need to come up with ways to tackle the growing challenge of infant mortality that has plagued the continent in the past few years, says Social Development Minister Edna Molewa.

Johannesburg - Motorists in Ekurhuleni can now apply for and renew their motor vehicle and driver's licenses at any of the 10 motor vehicle registration centres in the region.

Sharm el Sheikh - The 15th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit was wrapped up on Thursday, after member countries reached consensus on promoting solidarity and ratified documents on jointly addressing international and regional issues.

For two Johannesburg youth, volunteering for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup tournament will provide more than just an opportunity to meet new people and make new friends, writes Simangaliso Zwane.

Pretoria - Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Buyelwa Sonjica will embark on a clean up and tree planting campaign on Saturday in Mamelodi, east of Pretoria, as part of celebrating Mandela Day.

Pretoria - Events to mark Mandela Day have kicked off around the world, and momentum is building towards the big event on Saturday.

Port Shepstone - A newly opened Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR)-TB centre on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast is set to benefit patients in this area.

Durban - The Heal the World Media Organisation (HTWMO) has partnered with the eThekwini Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal to celebrate Mandela Day on Saturday by helping six needy families for 67 minutes.

Pretoria - The South African National Defence Force's (SANDF) National Ceremonial Guard Band marked Mandela Day on Friday by treating members of the public to a special performance in Church Square.

Pretoria - Gauteng Health and Social Development MEC Qedani Mahlangu has issued a stern warning to health professionals who are indifferent to the suffering of their patients.

Cape Town – Government has begun a process that will require all people doing business in South Africa, including all foreigners legally able to run a business in the country, to register their business activities.