South Africa

Pretoria - The Department of Health has said it will be closely monitoring the possible spread of H1N1 influenza, or swine flu, among learners as schools re-open on Monday.

Alice - Hundreds of enthusiastic volunteers have marked Mandela Day by painting the walls of an impoverished high school in Alice in the Eastern Cape.

Johannesburg - Deputy Minister of Correctional Services Hlengiwe Mkhize has encouraged the Diepsloot community, north of Johannesburg not to despair as government is aware of their difficulties.

Pretoria - The South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) is to finalise a Male Circumcision Policy to articulate the role of circumcision in the context of men's sexual health.

Nkandla - The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government launched the One Home One Garden campaign to help to fight hunger and poverty in the province as part of Mandela Day.

Johannesburg - Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane has urged the international community to emulate the heroism of Madiba, who moved mountains to promote humanity.

Johannesburg - Prisoners from the Leeuwkop Prison in Johannesburg have urged criminals to stop terrorising communities on Mandela Day as a sign of respect for the former President.

Pretoria - President Kgalema Motlanthe has requested the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) to send a team of election observers to monitor the upcoming elections in South Africa

Johannesburg - President Jacob Zuma has said South Africans can honour Madiba by continuing the fight against racism, sexism and tribalism.

Pretoria - South Africa's employment growth rate decreased in the fourth quarter of 2008 compared to the fourth quarter of 2007, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) reported on Tuesday.

Johannesburg - Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane has urged the international community to emulate the heroism of Madiba, who moved mountains to promote humanity.

Pretoria - The Western Cape Provincial Government will continue to monitor the taxi strike action which appears to be waning, it said on Tuesday.

Pretoria - The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is to hold a session of the Inter- State Politics Diplomacy Committee (ISPDC) on Monday.

Pretoria - Murder accused Shrien Dewani will be admitted to a rehabilitation clinic while he fights extradition processes to stand trial in South Africa.

Johannesburg - As many countries in the world flounder with the effects of the global financial crisis, South Africa is not performing too badly, says Finance Minister Trevor Manuel.