South Africa

Pretoria - Parliamentarians are today expected to sign a giant soccer ball with messages of hope for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Pretoria - South Africa's 2009 National Senior Certificate pass rate is 60.6 percent, representing a decline of slightly less than 2 percent.

Pretoria - The Department of Basic Education will take "urgent steps" to ensure the National Senior Certificate system is improved.

Ankara - Turkey has pledged efforts to build stronger houses in immediate reconstruction after 51 people had been confirmed dead in the 6.0 magnitude quake that hit the east of the country on Monday

Pretoria - Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has condemned the shooting incident inside the school premises of a Soshanguve school where three people died.

Pretoria - Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, has commended KwaZulu-Natal for showing an improvement in the pass rate of 3.5 percent, up from 57.6 percent in 2008 to 61.1 percent in 2009.

Johannesburg - The World's largest passenger aircraft, Air France-KLM's A380, flight number AF995 successfully landed at OR Tambo International Airport on Thursday

Pretoria - The South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) has congratulated the thousands of learners who have passed their matric exams, urging those who did not make it not to give up

Johannesburg - With the 2010 FIFA World Cup drawing closer, the City of Joburg is raising the hype by hooking in shopping malls to market the football competition.

Pretoria - The release of the 2009 matric results has been met with mixed reaction from various sectors.

Pretoria - The Gauteng Education Department is inviting retired teachers and principals, who are interested in volunteering a portion of their time, to participate in a retired teachers' seminar.

Pretoria - The South African man who was held hostage in Nigeria was released on Monday night.

Pretoria - South Africa has appealed for calm following sectarian violence in Nigeria's northern Jos region.

Mafikeng - North West MEC for Human Settlements, Desbo Mohono, has used International Women's Day to reaffirm her department's commitment to providing housing for women.

Moretele - The North West Department of Public Safety has kicked off the 2010 Firearms Amnesty roadshow in the Moretele Local Municipality.