South Africa

Cape Town - The 2009 Taxation Law Amendment Bills will result in South Africans receiving tax relief of R13.5 billion, said Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan on Tuesday.

Pretoria - Basic Education Minister Angie Motshega will tomorrow launch the National Education and Evaluation Unit (NEEDU) which is expected to identify factors that inhibit or advance school improvement.

Johannesburg - The City of Johannesburg has pledged to upgrade all informal settlements in the city by 2014, says the city's Mayor Amos Masondo.

Pretoria - The Consumer Price Index (CPI), used to measure inflation, dropped to 6.9 percent in June compared to 8 percent in May, reported Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) on Wednesday.

Pretoria - Tough talking new National Police Commissioner Bheki Cele had some hard-hitting words for criminals as he took up the position of the country's top police officer on Wednesday.

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has once again sent a stern warning to striking workers who are unruly, saying their actions will not be tolerated.

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has appointed KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison Bheki Cele as the new National Police Commissioner.

Pretoria - The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) has launched an investigation into the allegation that 16 doctors from Addington Hospital refused to attend to life-threatening emergencies.

Port Elizabeth - Three Visitor Information Centres (VICs) were launched in Nelson Mandela Bay on Thursday to ensure tourists arriving in the city for the 2010 FIFA World Cup get the best advice and information.

Pietermaritzburg - The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health is currently conducting a head count to establish how many doctors reported back for duty on Monday following a court interdict granted over the weekend.

Pretoria - The North West Department of Human Settlements, Public Safety and Liaison will in a week's time send a team of inspectors to the Ventersdorp Local Municipality to assess allegations of shoddy work done by contractors on RDP houses

Johannesburg - President Jacob Zuma had some inspiring words to impart to the country's youth on Wednesday.

Pretoria - More children between the ages of 0 and 9 are attending educational institutions, according to the General Household Survey for 2008

Pretoria - South Africa is to participate in the next Doha Round of World Trade Organisation negotiations, set to take place next year, to ensure developing nations have a voice, government confirmed on Thursday.

Johannesburg - FIFA President, Sepp Blatter, says the world football governing body is satisfied with the level of preparation that was done for the 2009 Confederations Cup.