South Africa

Johannesburg - The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) is to raise about R135 million to assist learners who failed to acquire their matric certificate in 2008.

Cape Town – Government has taken several steps to reduce the red tape that small businesses face, says Minister of Trade and Industry Rob Davies.

Addis Ababa - Africa will request more financial assistance and a strengthened role in the international financial institutions at next month's summit of the Group of 20 (G20) leading developed and emerging nations.

Pretoria - Chairman of the 2010 Local Organising Committee (LOC) Dr Irvin Khoza had the tribute of Honourary Colonel in the Department of Defence Logistics Division bestowed upon him on Wednesday.

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma will this morning address executive mayors and mayors from all 283 municipalities in South Africa to discuss the strengthening of the local government sphere.

Cape Town - No further injuries have been reported following the fires which broke out on Table Mountain in Cape Town.

Pretoria - Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe is expected to undertake a working visit to Sudan later this week.

Pretoria - Government and various language experts have gathered for a three-day workshop in Pretoria to develop the African language equivalent for English soccer terminology.

Pretoria - The Reserve Bank's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has decided to hold their regular meetings more often to allow for more effective planning and quicker reactions to changes in the economy.

Pretoria - South Africans are still faced with human rights challenges which have shifted them away from their culture and values, says South African Human Rights Commission Chairperson Jody Kollapen.

Pretoria - The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Organ Troika on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation will on Thursday meet in Mbabane, Swaziland, following the situation in Madagascar.

Parliament - Finance Minister Trevor Manuel on Wednesday announced government's spending on social security would receive a R13.2 billion boost in 2009 to provide some measure of protection to poor South Africans during the economic slowdown.

Parliament - The protection of the poor and sustained employment growth are two of the five pillars that has formed the basis for Finance Minister Trevor Manuel's 2009 Budget Speech.

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.

New York - Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma is expected to represent South Africa at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Debate in New York on Wednesday.