South Africa

Durban - The mood of the COP17 negotiations so far indicates optimism towards achieving a successful outcome, says President Jacob Zuma.

Pretoria - A R129 million agreement which is expected to improve the country's skills development was announced on Friday by Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant.

Cape Town - Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele has issued a stern warning to motorists who disregard traffic regulations and cause the death of innocent people.

Durban - South Africa has carried forward Cancun's recognition of local government's role in climate change by hosting a three-day meeting to develop adaptation strategies.

Inmates set to benefit from special remissions of sentence, announced by President Jacob Zuma on Freedom Day, have been urged to make the most of the second chance they are being given.

Pretoria - A Presidential Proclamation has formalised an inquiry that will see Eskom and the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) cooperating in rooting out possible corruption at the power parastatal.

Pretoria - Excitement around the Parliamentary precinct is building ahead of President Jacob Zuma's State of the Nation Address tomorrow evening.

Durban - The first week of the annual UN climate change summit is usually a relatively sedate affair and COP17 in Durban has certainly not been an exception.

South Africans from all walks of life gathered today at the Union Buildings, 18 years after the first democratic elections were held in South Africa, to reflect on what Freedom Day means to them and what it should mean for future generations.

Pretoria - Motorists have been given an early Christmas present in the form of a petrol price decrease.

Pretoria - The recent ward councillors' summit in the North West has identified strategic intervention methods which will help the Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs to accelerate and improve service delivery.

Pretoria - The South African Football Association (Safa) has praised the appointment of Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale to FIFA's Media Committee.

Pretoria - Motorists are expected to fill up their tanks in numbers on Tuesday as the price of all grades of petrol will rise by 28 cents a litre at midnight.

South Africans celebrate Freedom Day in order to ensure that the present does not erase the past, and in order to protect the future, says President Jacob Zuma.

Pretoria - The newly renovated Johannesburg Forensic Services Laboratory is expected to be fully functional and hard at work soon.