South Africa

Johannesburg - It's official - Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula will participate in this year's Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge to be held on Sunday, 18 November.

Pretoria - The North West Health Department has allocated an amount of R11.5 million to be spent on a special conditional grant to fund the National Health Insurance (NHI) pilot in Dr Kenneth Kaunda District.

Pretoria - KwaZulu-Natal Premier Zweli Mkhize has welcomed the signing of a deal between Transnet and the Airports Company of South Africa (Acsa) for the purchase of the old Durban International Airport for R1.8 billion.

Cape Town - A new planned capital injection by the government into South African Airways (SAA) is part of a plan to make the carrier more competitive in routes on the African continent, and does not constitute a bailout of the national carrier, says Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba.

Pretoria - South Africa's targeted budget deficit is achievable, says Deputy Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene.

Pretoria - Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga says the country's National Senior Certificate (NSC) is of a high standard, with matric question papers being set at an international level.

Cape Town - Transnet is looking towards creating at least 200 000 jobs over the next six years, the Minister of Public Enterprises Malusi Gigaba said on Wednesday.

Pretoria - Cabinet has decided to appeal the court decision granting an interdict against e-tolling on Gauteng's main freeways.

Pretoria - As the July Summit of the African Union draws near, where the next chairperson for the African Union Commission will be elected, President Jacob Zuma has reiterated that South Africa's nomination is driven by the principle of strengthening the AU and improving its functioning and operations.

Pretoria - With the country celebrating Youth Day next month, Cabinet has urged the South African nation to rally behind government's efforts to find cost effective solutions to deal with the scourge of youth unemployment.

Cullinan - Public Works Deputy Minister Jeremy Cronin and his staff rolled up their sleeves and got busy at the Refilwe Orphanage and Disability Centre in Cullinan, as they celebrated Mandela Day on Wednesday.

Johannesburg - Infrastructure development will remain critical in helping South Africa's economy deliver the targeted five million jobs by 2020, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe said on Friday.

Johannesburg - Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi says he will do everything in his power to ensure that resources are available for the successful implementation of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).

Pretoria - Live testing of the billing system for the e-toll on Gauteng's roads has been launched, the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) announced on Friday.

Cape Town - The new Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid), which this month replaces the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD), will focus more on tackling corruption and human rights abuses by police than its predecessor, Ipid's executive director Francois Beukman said on Friday.