South Africa

Pretoria - The National Health Amendment Bill, which aims to improve the country's health system, has been approved by the National Assembly.

Cape Town - In a bid to improve support to young people, the Presidency is considering making departments report regularly to Cabinet on what they are doing to promote initiatives for youth in training, job creation and entrepreneurship development.

Johannesburg - Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini says there is a need for the Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) sector to transform, particularly in matters of governance.

Pretoria - Claims made by a former general that certain Rwandan citizens claim to have engaged in political activities against the Rwandan government "with the approval of the South African Government" are devoid of truth, said the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco).

Cape Town - South Africans from all walks of life have offered broad support to a draft of the National Development Plan since it was released for public comment in November last year, says Minister in the Presidency Responsible for Planning, Trevor Manuel.

Cape Town - President Jacob Zuma has thanked and congratulated the National Planning Commission for the production of the National Development Plan 2030, calling it a "common road map for all of us".

Cape Town - Following months of public consultation and revision, the National Development Plan 2030 has been handed over to President Jacob Zuma by the Chairperson of the National Planning Commission, Minister Trevor Manuel.

Pretoria - International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister Ebrahim Ebrahim will co-chair the 2nd meeting of the South Africa-Vietnam Partnership Forum which will focus on maximising bilateral relations between the two countries.

Pretoria - In a bid to reduce the spread of illnesses, injury and unnatural deaths this winter, Gauteng Health MEC Ntombi Mekgwe, together with health workers, will today undertake a prevention campaign in Soweto.

Pretoria - Save the Children South Africa has welcomed government's call to join forces with various stakeholders in the quest to protect the country's children by investing in them.

Pretoria - Africa must address the challenges of inadequate infrastructure, small and fragmented markets, and inadequate diversification of industrial output if it is to realise meaningful growth and development, says Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies.

Pretoria - While South Africa has made significant progress in job creation, the country still has a while to go before reaching its target, says Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe.

Johannesburg - The Constitutional Court on Wednesday reserved judgement on whether it should overturn the interim interdict preventing e-tolling in Gauteng from commencing.

Cape Town - The government is considering introducing a special Appropriation Bill to help the South African National Road Agency Limited (Sanral) to meet its obligations in the short-term, the Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe has announced.

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma on Wednesday visited Zimbabwe where he met with the parties key to that country's political landscape.