South Africa

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has cut short his attendance of the 32nd SADC Summit in Maputo, Mozambique, in order to visit Rustenburg this afternoon.

Marikana - Police officers deployed to monitor protests at the Lonmin Platinum mine in Marikana, Rustenburg, were forced to use maximum force to defend themselves, says National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega.

Maputo - The African Development Bank (AfDB) wants SADC countries to put five percent of their monetary reserve towards the establishment of an infrastructure bond that would help speed up infrastructure development in rail, water, ports and energy.

Pretoria - Progress has been made at the second meeting of the South Africa-Vietnam Partnership Forum, where the entire scope of bilateral relations between the two countries was reviewed and strengthened.

Boksburg - The Health Department is on a mission to improve the country's healthcare system and to get a clean audit this financial year, and it has enlisted the help of 400 interns to help it achieve this.

Pretoria - International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister Ebrahim Ebrahim said on Friday that a resolution was necessary in Israel's occupation of Palestinian land and that the issue was not about whether or not people should boycott Israel.

Maputo - A strong relationship between the African Union and regional economic bloc such as SADC was critical to the effective functioning of the continent, African Union Commission chairperson elect Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma said on Friday.

Maputo - A call by Lesotho Prime Minister Thomas Thabane for African leaders to put pressure on Western countries to end their targeted sanctions against Zimbabwe was likely to make its way into the discussions of the SADC summit that opened in Maputo, Mozambique, on Friday.

Marikana - President Jacob Zuma has called on South Africans to unite as a nation as the country mourns the deaths of 34 protestors killed during clashes with police in Marikana, Rustenburg.

Pretoria - The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has called on all members of the SANDF to distance themselves from the actions of Julius Malema.

Pretoria - Lonmin has committed to provide funding for the education of all the children of employees who lost their lives during the unfortunate tragedy.

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma is convinced that the Commission of Inquiry he decided to institute to investigate the shoot-out at Lonmin Marikina's Mine near Rustenburg will uncover the truth.

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has wished all South African Muslims Eid Mubaarak, as the Islamic month of Ramadaan draws to an end.

Maputo - South Africa has welcomed the adoption of a regional infrastructure master plan by Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders who met in Maputo at the weekend.

Pretoria - A task force will be set up to look into labour issues in the platinum industry after 34 people were killed near the Lonmin mine in Marikana, said Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu.