President Jacob Zuma has ordered the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate supply chain related concerns in a number of government departments, the Presidency announced on Thursday.

South Africa's largest opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, said on Sunday it would merge with another smaller opposition party in South Africa, where opposition coalitions have not featured prominently since the birth of democracy in 1994.

Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa, State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele and Western Cape Premier Helen Zille have pledged to work together to identify hotspots in the Western Cape and prevent threats of xenophobic attacks from taking place.

ANC Youth League President Julius Malema apologized for some of his explosive comments on Wednesday, following the outcome of his ANC disciplinary hearing. This, as South Africans are turning the tide of anger and writing letters of good will to South Africa’s most controversial young leader.

President Jacob Zuma's administration has some notable successes to its credit after one year in office, despite big challenges still ahead, Business Unity SA (Busa) said on Friday.

The Department of Human Settlements has managed to save close to R120-million since Cabinet's call for government departments to contain their operational costs.

The ANC youth league's expression of support for Zanu-PF undermines South Africa's mediation efforts in Zimbabwe, the ANC said on Friday.

Tributes to Dr Molefi Sefularo, South Africa’s Deputy Health Minister, are pouring in after he died in a car accident on Monday April 5th.

President Jacob Zuma described the death of Sefularo as "a monumental loss for the nation and the progressive movement as a whole".

The deputy minister died in a car accident on the N4 highway in Pretoria West on Monday. He was driving along the highway when he crashed his Lexus into a concrete pillar. The rainy weather and poor visibility have been cited as possible causes of the accident, in which no other people were hurt.

In a statement released on Monday, President Zuma said, "He was a dedicated, committed, energetic and highly capable servant of the people. He has served this country exceptionally well as a cadre of the ANC, as an MEC and at the time of his death, as the deputy Minister of Health."

Sefularo was appointed as Deputy Health Minister on May 11, 2009 and performed his duties admirably and with enthusiasm.

Poor Afrikaners living in Bethlehem informal settlement in Pretoria West have pinned their hopes on President Jacob Zuma, following his visit to the area on Tuesday.

He addressed an estimated 2000 residents yesterday from the Bethlehem informal settlement.

"We should not create an impression that we are excluding other people... in working together we can help a great deal to remove that perception. The strength of the nation lies in unity," the President said.

The ANC Youth League is "against all forms of hate speech", it said on Wednesday, distancing itself from racist comments on social networking site Facebook.

The signs were good for taking the relationship between opposition parties to the next level, Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille said on Saturday.
  
She was speaking at what she described as a "historic" special conference of the Independent Democrats, called to discuss the question of opposition unity. The conference, held in Cape Town, was also addressed by ID leader Patricia De Lille, Cope president Mosiuoa Lekota, and United Democratic Movement deputy president Ntopile Kganyago.

Lax and corrupt public officials should stop blaming apartheid for their misdeeds, a deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Malusi Gigaba has said in the ANC journal, Umrabulo, featured in The Sunday Independent and on the party’s website.

"Apartheid cannot be blamed every time some among them fail to discharge their responsibilities or get involved in corruption," said Gigaba in his article about The Developmental State.

Gigaba, who is also the ANC's national executive committee member, said laxity in executing public service duty constituted corruption, but this could not be blamed on apartheid.

 

President Jacob Zuma's State of the Nation Address is encouraging to business, the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) said on Thursday.

The tone of the President's address, supported by the promise of improved economic activity and growth, is encouraging to business and should promote business confidence at a time when business confidence is constrained, said SACCI.

While the business body welcomed government's commitment to a year of action, it was concerned at the lack of detail in commitments, other than in the five priority areas. Opposition parties also criticised President Zuma for his vague statements about implementation. However, government had warned earlier that that the flesh would be put on the bones of Zuma’s pronouncements by his cabinet ministers in the near future.

Parliament is gearing up for this year's State of the Nation Address (SONA) which is expected to draw larger crowds as it coincides with the 20th anniversary of former President Nelson Mandela's release from prison.

On Tuesday afternoon, onlookers were treated to a demonstration by members of the South African National Defence Force who lined the streets leading to parliament as part of preparations for Thursday night’s event.

An estimated 1 500 people are expected to gather around the National Assembly to welcome parliamentarians, political heads, ambassadors, high commissioners and invited international guests who will be attending the opening of parliament by President Jacob Zuma.

Today marks the 20th anniversary of former President FW de Klerk's historic announcement to unban the African National Congress (ANC) and free Nelson Mandela who was a political prisoner at the time.

On 2 February 1990, de Klerk announced in Parliament: "I wish to put it plainly, that the government has taken a firm decision to release Mr Mandela unconditionally. I'm serious about bringing this matter to finality without delay. The government will take the decision soon on the date of his release."

Nine days later, Mandela walked out of prison a free man. This lead to South Africa's first democratic election in 1994, in which Mandela was elected as the country's new President.

The financial management of municipalities in Gauteng is steadily improving, MEC for local government Kgaogelo Lekgoro said on Monday.

President Jacob Zuma's popularity has increased over the last six months, according to the results of a poll conducted by research company Ipsos Markinor.

President Jacob Zuma is more popular than he has ever been, according to a research survey released on Tuesday.

South African opposition parties have started talks on an alliance aimed at challenging the African National Congress in local polls in 2011.

All Women's Month events planned by the department of the premier in the Western Cape have been cancelled, Premier Helen Zille announced on Thursday. She said the funds - amounting to R320,000 - would instead be used for bursaries for girl primary school pupils.

 

Opposition parties expressed regret on Thursday that Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke did not get the nod as next chief justice, but still welcomed President Jacob Zuma's nomination of Sandile Ngcobo for the post.

South Africa's Jacob Zuma has shown his common touch as a people's president in the face of violent protests and economic pressures that have deflated his ambitious election promises.

President Jacob Zuma's cabinet reflects a shift in focus to helping millions of poor South Africans without alienating business and investors in the most difficult economic climate in nearly two decades.

ANC leader Jacob Zuma was elected president of South Africa by parliament on Wednesday, and set boosting the economy and creating jobs as his immediate priorities.

The United States on Tuesday hailed South Africa's election, calling it transparent and democratic, and pledged to work with the next government.