Most of us are aware of the frustrations caused by bottle-necking at licensing and testing centres. Now the days of standing in multiple queues are over for Capetonians. The city is introducing new, automated units that will speed things up.

The Cabinet on Wednesday announced a new anti-corruption ministerial team, warning that it will act strongly to root out public-sector graft.

Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan's Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) was described as "realistic" by economist Mike Schussler on Tuesday.

A Presidential Hotline as announced by President Jacob Zuma in his election campaign and state of the nation address started operating on Monday.

Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale said on Tuesday his department was introducing austerity measures to slash official travel, accommodation and administration costs.

The appointment of Gill Marcus as the new governor of the SA Reserve Bank (SARB) was welcomed by several political parties, business organisations and economists on Sunday.

A state initiative to ensure clean audits, transparency and improved service delivery in government by 2014 was launched in Boksburg on Thursday.

Trevor Manuel was appointed to head a powerful new planning body on Sunday, keeping South Africa's former finance minister at the heart of policy-making in President Jacob Zuma's first cabinet.

South Africa's Home Affairs Department has successfully reduced document processing turnaround times, says Home Affairs Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.

Speaking during her Budget Vote debate in the National Assembly, Mapisa-Nqakula said that the department has significantly reduced the time it took to process an application for an Identity Document (ID).

"When the turnaround [strategy] started in May last year, it was taking as long as 180 days to produce an ID. Now the average turnaround time stands at 75 days," she said.

The City of Johannesburg has received an unqualified audit report for the past two years from the auditor general, Mayor Amos Masondo announced on Wednesday.

"The clean audit report is a first for Joburg in 15 years. It is a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to ensure clean and accountable governance in the city," he said while addressing the media in Braamfontein.

The Department of Home Affairs launched a Braille version of their information brochure in Garankuwa, Pretoria yesterday.

The majority of urban South Africans of all races agree that the firing of Jacob Zuma has demonstrated President Mbeki’s commitment to a transparent Government, according to a recent survey.

The Department of Home Affairs has implemented its ID Track and Trace system across the country this week. The system is designed to help citizens check the progress of the processing of their ID books, detect corruption and manage the performance of managers.

A new breed of retired businesspeople is ploughing their expertise into increasing efficiency in local government by providing free consultancy services. The programme is being rolled out to the 136 municipalities struggling most with service delivery.

Government departments are to be connected to a single, faster, more efficient, computer network costing R454 million, Public Service and Administration Minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi said on Wednesday.

Information on government services is now available in all 11 official languages, from Afrikaans to isiZulu on www.services.gov.za. The new website has information on government services for citizens, foreigners, individuals and organisations on issues ranging from registering births and companies, to finding a place to live and making travel arrangements.

The Home Affairs department has introduced a new "track and trace" system to help fight corruption and speed up delivery of identity documents.

The days of having to visit a Home Affairs office to check on the progress of passport and identity document applications are over. Progress can now be checked by simply sending a short message service (SMS).

The South African Cabinet has announced that it had approved a free and open source strategy and that government would migrate its current software to free and open source software.

President Mbeki has again dismissed calls to amend the constitution so that he could stand for a third term as President of South Africa.

Government says it respects the judgment of the Constitutional Court on granting same-sex marriages an equal legal status as heterosexual couples.

The Government has responded decisively to the Cosatu’s call for the charges against former deputy president Jacob Zuma to be dropped by reaffirming their respect for the Constitution and the independence of the judiciary.

While marches and demonstrations around the country draw attention to the shortcomings of local authorities, there are many municipalities which are rising to the challenge of delivery, says Willie Ramoshaba, publisher of The Portfolio of Municipalities in South Africa 2005.

South African President Thabo Mbeki received praise from local and international leaders for his decisive action against corruption after he relieved Deputy President Jacob Zuma of his duties last week. Zuma was implicated in the fraud and corruption trial of his former financial adviser, Schabir Shaik, and has since heard that the National Prosecuting Authority will charge him with two counts of corruption.

With South Africa waiting with baited breath, President Thabo Mbeki delivered his decision on the fate of his deputy Jacob Zuma earlier today.