To celebrate Human Rights Day on 21 March, here is a look at five of South Africa’s NGOs working for human rights in the country and beyond, organisations dedicated to the promotion of human dignity, equality and freedom. Five South African human rights NGOs you should know about
The KwaZulu-Natal education department has started to roll out free sanitary towels for girls in schools. This is to reduce absenteeism – as well as drop-out rates – of girls when they are menstruating. Brand South Africa reporter The KwaZulu-Natal education department has begun to distribute free sanitary pads to schools in the province to [&helli... Free sanitary pads for girls in KZN schools
The Gender Based Violence Command Centre has expanded its services to make them accessible to people with disabilities. Blind and deaf people are now able to access counselling, thanks to technological advances. Brand South Africa Reporter Technology has helped to improve the Gender Based Violence Command Centre (GBVCC). Women and children who are ... South Africa extends help to disabled abuse victims
Local government is set for a shake up with Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Pravin Gordhans Back to Basics approach, which aims to drastically improve service delivery. Local government gets back to basics on service delivery
The Department of Basic Education has created a national recruitment database to ensure that qualified teachers are employed and to cut down on turnaround times in filling vacant teaching posts across the country. Database to help unemployed teachers
Help is at hand for emerging black South African filmmakers trying to break into the industry, in the form of a new fund that will bankroll the full R5-million production and marketing budget of six qualifying feature films a year for the next three years. R90m fund for black South African filmmakers
With 13 parties represented in Parliament, South Africa has a vibrant multiparty political system. While the African National Congress is in the majority, opposition parties remain robust and vocal. Here’s a quick rundown of South African party politics. A guide to South African political parties
After successfully staging its fifth democratic elections, South Africa is finalising its preparations for the inauguration of President-elect Jacob Zuma, who will be sworn in for a second term of office at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Saturday. All systems go for President’s inauguration
The African National Congress’s decisive victory in last week’s general election is “credit positive” for South Africa, as it clears the way for the government to push ahead with implementing the National Development Plan, says rating agency Moody’s. Election result ‘credit positive’ for South Africa: Moody’s
The Independent Electoral Commission will announce the final results of South Africa’s general elections at 6pm on Saturday. With just over 18-million votes counted by 3.30pm on Friday, voter turnout in Wednesday’s election stood at 73.4%. Final election results at 6pm on Saturday
The African Union’s observer mission has declared South Africa’s 2014 general elections as free, fair, transparent and credible. The mission’s head, former Ghanaian president John Kufuor, said on Friday that South Africa had “set the bar high” for other countries with upcoming elections in Africa. South Africa’s election free and fair: AU
South Africa has held five national elections since 1994, one every five years. As we await the results of the country’s latest national vote, which took place on 7 May 2014 in South Africa’s 20th year of democracy, we look back at past election results, from 1994 to 2009. A look back at national election results
Approximately 218 000 staff members are standing by, nearly 63-million national and provincial ballot papers have been delivered, and 22 263 voting stations are ready to open at 7am on Wednesday for South Africa’s fifth democratic elections. All systems go for South Africa’s 2014 elections
South Africa has welcomed various international observer missions – including delegations from the Southern African Development Community, the African Union and the Commonwealth – that have arrived in the country ahead of Wednesday’s national and provincial elections. SA welcomes international election observers
A new ballot paper template – with Braille numbers and raised lettering, and large enough to accommodate the increased number of contesting parties – has been developed to help visually impaired voters cast their votes without assistance in Wednesday’s election. New ballot template for visually impaired voters
South Africa’s security forces and law enforcement agencies stand ready to ensure the safety and security of Wednesday’s general election, and will adopt a zero-tolerance approach to any would-be disrupters, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said on the weekend. Authorities ‘ready to ensure safe, secure election’
South Africa goes to the polls on Wednesday – and many in the country who are too young to remember apartheid will be voting for the first time. Here’s a quick guide to voting for first-timers, including what to take along, where to go, and what to do if it goes wrong. Elections 2014: guide to voting, counting and objecting
The Independent Electoral Commission has released three mobile apps ahead of Wednesday’s election, including an app that allows voters to get the election results in real time, from the first result to the last, including the final seat allocation. All the election info, results via mobile app
The 6 000 students of the Rural Youth Corps, a four-year skills development programme designed to help transform young job-seekers into job-creators in South Africa’s rural areas, graduated this week. “My life has changed for the better,” 29-year-old Colbert Mabasa said before the ceremony. First students graduate from Rural Youth Corps
South Africa is making progress in rehabilitating people in prison for committing crimes, and in creating opportunities for members of society to participate in this process, says Justice Minister Jeff Radebe. South Africa ‘making progress’ in prisoner rehabilitation
Brand South Partners With Netflix to Celebrate and Showcase South Africa’s value proposition & its Vibrant Cultures Ahead of G20 Summit