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The old saying ‘sink or swim’ is a thing of the past for youngsters enrolled in a free swimming programme.

Snakho Nene (7) a talented swimmer from uMlazi hopes to one day represent South Africa at the Olympic Games thanks to the eThekwini Municipality’s Save-A-Life Programme which encourages swimming.

“When I grow up I want to be a professional swimmer,” she said, bursting with enthusiasm.

Nene who attends Ntwela Primary School enjoyed the programme because it taught her how to swim and what to do if there is an emergency in the water.

Local Government

The opening of the Swartberg Pass will have far-reaching economic benefits for the region.

The R10 million reconstruction of the Western Cape’s Swartberg Pass following a flash flood is complete and the road has been re-opened.

FROM THE UNION BUILDINGS

There’s an old African proverb that says “If you want to go fast, go alone but if you want to go far, go together.

As South Africans we need to go far together by growing our economy and creating jobs. One of the best ways to do this is by attracting investment into our country.

The Africa’s Tourism Indaba has brought some much-needed business to local vendors.

Street vendor Solani Mtshali will be sad to see Africa’s Tourism Indaba come to an end because her beads business has been booming ever since the conference began.

The National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme is boosting health services and infrastructure in KwaZulu-Natal. Through the scheme more people in the province are accessing health care initiatives than before.

KZN Health MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo has been conducting awareness roadshows about the NHI in the province, and visited UMzinyathi district earlier this week. These roadshows aim to educate communities on government’s plans to improve access to health treatment.

South Africans will soon be able to enjoy a faster and more efficient service at Home Affairs offices.

The Department of Home Affairs is putting an action plan in place to ensure that citizens do not spend a long time in queues.

According to Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba the long queues were caused by high client volumes, insufficient front office space, leadership issues and the closure of its offices on Saturdays.

To rectify the problem the department is analysing its geographical footprint to determine in which areas it needs to improve its services.

Government is delivering on its promise to ensure free higher education for qualifying students.

International relations / Africa news

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is boosting its efforts to ensure that democracy prevails in the region.

International relations / Africa news

Government representatives and business leaders from Africa and Japan have committed to strengthening mutually beneficial trade relations.

The monitoring of space weather patterns has become much easier with an upgraded high-tech system.

Imagine being able to monitor weather patterns in space just by looking at 15 high definition 46-inch screens, each displaying live satellite images of the sun in different wave lengths?

This is now a reality after the South African National Space Agency's (SANSA) upgraded its Space Weather Regional Warning Centre with an information wall using this technology.