The number of first-year students taking up studies in sciences and engineering at universities is on the rise. This is good news for the economy as South Africa is experiencing a shortage of skilled people in these fields.
More than 100 Eastern Cape learners took over the province's legislature to participate in an inter-school debate competition recently.
The State of the Province Address Schools’ Debates competition, hosted jointly by the Office of the Premier and the provincial Department of Education, was aimed at fostering interest in government programmes for the youth and to improve learners’ public speaking abilities.
Popular South African actress Leleti Khumalo has joined forces with the KwaZulu-Natal government to help improve the standard of living for many youths.
The Durban-born star is the ambassador for the Leleti School Grounds project, which forms part of Operation Sukuma Sakhe – a provincial government initiative aimed at assisting communities to rise above their current circumstances.
Respect people with disabilities
President Jacob Zuma's State of the Nation Address (SoNA) highlighted infrastructure development, which will enhance economic growth and job creation in the nine provinces.
A glance at the SoNA and the spending pattern among the nine provinces, clearly indicates that provincial growth and development strategies are aligned with the President’s vision, particularly in the priority areas of job creation, education, rural development and health.
Victims of crime are beginning to see results in the fight against crime. According to the recently released results of the Victims of Crime Survey undertaken in 2011, there is a marked improvement in the treatment of victims.
Court cases dragging on for months will soon be a thing of the past, as efforts to speed up the finalisation rate start yielding results.
“The country-wide situation regarding the outstanding and backlog cases per court level has continued to improve,” said Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Jeff Radebe.
It will soon be the end of the road for suspects of serious corruption. Government is set to meet its target of arresting and prosecuting 100 people suspected of fraud and corruption who have more than R5 million in illicit assets, 
by April 2014.
The Crossways Farm Village project in Thornhill near Port Elizabeth is the first of its size in South Africa to combine a rural residential development with scientifically based farming. Many new jobs, as well as new opportunities for investors are also being created.
People in rural areas do not have to relocate to the cities to access a better life, said Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities, Lulu Xingwana.