Trials on new tuberculosis drugs that could halve the treatment time for the disease by 75% is starting in South Africa.

Trials on new tuberculosis drugs that could halve the treatment time for the disease by 75% is starting in South Africa. Tinus de Jager reports …

If South Africa wins the bid to host the world’s most powerful telescope, it will prove that the state can be on the forefront of technology and science.

If South Africa wins the bid to host the world’s most powerful telescope, it will prove that the state can be on the forefront of technology and science. Zukiswa Zimela reports from Johannesburg.

Concern over growing numbers of pregnant pupils dropping out of school has rekindled the debate over the link between intergenerational sex and HIV infection among youth in Southern Africa.

Concern over growing numbers of pregnant pupils dropping out of school has rekindled the debate over the link between intergenerational sex and HIV infection among youth in Southern Africa. Marshall Patsanza reports from Johannesburg.

Tinus de Jager asks Peter Pike of the South African department of water affairs why it took Orasecom ten years to start their quality survey on the Orange-Senqu river basin

Tinus de Jager asks Peter Pike of the South African department of water affairs why it took Orasecom ten years to start their quality survey on the Orange-Senqu river basin

Despite concerns about the quality of the water in South Africa affecting fresh produce and a supermarket taking products off its shelves, some experts say there is no reason to worry.

Despite concerns about the quality of the water in South Africa affecting fresh produce and a supermarket taking products off its shelves, some experts say there is no reason to worry. Marshall Patsanza reports.

The Orange-Senqu River Commission, ORASECOM, wants to educate children about conserving river systems.

The Orange-Senqu River Commission, ORASECOM, wants to educate children about conserving river systems. Zukiswa Zimela attended the launch of project, in the Free State province of South Africa.

Only seven African nations have ratified the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance which promotes good governance on the continent.

Only seven African nations have ratified the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance which promotes good governance on the continent. But delegates to the Pan African Parliament are confident they will soon garner the eight more needed to put the charter in place. Tinus de Jager reports from Midrand, South Africa ….

Children in Namibia, especially in the smaller towns like Rehoboth, are increasingly dependent on social grants.

Chris Stein reports that even more money is needed to help the poor in Namibia.

If Africa is to meet the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 then more attention should be paid to the role of women says an independent body watching global donations to the continent.

If Africa is to meet the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 then more attention should be paid to the role of women says an independent body watching global donations to the continent.

Among the small number of countries in Africa that offer social protection grants for children, a British researcher says South Africa might have the most effective system, as Chris Stein reports from Windhoek.

Among the small number of countries in Africa that offer social protection grants for children, a British researcher says South Africa might have the most effective system, as Chris Stein reports from Windhoek.

Kenya says the guarantee of children’s rights in its new constitution shows the country’s commitment to protecting vulnerable citizens. Chris Stein reports from Windhoek.

Kenya says the guarantee of children’s rights in its new constitution shows the country’s commitment to protecting vulnerable citizens. Chris Stein reports from Windhoek.

Zambia’s opposition says efforts to alleviate poverty have been hampered by the global economic crisis and a lack of political will in the Southern African country.

Chris Stein reports for IPS from the Eastern and Southern Africa Parliamentary Regional Workshop in Windhoek, Namibia.

Social grants can relieve poverty, but delegates at the Eastern and Southern Africa Parliamentary Regional Workshop in Windhoek, Namibia, were told that the grants must be coupled with systemic changes.

Social grants can relieve poverty, but delegates at the  Eastern and Southern Africa Parliamentary Regional Workshop in Windhoek, Namibia, were told that the grants must be coupled with systemic changes.

The Regional Hunger and Vulnerability Programme (RHVP) says 75 percent of the world’s ultra poor, those living on living on less than 50 US cents per day, are in Africa.

The Regional Hunger and Vulnerability Programme (RHVP) says 75 percent of the world’s ultra poor, those living on living on less than 50 US cents per day, are in Africa.

South Africa plans to build a space-launch and mission control facility after it starts its own space agency by the end of 2010.

South Africa plans to build a space-launch and mission control facility after it starts its own space agency by the end of 2010.

Small-scale wheat farmers in Africa are at risk from new mutations of a wheat-killing fungus

Small-scale wheat farmers in Africa are at risk from new mutations of a wheat-killing fungus

A microbicide gel may for the first time give women the power to prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

A microbicide gel may for the first time give women the power to prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

South African children are dying at the same rate as they did twenty years ago.

Experts say this shows that the country will not meet its goal of cutting infant mortality by 66% in 2012.

Civil society groups say South Africa will struggle to deliver quality education to more of its population by 2015, as set out in the Millennium Development Goals.

Civil society groups say South Africa will struggle to deliver quality education to more of its population by 2015, as set out in the Millennium Development Goals.

Research shows HIV among men who have sex with men in Kenya is the same as the strain found in heterosexuals.

Research shows HIV among men who have sex with men in Kenya is the same as the strain found in heterosexuals.

Research in South Africa shows children caring for parents with HIV/AIDS are as badly affected psychologically as those that have lost parents to the pandemic.

The Young Carers South Africa Project wants to inform and guide South African policy makers on how to help these previously unknown victims.