And as long as South Africa is plagued by domestic violence and the rape and abuse of women and children, the country and its people will not truly be free.

South Africa is well on the way to meeting its Millennium Development Goals before the 2015 deadline.

World Population Day is celebrated annually to raise awareness about population and development related matters. The day was first celebrated on 11 July 1987 when the world's population reached 5 billion people.

Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa will tomorrow lead a delegation of mayors, city managers and provincial government officials on an international tour which seeks to understand better and learn from global city regions' success.

"The effort of creating sustainable cities must also be located within the drive by the African Union to ensure horizontal integration of African economies" - speech by Minister SF Mufamadi.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has vowed to push ahead with the formalisation of its local government structures to further put the sector at the cutting-edge of development in the region, according to Sydney Mufamadi, chairperson of the SADC local government ministers' forum.

The recently adopted City of Johannesburg's Integrated Transport Plan (ITP) was handed over to Khabisi Mosunkuthu, Gauteng MEC for public transport, roads and works last week. The plan, which was adopted by the city council in August, guides transport planning between 2003 and 2008.

Construction on the multi-million rand Gautrain project - the express train that will operate between Johannesburg and Tshwane - will begin in May next year

The South African population grew from 40.5 million people in October 1996 to 44.8 million people in October 2001 according to the Census 2001 results, which were released this month.

Opposition to the proposed R6bn superhighway linking Durban and East London is growing, Business Day reported today.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has signed an agreement with Ehlanzeni District Municipality in Mpumalanga aimed at building the capacity of councillors in the area.

The South African Cities Network (SACN) is an interesting example of spheres of government working together, both in the way the network has been structured, and in the focus of its programmes.