KEEPING IT BRIEF

GAUTENG

Unemployed youth living in three of Johannesburg's most disadvantaged townships will get help to improve their lives when the city opens three Youth Advisory Centres. Services provided by these centres will help youths in Ivory Park, Orange Farm and Diepsloot to develop their business skills and raise their chances of getting jobs or opening businesses. The centres are set up through an agreement between the city and the Umsobomvu Youth Fund.

- BuaNews

WESTERN CAPE

The first World Conference on Constitutional Justice, takes place in Cape Town from 23 January. Organised by the Constitutional Court of South Africa and the Venice Commission, the two-day conference, will bring together, for the first time, courts of constitutional justice from all over the world. The conference will look at the role of these courts within their societies and the development of human rights worldwide.

- BuaNews

MPUMALANGA

An agreement has been signed to build a R1,3 billion housing settlement in Emalahleni (formerly Witbank). A total of about 10 147 houses, 2 322 apartments, and community facilities will be built. Facilities will include schools, clinics, community centres and a cemetery. The settlement, which will be called Klarinet, will also have its own shopping mall. It is part of the national Department of Housing's Breaking New Ground programme.

- BuaNews

NORTH WEST

An amount of A R200 million housing development project in Mafikeng Extension 39 will help to boost the province's economy. It will create about 2 400 jobs and will use local contractors and material suppliers. The construction of the 811 houses was started at the end of last year and will be completed over a period of two years.

- BuaNews

KWAZULU-NATAL

The provincial Department of Transport has set aside R600 million to rebuild roads which were destroyed during the floods in June last year in the Ugu District Municipality. The Department of Local Government, Housing and Traditional Affairs also set aside R4 million to help the victims of floods whose houses were washed away.

- BuaNews

EASTERN CAPE

To address staff shortages and improve health-care services in the province, the provincial health department has called on retired nurses who are willing to help in community health-care facilities. The department is also looking at speeding up the training of nursing staff by starting bridging courses for nurses instead of letting them do a four-year training course.

- BuaNews