History of South Africa

Sepp Blatter expects the 2010 World Cup in South Africa to go off without a hitch

Unexpected snowfall in South Africa has brought smiles to many who have seen such weather before

UNICEF's latest Progress for Children report highlights the risk of maternal mortality in the developing world. Here is one in a series of related stories. KWA ZULU NATAL, South Africa, 19 September 2008 The province of Kwa Zulu Natal has become synonymous with South Africas AIDS epidemic. The infection rates here are some of the highest in the country, and the provinces pregnant women are at risk. Over a third of pregnant women are infected, making them and their unborn babies the most vulnerable. Maternal mortality rates of between 10 and 15 per cent within two years of delivery among HIV-infected women have been reported. Meanwhile, the rate of mother-to-child transmission of the virus, in the absence of antiretroviral (ARV) treatment, remains unacceptably high. Apart from fighting the virus, women here also have to fight the stigma. There are people that think, if youve got HIV its like youre going to die, and if youre pregnant and youve got HIV, your baby is not going to make it at the end, said Thabisile Dhlamini, age 27, who deals with the stigma daily. To read the full story, visit: http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/southafrica_45698.html

Special Task Force, South Africa Police Special Unit. South Africa is now the crime capital of the world. Murder, rape, kidnap and armed robbery are rife. This film goes on patrol with The Special Task Force - the men who confront the criminals head on. Their job is to deal with the most dangerous situations - the ones the police can't handle. Cameraman Geoff Chagrin spent a year on patrol with the Special Task Force. During that time he recorded the most incredible front line action - hostage rescues, bank robberies, ambushes, drugs raids and kidnaps - and got to know the men who put their lives on the line everyday in the fight against crime in South Africa.

Twelve students from Indiana University travel to South Africa in August 2008 as members of One Here One There, an organization designed to educate children in sub-Saharan Africa. They donated 100 laptops from One Laptop Per Child to three selected schools in the Limpopo Province. For three weeks, they worked with teachers and students, teaching them to manage the laptops and access the Internet.

The Edinburgh Military Tattoo is an annual showcase of some of the world's finest marching and cultural bands representing a vast range of countries bringing together cultures for everyone to enjoy. This year's Tattoo welcomes the Trinidad and Tobago Marching Steel Orchestra, the Middlesex County Volunteers Fifes and Drums, The Band of the Russian Conservatoire and the Taipei First Girl's senior High School Honour Guard and Drum Corps. Acts closer to home include the Massed Pipes and Drums of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, The Royal Corps of Signals, The Black Watch Regiment, 2nd Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles, the Scottish Universities Officers Training Corps, the Auckland Police, the Royal Caledonian Society of South Australia and the Royal Army of Oman. In addition to the pipes and drums, there is also the Massed Commonwealth Highland Dancers from Scotland, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa including the Imps Motorcycle Display Team, the Mounted Band of the Blues and Royals and for the finale, the Massed Bands of the Light Cavalry Band, the Royal Artillery Band and the Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland accompanied by the Kevock Choir. This massive production is a brilliant event which everyone in the world should see at least once. For more information, follow the link below: http://www.edintattoo.co.uk

President Thabo Mbeki bowed to heavy pressure from his own party to resign Saturday, tossed to the sidelines of the economic powerhouse he built up as punishment for allegedly abusing his power in trying to quash a popular rival. (Sept. 20)