South African police bust international drug smuggling syndicate; 3 Britons face charges

JOHANNESBURG — South African police say they’ve busted an international drug smuggling syndicate housed in a warehouse with African souvenirs.

During Pa. summit, another G-20 will play in classrooms from Italy to Brazil

PITTSBURGH — Energy. The environment. Global recession. Hundreds of students around the world will work together this week to try to tackle the very same problems that the Group of 20 summit leaders will discuss when they arrive in Pittsburgh next week.

Zakes Mokae, champion of the plays of Athol Fugard, dies at 75

LAS VEGAS — Zakes Mokae, the Tony-winning South African actor best known for his work with playwright Athol Fugard in such apartheid dramas as “The Blood Knot” and “Master Harold … and the boys,” has died at the age of 75.

This is your president, how can I help you?: S. African president opens complaint hot line

JOHANNESBURG — South Africa’s president took a call about leaky sewers to inaugurate a hot line meant to help fulfill his campaign promises to be responsive and accessible.

South African amputee runner Oscar Pistorius charged with assaulting 19-year-old woman

JOHANNESBURG — Famed amputee runner Oscar Pistorius has been charged with assault after a 19-year-old woman said she was injured at a party he hosted, but the athlete on Monday denied the allegations.

Mugabe lashes out at Western nations on eve of historic visit by EU delegation

HARARE, Zimbabwe — Hours before the first EU visit to Zimbabwe in eight years, President Robert Mugabe accused the West on Friday of wanting to recolonize his impoverished African nation.

UN report: Death rate for children under 5 still declining

UNITED NATIONS — It is unacceptable that 8.8 million children die every year before their fifth birthday — 40 percent of them in India, Nigeria and Congo, the U.N. children’s agency said Thursday.

Red is dead: Top communist in South African Cabinet chided over flashy choice of car

JOHANNESBURG — South Africa’s top communist is in danger of losing his working-class hero status after treating himself to the latest BMW 750i and using $120,000 in taxpayers’ money to buy it.

South Africa to fast-track rapid bus transit system

MIDRAND - The South African government is fast-tracking the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system negotiation process with the taxi industry, BUaNews reported Sunday.

South Africa army chief says protesting soldiers face discipline, grievances being addressed

PRETORIA, South Africa — A recent clash between about 1,000 soldiers and police in the heart of South Africa’s capital does not signify wider unrest in the military’s ranks, the commander of the army said Friday, vowing that he won’t tolerate a lack of discipline.

Canadian government appeals case of South African white man who got refugee status

TORONTO — Canada’s federal government said Thursday it would challenge a contentious Canadian immigration board panel ruling that granted refugee status to a white man from South Africa who claimed persecution from blacks in his home country.

Canada reviewing case of South African white man who got refugee status in Canada

TORONTO — Canadian government lawyers are reviewing a contentious decision by a Canadian immigration board panel to grant refugee status to a white man from South Africa who claimed persecution from black South Africans.

Lawyer: South African white man gets refugee status in Canada over fear of persecution

TORONTO — A white man from South Africa has been given refugee status in Canada after claiming persecution, his lawyer said, angering many in his home country where race remains a highly sensitive issue.

UNICEF: Global economic crisis means more African children will die, drop out of school

JOHANNESBURG — The global recession will increase infant and child deaths and cause more students to drop out of school in Africa, the U.N. children’s agency predicted Monday, as the financial crisis delivers a delayed blow to the continent and is expected to linger longer.

Report: S. African army feared soldiers plotted to kidnap defense min; union denies claims.

JOHANNESBURG — A South African newspaper reported Sunday that the army is investigating an alleged plot by disgruntled soldiers to kidnap the defense minister and top military officials.

Running champion Semenya celebrated in home village _ far from questions about her gender

GA-MASEHLONG, South Africa — Caster Semenya’s grandmother remembers begging for money from friends and relatives to send the young runner to local track meets. On Friday she marveled at how far her granddaughter had come.

Zuma meets with Mugabe, coalition partners to end feuding between Zimbabwe leaders

HARARE, Zimbabwe — In a bid to end feuding between Zimbabwe’s coalition partners, South African President Jacob Zuma met with President Robert Mugabe and other leaders Friday and appeared cautiously optimistic that their differences could be resolved.

South African police fire rubber bullets, tear gas in clashes with protesting soldiers

JOHANNESBURG — Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas as violence flared during a wage protest by South African soldiers in the streets of Pretoria, the capital.

Mandela congratulates South African runner at center of gender controversy

JOHANNESBURG — Former President Nelson Mandela has congratulated South African runner Caster Semenya, whose dramatic improvement, deep voice and muscular build have sparked questions about her gender.

South Africa’s president heading to Zimbabwe amid rumors Mugabe ailing

JOHANNESBURG — South African President Jacob Zuma will be “more vocal” than his predecessor about bringing Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s party to task for harassing rival politicians, a South African official said Wednesday.

South African runner at center of gender debate welcomed home as ‘our golden girl’

JOHANNESBURG — Mobbed by a singing, dancing and horn-blowing crowd of supporters at Johannesburg’s airport, South African runner Caster Semenya looked overwhelmed and a little terrified.

South Africans rally at airport as runner embroiled in gender controversy expected to return

JOHANNESBURG — South Africans sang, hooted and danced to show their support Tuesday as they waited for their champion runner embroiled in a gender controversy to come home.

South African president to meet runner embroiled in gender controversy

JOHANNESBURG — A big welcome is planned for 800-meter gold medalist Caster Semenya, who returns home to South Africa on Tuesday.

UNICEF concerned about southern Madagascar, fears political crisis distracts from humanitarian

JOHANNESBURG — The U.N. children’s agency fears Madagascar’s political crisis and a freeze on development aid is hurting the most vulnerable.

South Africa plans rallies, protests for champion runner being subjected to gender tests

JOHANNESBURG — South Africans planned to rally in support of track champion Caster Semenya — celebrating her win in the 800 meters at the world championship, and denouncing questions about whether she should be allowed to compete as a woman as racist and sexist.

Relatives of South African 800-meter winner at worlds dismiss gender test uproar

FAIRLIE, South Africa — In the poor, rural village where South African runner Caster Semenya grew up, relatives on Thursday brushed off questions about her deep voice and muscular build that have prompted the world governing body for track and field to seek gender tests.

South African commuter taxi operators to strike over bus system they say threatens business

JOHANNESBURG — The entrepreneurs who move commuters around Johannesburg are threatening to strike next month to protest a new public bus system.

South Africa’s Land Bank out of trouble

MIDRAND - South Africa’s troubled Land Bank has effectively managed to steer clear its financial woes with the government help, BuaNews reported citing Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan.

Global financial crisis still pounds Africa, despite positive signs elsewhere

JOHANNESBURG — Amid signs the rest of the world may be recovering from the global financial crisis, Africa is still being hammered. South Africa’s economy, the continent’s largest, shrunk by another 3 percent in the second quarter, an omen that things may get even worse before they improve.

Clinton delivers blunt call for better government in Africa, and is applauded for it

JOHANNESBURG — In Liberia, Hillary Clinton brought out the crowds despite torrential rain. In Congo, she came away deeply shaken from a meeting with rape victims. Kenya’s prime minister said Africa didn’t need lectures from the West about democracy, but Africa got one anyway.