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SA's R36-billion casino industry has become one of the first outside the US to bind itself to a code of conduct, which it will use to promote a culture of responsible gambling in the country.

South Africa's Geographic Infomation Systems capability may soon get a boost from Canada. High commissioner Sandelle Shaw says Canada views South Africa as a strategic partner for science and technology on the continent.

South Africa is bird flu free and determined to stay that way, says the Department of Agriculture. South Africa is one of few countries in the world to have successfully contained an outbreak of the virus.

German industrial group MAN Ferrostaal is to make two major investments in South Africa, together worth about R1.8-billion. The one project involves a stainless steel precision strip mill at Coega in the Eastern Cape, the other an oil rig manufacturing plant at Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape.

A South African-led consortium has won a 25-year concession to operate the Kenyan and Ugandan railways. The deal promises financial relief for the two governments and a turnaround for the ailing railway systems.

South Africa and Botswana have committed to strengthen their already "excellent" relations, after delegations from the two countries met in Tshwane for the second session of the SA-Botswana commission for cooperation.

Getting your hands on free - and legal - software is now as easy as toast. Thanks to the Shuttleworth Foundation, free open source software is available at centres throughout South Africa via a remarkable device known as the Freedom Toaster, an innovative self-contained "bring 'n burn" facility.

The UN World Food Programme and Food and Agriculture Organisation have praised South Africa for a R140-million (US$21.5-million) contribution to the agencies' operations in southern Africa.

New legislation will require organic farmers to use only organically produced seed to grow crops and feed livestock, but no one in South Africa produces 100% organic seed. Now an empowerment company has taken the gap and set up a community seed production project in the Klein Karoo.

South African Alan van der Merwe is, unofficially, the fastest Formula One driver ever. Testing for the BAR Honda team, Van der Merwe clocked 413.205 km/h on the runway of the Mojave Airport in California.