transkei

With counting in South Africa's national election over 96% complete by 11am on Friday, three new political parties - the Economic Freedom Fighters, the National Freedom Party and the African Independent Congress - are set to take up seats in the country's Parliament.

The message at the final Freedom Fridays celebration held at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg on 25 January was that our freedom did not come for free and should be acknowledged by displaying our patriotism. Revellers at the event wore the colours of the national flag to show just how proud they were to be born South African. 

In delivering the third Mandela Colloquium lecture, his old friend Ahmed Kathrada spoke with great affection, always recounting his memories of their years together in the present tense, as if Mandela was still present in his life. They met when Kathrada was a teenager, and he was inspired by the former leader's strength, courage and deep sense of equality.

President Jacob Zuma has signed into law the Superior Courts Bill, which aims to restructure South Africa's judiciary and integrate its court system while enhancing access to justice in country.

Among teachers, pupils and parents, the work of the Nelson Mandela Institute for Education and Rural Development has become known as the "Magic Classroom Collective".
• Schools to benefit for Mandela Day

Nelson Mandela was born and raised in rural Eastern Cape. It is here that he learned about politics at the knees of his tribal elders, and it is here that he retired from active politics as he aged.
• Mandela exhibition goes to Paris

South Africa has begun rolling out a new biometric card to social grant beneficiaries that will cut down on fraud and corruption in the country's grants system, improve on the delivery of grants, and reduce the costs involved in making payouts.

President Jacob Zuma delivered his third State of the Nation address at South Africa's Parliament in Cape Town on 9 February.
• SA wants job focus

South Africa will spend billions of rands on new infrastructure in the coming years, focusing on rail and road projects, economic links in five regions in the country, new universities and refurbished hospitals, President Jacob Zuma said in his 2012 State of the Nation address.

The Eastern Cape is establishing itself as South Africa's prime bamboo growing region, and with a number of pilot projects underway, is hoping to soon develop the industry to a sustainable level that will benefit the communities involved.
• E Cape entrepreneurs in spotlight