Johannesburg - South Africa's economy grew at its lowest rate in ten years in the third quarter of this year, slowing dramatically to 0.2 per cent from 5.1 per cent in the second quarter, public radio reported.

Statistics South Africa reported three out of ten sectors actually shrunk over the quarter - mining, manufacturing and retail.

The slowdown was more acute than had been predicted. Analysts were expecting GDP growth to reach 0.4 per cent in the quarter. The quarterly growth rate is the slowest recorded since 1998, SAfm public radio reported.

Johannesburg - Child welfare authorities in South Africa are investigating the case of an Austrian man, who kept his 8-year-old son prisoner in his home for four years before he was discovered abandoned and hungry by neighbours, The Star newspaper reported Tuesday.

South Africans have been shocked by the story of the boy, dubbed Tarzan of Suburbia after he was discovered on November 17 at home alone in suburban northern Johannesburg, wearing tattered clothes and fearing contact with people.

Neighbours became aware there was a boy alone in the house when he pushed two 5 rand cent coins through a gap in the wall and asked employees from a business across the road to get him something to eat.

Johannesburg  - A South African holiday does not have to include a stay at a luxury safari lodge in Kruger National Park or taking an expensive wine tour in the Western Cape province.

Increasingly, tourists of modest means are exploring the country and they can use an elaborate network of inexpensive backpacker hostels and bus routes linking South Africa's attractions.

Johannesburg - South Africa on Monday heaped pressure on Zimbabwe's rival political leaders to form a unity government, with President Kgalema Motlanthe and the man tipped to soon replace him, Jacob Zuma, describing the situation in Zimbabwe as "very bad" and "very desperate."

Motlanthe, chairman of the 15-nation Southern African Development Community reiterated: "The parties must implement with immediate effect their own agreement which they signed on September 15."

New Delhi, Nov 23 : As part of enhance engagement of the Indian Armed Forces with the militaries of the Indian Ocean region and other prominent military powers, Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor today left for a week-long visit to South Africa and Botswana.

India and South Africa have seen enhanced military cooperation especially during the past decade including the fields of military training and procurement of military hardware.

Johannesburg  - The leaders of South Africa and Botswana began deliberating Sunday over the next possible moves regarding Zimbabwe's worsening humanitarian situation, a day after Harare stopped a visit of senior statesmen.

South African President Kgalema Motlanthe was meeting his Botswana counterpart, Ian Khama, in Pretoria, but it was uncertain whether they would try to prepare a new diplomatic initiative. Khama is one of the few African heads of state to publicly criticize Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.