The notorious 1913 Land Act destroyed communities, families, homes and livelihoods. One hundred years later, South Africans remember the Act that prohibited black people from owing, leasing or buying land in what was then called the Union of South Africa.

The African Union has dispatched a nine member advance team of election observers to Zimbabwe ahead of polls President Mugabe wants held by July 31.

The wife of the former president is one of the frontrunners in the 23 August elections, but her husband's role in the campaign remains ambiguous.

Significant progress has been made in improving health in the poorest countries, narrowing the gap between nations with the best and worst health status in the past two decades, World Health Organisation (WHO) 2013 statistics indicate.

South Africans from across the racial divide continue to send messages of support to Nobel Laureate and the country's first president, Nelson Mandela, who is spending his 11th day in hospital.

While many say that Africa's time is now, Shoprite's executive director, Christo Wiese says that retail expansion across the continent will take time and effort.