Newsbreak

By Newsbreak Producer Genevieve Lanka - Eskom's woes will continue unless the power utility takes drastic action to upgrade its ailing infrastructure. This is the view of Independent Energy Analyst - Andrew Kenny. Eskom implemented stage four load-shedding from 2pm until 10pm last night, and thereafter placed the country on stage two of load-shedding. The embattled power utility cited additional b...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Skills development and entrepreneurship are among the issues that topped the agenda at a dialogue hosted by the South African BRICS Youth Association (SABYA). The discussion also turned the spotlight on learning institutions, and their tendencies to create job seekers as opposed to job creators. In today's Youth Month focus, we speak to Director for Economic...

By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - Experts say that it could take up to two-years for the new US-approved Alzheimer's drug to be approved for use in South Africa. Durban-based health practitioner, Dr Preeti Ramlackan says the drug is designed to slow cognitive decline in people with mild memory and thinking problems. It is the first approved treatment in the United States and looks to target t...

By Newsbreak Producer Genevieve Lanka - Animal welfare group PACT, has warned of an alarming increase in pet thefts in the greater Durban area. According to the organisation, all breeds of dogs and cats are at risk. It is believe that the animals are being used for dog fighting as well as breeding. PACT co-founder Neeri Naidoo believes these incidents could be linked to a syndicate...

By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - The area of Queensburgh, south of Durban is set to become the new home for dairy company Clover. This as the company relocates its facility from the North West to KwaZulu-Natal, citing a lack of service delivery as the reason for the move. Professor Goodfriday Mhlongo from the Vaal campus of the University of the North West, says more companies are likely to...

By Newsbreak Senior Producer Genevieve Lanka - The Msunduzi Municipality has called for calm following violence protests that has erupted in the Pietermaritzburg CBD this morning, over electricity outages. It's alleged over 2-hundred community member blockaded roads with burning tyres and debris. Residents claim that they have been without lights for more than six days. Municipal spokesperson Thob...

By Newsbreak Senior Producer Genevieve Lanka - The South African Medical Association believes that the Department of Health has significant processes in place to ensure that work around the Covid-19 pandemic is not interrupted - by the decision to place Health Minister Zweli Mkhize on special leave. President Cyril Ramaphosa made the announcement yesterday, following allegations of his involvement...

By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - Swimming has been banned along the KwaZulu-Natal coastline, from Port Edward to Isipingo in the south of Durban. This, as massive sardine shoals were spotted heading north. The KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board says there have been a spike in predator fish activity due to the annual sardine run. Acting CEO - Harry Mbambo...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - The new "Cybercrimes Bill" that has been signed into law will have online users thinking twice before pushing the send button. Under the law, a person convicted of an offence is liable to a fine and or a sentence of up to 15 years behind bars. The new law criminalises the disclosure of data messages which are harmful, incite violence or damage to property, th...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - "It's impossible to feel optimistic as a youth living in South Africa." This is the sentiment of Aqeel Madhi - the chairperson of the Active Citizens Movement (ACM) Youth Wing. According to the 2020 fourth quarter Labour Force Survey, about 8,6 million youth aged 15 to 34 are not in the education system or employed. As June marks Youth Month, Madhi details wh...

By Newsbreak Producer Genevieve Lanka - Reputation analyst - Tshepo Matseba - says the international health sector is likely to be disappointed that the minister has been placed on special leave. This - as the Minister represented South Africa's response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The decision, made by President Cyril Ramaphosa, comes as Mkhize faces allegations for his involvement in the irregular...

By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - Last year, Wild Coast Sun in partnership with local shareholders, invested a whopping R1.8 million in sectors including education and agriculture to support impoverished local communities. The investment covered a range of projects from planting vegetable gardens, upgrading run-down trauma centres and even donating science kits to needy schools. Meanwhile, on...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - Great-granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi, Ashish Lata Ramgobin, has been sentenced to seven years imprisonment for fraud and forgery by the Durban Specialised Commercial Crime Court. 56-year-old Lata Ramgobin was found guilty of defrauding a local businessman of 6.2 million-rand, relating to a bogus import deal. Lata Ramgobin is the founder of the Participative...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - Renowned local, regional and international speakers from the HIV community will gather virtually to discuss and debate the impact of Covid-19 on HIV cases. These experts will also use the platform to reflect on the progress made in the HIV response. The discussions form part of the 10th SA AIDS Virtual Conference, which gets underway tomorrow. In this week's...

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By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - With the country marking national blood donor month this June, the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) has encouraged the public to continue donating blood. This as Coronavirus has impacted blood stocks around the world with many still working from home and schools not operating on full capacity. SANBS regional marketing manager in KwaZulu-Natal - Si...

By Newsbreak Producer Genevieve Lanka - As long as a culture of impunity exists, political violence and killings will continue in KwaZulu-Natal. This is the view of political violence researcher at Rhodes University - Mary de Haas. In the latest development, police in the province uncovered a possible a link between politicians and a gang that has been terrorising communities in Pietermaritzburg....

By Newsbreak Producer Genevieve Lanka - Workers in South Africa's education sector will not receive their COVID vaccines this week. That's because the United States medicines regulator - the Food and Drug Administration or FDA, has not yet given the go ahead for the Johnson & Johnson jabs to be released. J&J has offered South Africa 480-thousand doses of the vaccine -- a batch with a shelf life of...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Frustration is growing as several residents from the Kwadukuza and iLembe Municipalities north of Durban are entering their sixth day without water. Community members now fear for their health due to the looming third wave of covid-19. They say while government continues to advocate for citizens to wash their hands and maintain proper hand hygiene, a basic se...

By Newsbreak Senior Producer Genevieve Lanka - Chairman of the South African Guild of Actors, Jack Devnarain has described the death of iconic actress, Shaleen Surtie-Richards as a devastating loss to the industry. The 66-year old veteran actress died in her sleep in a guest house in Cape Town where she was working on a Tv series. She is best known for her roles as Fiela in Fiela se Kind and Nenna...

By Newsbreak Senior Producer Genevieve Lanka - The greatest shoal on earth has made a surprise appearance at Winklespruit, on the Durban South Coast. Acting Head of Operations at the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board - Greg Thompson - says they have netted the silvery fish at least four or five times already. Thompson says the sardines have also brought with it a hive of activity on the backline...

By Newsbreak Producer Rachel Vadi - The South African Hindu Maha Sabha have urged police to set up an special investigative team to address the spate of temple robberies that have plagued the eThewkini Municipality in the last week. President Ashwin Trikamjee says the Sabha has offered a R10,000 reward for any information that may lead to an arrest. It is believed that criminals are targeting spec...

By Newsbreak Producer Taliesha Naidoo - The silvery shoals of sardines are making their way closer and closer to Durban as the days go by. Pilot shoals were netted at Pumula on the KZN south coast at the weekend. Social media was a buzz with enthusiasts posting pictures of the popular fish netted by numerous boats. According to Ocean Africa, the sardine run typically lasts from May to July. Anglin...

By Newsbreak Executive Producer Salma Patel - The third instalment in the rip-roaring Kandasamy franchise "Trippin' With the Kandasamys" has beat a host of international productions to scoop the Number ONE spot in the Top Ten features trending in South Africa on Netflix. The antics of the Kandasamy and Naidoo families brought together by the marriage of their children Jodie and Prishen, have thril...

Markets, offices and malls re-opened in several Indian states today as COVID-19 case numbers declined sharply. But, experts warned a reckless exit from the lockdown would invite a third wave, which will add to India's Coronavirus tally - now closing in on 29 million. From New Delhi, Correspondent Rana Sen has the details...