Newsbreak

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - Concern over the mental well-being of police officers has been brought under the spotlight. This following several cases of violence involving police officers throughout the country. Reports show that many police officers have used their state firearms in non-work related shootings and have been the perpetrators of violent crimes. According to Clinical Psycho...

By Newsbreak Producer Genevieve Lanka - Tensions continue to escalate in Gaza, as Israeli army chiefs are due to be presented with plans for a possible ground invasion of Gaza as troops gather on the border. Over one hundred people, including children have been killed since monday. Heavy Israeli air strike and Palestinian rocket fire have continued throughout the night. This comes as Muslims aroun...

Over 100 low-risk inmates who were released last year as part of efforts to minimise and combat the spread of COVID-19 have been re-arrested for committing serious crimes such as murder. This has been revealed in a briefing to Parliament's Justice and Correctional Services Committee. Last year, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that 19,000 inmates would be released on parole in an effort to curb...

By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - This July, a proudly South African television show titled "Live Your Dream" will make its way to our homes, hoping to inspire young, aspiring talent to emerge from their shells and blossom into fully-fledged superstars. Whether it's through song, dance or the performing arts, youth will be handed the opportunity to live out their own unique dream. A brainchil...

By Newsbreak Producer Genevieve Lanka - As international calls for action against Israel intensifies, the South African Zionist Federation says sanctions against the country is not the answer. Yesterday, hundreds of pro-Palestinian supporters marched to Parliament in Cape Town, demanding the a boycott and divestment of - and sanctions against Israel, as well a total shutdown of the South African e...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Researcher of International Law at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) - Ropafadzo Maphosa says South Africa's foreign policy contradicts the violent conflict between Israel and Palestine. Maphosa says it will be interesting to see if South Africa will follow their own policy, that of the African Union (AU) or the Southern African Development Community (SADC)...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - In a bid to reverse the economic devastation caused by the covid19 lockdown on the people of Chatsworth south of Durban, the idea of a new market to showcase local goods, services and talent was born. Running from 9am to 3pm every Sunday from this weekend, organisers of the Made In Chatsworth Market found this appropriate to not coincide with the infamous Ban...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Metrobus in Johannesburg have approached the Braamfontein Labour Court to file an urgent interdict to stop a strike by drivers represented by union DEMAWUSA. The strike which is in its 7th day has left almost 40-thousand commuters stranded. Workers are demanding an 18-percent salary increase, a 15-thousand-rand Covid-19 allowance and a 14th cheque. Spokespers...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - KwaZulu-Natal police are investigating a case of murder after an 49-year-old man has been shot dead at Waterloo, north of Durban, in an alleged taxi-related incident. Provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Thembeka Mbhele, confirmed the incident, which occurred last night. She says details pertaining to the case are still under investigation...

By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - A new chutney number with an international flavour is making waves in both the local and foreign music scenes. "Chal Gaye Nana" by local producer Deejay Avesh and Trinidadian artist "Terry G" has hit radio stations in the United States, Canada and various parts of the Caribbean - and now hopes to gain momentum here on South African shores. Formerly of Phoenix...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - The Department of Health is calling on South Africans to sign up for COVID-19 vaccination as part of the country's official "Phase 2" and "Phase 3" programmes. The department has launched its vaccine registration portal through WhatsApp and via SMS through the USSD service. Phase 2, which is set to begin on the 17th of May, will focus on people over the age o...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - All approved but unpaid COVID-19 social relief grant beneficiaries will still be fulfilled, despite the grant period having lapsed. According to Sandy Godolwana - spokesperson for the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) in KwaZulu-Natal, payment will be made for all approved grants as soon as confirmation of funding has been made. Godolwana adds that...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - The South African Zionist Federation is calling for the South African government to take an even-handed approach in its calls peace in the region. The Federation's Rowan Polovin has also refuted claims that Israel is an apartheid state...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - The United States, European Union and the United Kingdom have appealed for calm after days of unrest in Jerusalem spiralled into retaliatory attacks by Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza. They've urged both sides to ease tensions as soon as possible. Palestinian militants fired a barrage of rockets into Israel from Gaza yesterday, after Israeli police s...

By Newsbreak Producer Rachel Vadi - With winter fast approaching, incidents of dangerous fires and burns increase with the use of heaters and warmers. Plastic Surgeon and Head of the Burns Unit at Life Mount Edgecombe Hospital, Dr Kajal Lutchminarian says awareness and education are the most important aspects when dealing with burns. She says butter, oil or any other condiments should never be use...

By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - Tour operators have warned against a massive price hike in performing the annual Hajj pilgrimage this year. This after Saudi authorities announced that Hajj 2021 will go ahead under special conditions - to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced that they will allow a small number of pilgrims into the kingdom under stri...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Political analyst Dr Lubna Nadvi believes the international community and United Nations (UN) must be held accountable for the social and political unrest between Israel and Palestine. She was reacting to the clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police outside the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem on Sunday. It is alleged that Israeli police opened fire with ru...

By Newsbreak Producer Genevieve Lanka - Director of the KZN Research, Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal - Professor Tulio de Oliveira - says the majority of the COVID-19 cases in South Africa are of the 501.V2 variant. This variant is believed to have fuelled the country's second wave. He says is no evidence to suggest that so called "new variants" - are...

By Newsbreak Producer Rachel Vadi - The case of a Durban man who is facing charges related to the "Peeping Tom" law has re-emphasised the possibility of jail time for those who post pictures of individuals on social media without their consent. According to attorney at Harkoo Brijlal & Reddy Incorporated - Revonia Royappen-Pillay - the Peeping Tom law comes into effect when a person unlawfully and...

By Newsbreak Senior Producer Genevieve Lanka - The eThekwini Municipality has confirmed that a burst power cable is responsible for a thirty-six hour power outage in areas north of Durban, including Burbreeze in Tongaat. Spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela says the incident caused damage to twenty-four other sub-stations resulting in the prolonged blackout. He says their teams have been able to restore...

By Newsbreak Senior Producer Genevieve Lanka - The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), says unless the country goes into a level five lock down, it will be impractical to lock down South African borders, in the hope that it would restrict the entry of other covid-19 variants into the country. The NICD has already confirmed cases of two imported variants of Covid-19 -- the B.1.617....

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect communities worldwide, the exposure of Emergency Medical and Rescue Services (EMRS) to the virus has raised concern. First responders or paramedics are in a unique position, performing a vital role as frontline workers during COVID-19. But, its believed that EMRS personnal are not prioritised for the current vaccine rollout. SABC Reporter Rachel Vadi sp...

By Newsbreak Producer Taliesha Naidoo - The Department of Health has confirmed variants of the COVID-19 virus first identified in India and the UK have been detected in South Africa. Two cases of the B.1.617.2 variant, dominant in India, were reported in Gauteng with another two reported in KwaZulu-Natal. A total of 11 cases of this "so called" Indian variant, first detected in the UK, were report...

By Newsbreak Producer Taliesha Naidoo - Staying with one of our top stories... Durban based general practitioner, Doctor Prithi Ramlachan says there is no time for complacency now that two Covid variants of concern have been detected in South Africa. He explains how symptoms can vary with each mutation...

India could see one million Covid deaths by the first of August this year. The terrifying prediction of US researchers published by Lancet has spread disquiet in the Asian nation. The authorities face suspicions of falsifying numbers in India, where daily cases crossed 400-thousand, for the fourth time this month. Meanwhile, single-day casualties are hovering at around four-thousand. From New Delh...