Newsbreak

SABC News and Current Affairs — A rookie party was set to retain power for a third time in New Delhi's parliament in a sweep which has left political astrologers in a daze. The last of the capital's seven million votes were being counted but the verdict already out is seen as a referendum on the divisive politics of India's ruling Hindu nationalists. Our South Asian correspondent - Rana Sen report...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak's Taliesha Naidoo & Shanell Daniel - Emergency services are currently extinguishing a fire at a primary school on Platt Drive in Isipingo, south of Durban. The cause of the fire is unknown at this stage. Spokesperson for a private security company - Dhevan Govindasamy says all the school's pupil's and staff have been evacuated from the premisis........

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer, Shanell Daniel - A 25-year-old soccer coach accused of raping a 14-year-old boy is expected to apply for bail at the Pinetown Magistrates Court, south of Durban, later this afternoon. It is alleged the accused lured boys under the pretence of running a soccer academy and then sexually assaulted them. He was arrested at his home in Kloof, west...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer, Taliesha Naidoo - Today marks the 30th anniversary of the release of Nelson Mandela from prison. Madiba spent the last 14 months of his 27 year jail term at the then Victor Vester Prison in Paarl. Madiba walked out of the prison gates at the age of 71 amid huge excitement. He later addressed thousands at the Grand Parade in the Cape Town CBD....

SABC News and Current Affairs — Creating jobs, growing the economy and fighting gender-based violence are set to top President Cyril Ramaphosa's 2020 State of the Nation Address this Thursday. The SONA is the annual joint sitting of the National Assembly and National Council of Provinces, to provide an overview of current developments in the country, and to set out government's key plans for the y...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - KwaZulu-Natal police are in search of suspects responsible for the murder of an unknown man - whose body was found at the Rydalvale Sports Grounds, in Phoenix, north of Durban. Provincial police spokesperson, Captain Nqobile Gwala, says members of the public made the gruesome discovery late on Sunday afternoon. She says details...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - The great Nelson Mandela once said, "It always seems impossible until it's done." Today, 30 years after Madiba's release from the Victor Verster prison in the Western Cape, President Cyril Ramaphosa is going back to where he stood on this day in 1990 - the balcony of the Cape Town City Hall. On that day, a much younger Ramaphos...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Executive Producer Salma Patel - Intravenous Therapy or IV Therapy is all the rage in health and wellness circles as it delivers vitamins directly to the vein. This therapy was previously thought to be exclusive and available only to celebrities and the elite. Durban Businessman Jay Ramnundlall has now extended his business portfolio to include educatio...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - The third annual "Lovers and Friends" festival will be the centre of attention during Valentine's Day this year with campaigns against against gender-based violence (GBV) in society. The event is one of the largest lifestyle events on the Durban calendar and will be featuring local as well as international artists, such as reno...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Taliesha Naidoo - The High Court in Pretoria has dismissed Eskom's urgent court bid to increase electricity tariffs by 16 percent over the next two years. Last year, the power utility approached the court to have the 2019 decision by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa), which approved increases of 8.10 percent and 5.22 percent...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - In a new feature from Newsbreak we commemorate 160 years since Indian indentured labourers arrived in South Africa. Brought to the British colony of Natal in 1860 on five-year contracts, Indians came to work mainly on sugar plantations where they lived under very harsh and cruel conditions. After five years, they were given the...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) will meet with the Student Representative Council (SRC) tomorrow in a bid to discuss a way forward to the current protest action that has left lectures suspended. Last week, tensions ran high after infrastructure was torched and sporadic protest action was reported. On Friday, the institut...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - Parents who home school children on a syllabus that is not registered and un-accredited, could now be arrested and sentenced to up to six years in prison if the proposed Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill is passed. This is according to the KwaZulu-Natal Education Department. The "BELA Bill" as it is known - seeks to formalise...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Rachel Vadi - The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) announced on Friday that charges against Ivan Pillay, Andries Janse Van Rensburg and Johan Van Loggerenberg would be withdrawn. The trio faced various charges that included allegations that they set up an illegal unit within SARS - which was dubbed the "rogue unit" - to spy on taxpayers. NP...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Rachel Vadi - Drugs with a street value of almost R30-million-rand was intercepted by police at the OR Tambo International Airport this weekend. National Police spokesperson, Brigadier Vish Naidoo, says drugs - believed to be cocaine was found on three individuals at the airport. Two suspects were entering South Africa from South America. The t...

SABC News and Current Affairs — Two people, including an eight-year-old girl have been confirmed dead in Gauteng following this weekend's floods. At the same time a woman from Kagiso, west of Johannesburg, is still missing and presumed dead. Heavy rains have wrecked havoc since Friday, leaving hundreds of people without shelter, especially in informal settlements in Alexandra and Soweto. Officials...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Five people have died and two others have been seriously injured following a crash on the P483 between Newcastle and Madadeni in KwaZulu-Natal, last night. The cause of the crash between the two light motor vehicles is unknown at this stage and investigations are underway. KZN Emergency Medical Service spokesperson Robert Mcken...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - The number of people killed by the Coronavirus has risen by 97 - signalling the highest number of casualties in a day. The total number of deaths in China now stands at 908 - with over 40,000 people infected. Meanwhile, at least 180,000 people are under medical observation. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has sent a team of...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer, Rachel Vadi - Leading the 160th year commemoration of the arrival of the 1860 Indian Indentured Labourers to South Africa - the 1860 Heritage Centre will be hosting the second, annual Surendra Bhana Memorial lecture this Sunday. Curator at the 1860 Heritage Centre, Selvan Naidoo says it is important to begin the commemoration with this lecture...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer, Tashlan Naidoo - The crisis is worsening at the embattled South African Airways. This follows the SAA's decision to cancel most domestic routes, as well as some international routes. The airline announced yesterday that it has taken the decision together with the Business Rescue Practitioners in an effort to make SAA profitable and sustainable...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer, Taliesha Naidoo - Summons has been issued to the RK Khan hospital and the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for health over the controversial maggot matter. Last year, 52-year-old Abdool Sadick Ebrahim was found with maggots in his mouth while admitted at the RK Khan Hospital in Chatsworth, south of Durban. He later died. A video of the incident went viral on...

SABC News and Current Affairs — High level experts from around the country have gathered in Pretoria to discuss ways in which South Africans can integrate and promote social cohesion in society. Called the "the social compact convention" the two day conference will look at social cohesion and the gaps prevalent in communities today. Durban based Social Cohesion activist - Dr Rajendran Thangavelu G...

SABC News and Current Affairs — by Newsbreak Producer, Shanell Daniel - A local movie aims to break all misconceptions about race, hate and acceptance. Entitled Epiphany - the movie, which will be released on Thursday, the 13th of February on a South African satellite channel, is based on the challenges an Afrikaans couple faces having a Black baby due to the husband being infertile. Movie Produce...

SABC News and Current Affairs — by Newsbreak Producer, Taliesha Naidoo -Africa's most influential women pioneers and path-breakers will be gathering in Durban for the Forbes Woman Africa - Leading Women Summit in March. The event, which is in its 5th year, is hosted annually in honour of International Women's Day. Renuka Methil - Managing Editor of Forbes Woman Africa and Forbes Africa - says the...

SABC News and Current Affairs — by Newsbreak Producer, Shanell Daniel - Two people have died in a head-on collision on Spine Road, at Cator Manor in Durban. Spokesperson for Rescue Care Paramedics, Garrith Jamieson, says two passengers, both from one vehicle died while both drivers were injured. Jamieson says the cause of the accident is unknown at this stage...