Newsbreak

By Newsbreak Producer Rachel Vadi - Tributes and messages of condolences continue to flood social media - as police investigate the death of Durban attorney, Theasen Pillay. Police have confirmed that that Pillay was found with stab wounds in the arm and chest at Umhlanga. Close friend, the former Deputy Mayor of eThekwini, Logie Naidoo says Pillay's legacy will continue to live on through the leg...

By Newsbreak Producer and Presenter Taresh Harreepershad. During lockdown, women's responsibilities as primary caretakers in the home increased over and above existing work commitments with additional burdens. Some of these included assisting children with home schooling, increased meal planning and execution, and looking after other relatives in need of care. This Mother's Day, Newsbreak Talk tak...

By Newsbreak Talk Presenter, Taresh Harreepershad - Suspended ANC Secretary General Ace Magashule has been kicked out of the NEC virtual meeting. He is suspended in line with the governing party's step-aside resolution which says all members facing criminal charges must temporarily step-aside until their matters are finalized. Magqashule is facing fraud and corruption charges relating to the multi...

By Newsbreak Producer, Rachel Vadi. Bail was denied for the suspect arrested in the murder of Chatsworth man *Nichalen 'Donald' Naidoo. The suspect, Cole Kevin Poonan appeared at the Chatsworth Magistrate Court yesterday. Poonan is expected to reappear next week, pending further investigation. It is alleged that Naidoo was run over twice and dragged about 200m under the car of the suspect. A large...

By Newsbreak's Asian Correspondent, Rana Senn. The US asked the world to pay its debt as India marked another record Covid high of 414,000 new cases which drowned its healthcare services with oxygen-starved patients. It also called for a total shutdown to fight the cataclysmic surge that has claimed 234,000 lives by the latest official count at 5 AM South Africa time.

Award-winning Current Affairs and news talk show bringing you topical news issues of the week. Relevant to Lotus FM - we cover issues YOU want - beating deadlines, making headlines. 6-7am, 1-1:30pm weekdays and weekends from 1-2pm.

By Newsbreak Executive Producer, Salma Patel. A prominent Durban attorney has been found dead at his Umhlang apartment a short while ago. Its believed that the victim was found with stab wounds in the arm and chest. Spokesperson for the private security company, Reaction Unit South africa, Prem Balram says that the victim had left a suicide note.

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - An urgent call is being made by Limpopo police for members of the public who may have information related to the disappearance of 36-year-old businessman, Shyam Premjee, to come forward. He went missing almost a month ago - with no information related to the missing-persons case at this stage. Rumours suggest that the man was kidnapped, however police have no...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the workplace has caused many employees to suffer from burn-out due to the pressures of adjusting to the new normal. These are the sentiments of labour law expert, Saber Ahmed Jazbhay. In times of uncertainty and vulnerability, he says employers need to be support structures to their employees - especially with people ha...

By Newsbreak Producer Taresh Harreeparshad - Poultry on South African shelves is safe for consumption - despite another case of Avian Influenza at a commercial chicken farm in Randfontein, Gauteng. This is the fifth outbreak so far, with four in Gauteng and one in the North West. According to the Department of Agriculture all affected farms have been quarantined, with control measures being implem...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - The Southern Africa Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO) has begun collecting royalties on behalf of its members from TikTok, Facebook and Netflix, after having concluded licensing agreements with the popular digital platforms. This is a step forward towards adapting its licensing and royalty payments to the technological landscape. What this means, is that SAMR...

By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - Reach For A Dream's most celebrated fundraiser "Slipper Day" is celebrated today - an initiative that's aimed at raising funds for children diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses. Observed annually since 2011, Slipper Day was actually postponed last year due to COVID-19. This time around, the non-governmental organisation will look to pick up where they le...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - The court case against Joao Rodrigues - who is facing a charge of murdering anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Timol in 1971 is set to be back in court on the 12th of July. Rodrigues made his 18th court appearance yesterday at the Palm Ridge High Court in Germiston, Gauteng yesterday. According to Timol's nephew Imtiaz Kajee - Judge Ramarumo Monama inquired as to...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo and Taresh Harreeparshad - Political analysts say there is a growing power struggle within the ANC after the party's secretary-general Ace Magashule refused to comply with his suspension. Magashule was served with a suspension letter dated the 3rd of May as per the parties step-aside resolution. Magashule however - hit back with a letter suspending president Cy...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - The South African COVID-19 vaccine rollout is a national imperative that requires the utmost attention. This according to co-ordinator and a director for Vaccines 4 Healthcare Workers - under the Sisonke vaccine programme - Dr Unben Pillay. A call is being made for out-of-hospital health-care workers to register for the vaccine and for clinical and non-clinic...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - A drug bust in Phoenix, north of Durban, resulted in the arrest of two suspects. Police officers from the Provincial Drug and Firearm Unit conducted an operation at Cairn Park. A search was conducted and police recovered 672 capsules of heroin and 119 pieces of rock cocaine. Spokesperson for KwaZulu-Natal police, Captain Nqobile Gwala says the suspects are ap...

By Newsbreak Executive Producer Salma Patel - Last year this time, many South Africans were craving nicotine. Government announced the hard lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus - the pandemic that is sweeping across continents worldwide. The sale of Alcohol and cigarettes were banned during this time and people were urged to stay home. While some were suffering the effects of nicotine wi...

By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - The ANC has officially temporarily suspended the membership of party Secretary-General Ace Magashule until the finalisation of his court case. Magashule is being charged for his alleged involvement in fraud and corruption relating to a R255m asbestos project in the Free State, under his watch as Premier. Meanwhile, in a curious turn of events, Magashule has w...

Judge Jacqueline Henriques has sentenced Mohammed Ebrahim to 25 years imprisonment for the kidnapping and murder of nine-year old Miguel Louw. Handing down her sentence in the Durban High Court, the judge noted that Ebrahim had shown no remorse. She referred to the killing as a crime of passion - since Ebrahim had a relationship with Miguel's mother. Nonkululeko Hlophe reports…

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - The discovery of a marine life "cleaning station" at Aliwal Shoal on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast has allayed fears that the endangered short-finned Devil Ray species are alive and well. Cleaning stations are important areas in a reef where a marine animal - such as a ray, turtle, shark, or fish - will visit to have parasites removed by cleaner fish. Michell...

By Newsbreak Producers Tashlan Naidoo and Shanell Daniel - Western Cape police have confiscated drugs worth an estimated two-point-one-million-rand at storage facilities in the Southern Suburbs in Cape Town. Police spokesperson Andre Traut says a 33-year-old suspect was arrested and his vehicle confiscated. Meanwhile, two suspects aged between 22 and 31 are appearing at the Durban Magistrates Cour...

By Newsbreak Senior Producer Genevieve Lanka - The Transnet National Ports Authority says they are monitoring the condition of thirteen crew members on board a ship that is in quarantine in the Durban harbour. This morning a fourteenth crew member was rushed to a nearby hospital, following breathing difficulties. The fourteen Filipino crew members on board the Eaubonne tested positive for COVID-19...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - KwaZulu-Natal police are searching for a suspect involved in the murder of father who was allegedly knocked down and dragged several meters following an altercation, at Chatsworth, south of Durban. 39-year-old Nichalen "Donald" Naidoo succumbed to his injuries following the incident at his home in Crossmoor over the weekend. Provinicial police spokesperson, C...

By Newsbreak Producer Genevieve - Transnet National Ports Authority has confirmed that 14 Filipino crew members onboard a ship at the Durban harbour have tested positive for COVID-19. The vessel "Eaubonne" arrived from India on Sunday. This comes on the heels of concerns of another traveller from India entering South Africa, testing positive for the virus. The case has sparked concerns about the p...

By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - The South African Medical Association (SAMA) has expressed dissatisfaction over the role of 200+ Cuban Doctors who arrived in the country to help in the fight the Coronavirus. The Association told Newsbreak that there is no clarity on the job description of these Doctors. Meanwhile, their continued absence from front-line COVID wards has also been an issue ra...