Newsbreak

By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - KwaZulu-Natal snake expert Nick Evans and his brave camera team will make a triumphant return to television screens later this month - with season two of the popular series "Snake Season". The new eight-part series turns the excitement up a notch, as Evans tries to outwit some of the country's most venomous and deadly snakes. Be it the massive African Python...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - After 98-years of running side-by-side, comrades runners will unite virtually as the "ultimate human race" goes digital once again. The Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) will celebrate its centenary year using personal smart timing devices. The Comrades Centenary Hope Challenge takes place on the 13th of June and there are already more than 3,500 entrants f...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Humanitarian organisation, Gift of the Givers has taken a decision to be part of the Oxygen for India campaign. It says the situation in India needs an urgent intervention. India's tally of coronavirus infections has surged past 20 million. The country has recorded 357 thousand 229 new cases over the last 24 hours, while deaths rose by 3 thousand 449 for a to...

By Newsbreak Senior Producer Genevieve Lanka - Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has called for a nationwide lockdown as the country's tally of coronavirus infections surged past 20 million becoming the second nation after the United States to pass the grim milestone. India's deadly second wave of infections, the world's biggest surge in coronavirus infections, has seen it take just over four...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) says to date - the B.1.617 variant of covid-19 dominant in India has not been detected in South Africa -- however, any suspected cases will be investigated. Concerns have been raised after a person who had travelled from India tested positive for Covid-19 in South Africa. India has now recorded over 20-m...

By Newsbreak Senior Producer Genevieve Lanka - Public Sector trade unions and government representatives are currently locked in a meeting, in a last ditch attempt to resolve a stalemate in the wage negotiations. Workers in the Public Servants Association (PSA) are demanding a seven percent increase, however, government has tabled a zero-percent offer. Manager for PSA in KwaZulu-Natal, Mlungisi Nd...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Spokesperson for global charity organisation B.A.P.S - Hemang Desai says they have secured 100 oxygen concentrators for India - which will be distributed among the worst affected states in the next few days...

India's top court has ordered the authorities to provide oxygen to capital Delhi where 37 critically-ill patients gasped to death. The ruling came after five city hospitals sent out an SOS seeking help as politicians paying no heed to the distress signals blamed each other for the shortages. Rana Senn has the latest from New Delhi...

By Newsbreak Producer Genevieve Lanka - Good hand hygiene is critical in the fight against the spread of Coronavirus. According to experts, hands are the main pathway for the transmission of the virus, as well as other forms of germs and bacteria. Tomorrow (Wednesday) marks World Hand Hygiene Day and Johannesburg-based Doctor, Kim Naidoo says a little soap and water goes a long way in safeguarding...

By Newsbreak Producer Taliesha Naidoo - From cleaning toilets to completing his Masters in Business Administration (MBA) - Kevin Anderton Naidoo has defied all the odds. The 44-year-old from Durban has a hearing disability. He suffers from severe bilateral hearing sensory loss and is completely deaf in his right ear. In addition, he has only 25% natural hearing in his left ear. But this did not st...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic has had a cripple effect on the media industry internationally. Profits have plummeted and many media outlets have been forced to close their doors. However, in spite of the smaller newsrooms and limited resources, journalists continue to inform and educate their audiences around the world. As today marks World Press Free...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Aviation authorities are at the scene of a helicopter crash in Durban where a two men - the pilot and a student - passed away earlier this morning. It is alleged that the chopper crashed into an island in the Umgeni River. Rescue operations have come to an end - allowing for investigators to establish the cause of the crash and removal of the helicopter. KwaZ...

By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - Organised by the Active Citizen's Movement (ACM), a number of anti-corruption demonstrations are scheduled for today in and around Durban. Urging South Africans to #DefendOurDemocracy and #DefendOurConstitution, the peaceful protests will be held concurrently in various parts of the city - from the Durban High Court to the Bluff and Umhlanga Rocks Drive. The...

By Newsbreak Producer Rachel Vadi - The funeral service of legendary playwright and activist Ronnie Govender is expected to take place later today, with close family members attending in Cape Town. Govender's brother - Kenny has confirmed that the ceremony will also be broadcast virtually over social media platforms. The 86-year-old activist, playwright, director and author, died on Thursday. He w...

By Newsbreak Producer Taliesha Naidoo - Activist and storyteller, Gcina Mhlophe has described Ronnie Govender as a literary giant. Mhlophe says Govender used literature to inspire millions of minds during a turbulent time in South Africa. She says Govender will never be forgotten for his immense contribution to the arts industry...

By Newsbreak Producer Taresh Harreeparshad - Medical aid users are expecting to pay less for co-payments, when they use non-designated service providers. This follows a notice published by the Council for Medical Schemes declaring certain practices for determining co-payments undesirable. The Independent Community Pharmacy Association (ICPA) explains that the notice means the co-payment ought to b...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - It's important to strike a balance between real life joy the joy expressed through world of digital screens. That's according to Founder of TechnoLife Wise Foundation, Dr. Marlena Kruger. She says an imbalance in how technology is used may contribute to children not appropriately developing mentally, physically, and emotionally when using digital devices. Ahe...

By Newsbreak Producer Rachel Vadi - Surrounded by the emotional turmoil of COVID-19, sixteen-year-old Prerna Somera, turned to song and music to express her emotions. Reaching out from Craigieburn township in southern KwaZulu-Natal, the Kingsway High School learner's video was released last week and has since gone viral, reaching thousands of viewers. Prerna says she is hoping that people who are...

By Newsbreak Talk Presenter, Taresh Harreepershad and Producer Rachel Vadi #NewsbreakTalk pays tribute to the contribution that Ronnie Govender made, through his art and his activism, to the cause of justice and democracy in South Africa.

By Newsbreak Producer, Taresh Harreepershad - The South African Hindu Maha Sabha (SAHMS) will be donating 20 oxygen concentrators to fight Covid19 in India - this as daily cases and deaths reach record proportions in India. After consultations with the Indian government, SAHMS is calling on the public to support their cause. President of SAHMS, Ashwin Trikamjee explains why they felt it necessary...

By Newsbreak Asian Correspondent, Rana Senn - India vowed to inoculate all adults from today to beat back a cataclysmic Covid-19 surge which was adding 350,000 fresh cases every day. But vaccine shortages prompted several cities to put off the ambitious roll-out, giving rise to despair in the nation where the deadly virus so far has claimed 205,000 lives.

By NewsbreakTalk Producer and Presenter, Taresh Harreepershad - ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa paid tribute to the country's workers saying they have sacrificed their lives during the coronavirus pandemic to ensure that others are safe. He was speaking at COSATU House in Johannesburg where he joined South Africa's largest labour federation COSATU in its virtual event to mark Workers' Day. The party...

By Newsbreak Producer, Rachel Vadi - International Humanitarian Aid organisation , Gift of the Givers are currently in negotiations to send oxygen supplies to India. Infections have surpassed the 18 million mark in India- as the country battles to provide oxygen support to patients. Founder and chairperson, Dr Imtiaz Sooliman says they are speaking to the High Indian Commissioner in South Africa,...

By Newsbreak Producer, Salma Patel - He is the recipient of two lifetime achievement awards for his contribution to literarture and the arts in 2008. He was awarded the Order of Ikamanga for his contribution to democracy, peace and justice in South Africa through the medium of theatre. He is renowned for some of the best productions in the country including one of South Africa's longest running pl...

By Newsbreak Producer, Taresh Harreepershad - Sharp witted- until the end, is how close family friend Thyalan Reddy described Ronnie Govender. The two shared a very close relationship- that helps us understand the kind of man Govender was, backstage