Newsbreak

By Newsbreak Producer Taresh Harreeparshad - Women today should draw strength from Charoltte Maxeke's legacy, because they are in a better position than she was, 150 years ago. That's according to author of "Beauty of the Heart" - Zubeida Jaffer. The book tells the story of Maxeke - as a formidable South African woman leader who became the country's first black female graduate in 1903. This follow...

By Newsbreak Producer Taliesha Naidoo - While the creative industry is still bearing the brunt of the Covid-19 pandemic, a Durban fashion designer is stitching his way to business recovery. Bespoke bridal designer, Treasure Cindi was one of 12 local fashion designers that took part in a virtual fashion show, hosted by Miss Universe South Africa 2020 - Natasha Joubert, at the weekend. Joubert had o...

By Newsbreak Producer Taliesha Naidoo - The Judicial Conduct Tribunal has found Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe guilty of gross misconduct. The Judicial Conduct Tribunal found that Hlophe breached a provision of section 165 of the Constitution and improperly attempted to influence two Constitutional Court judges. In 2008, Judges Bess Nkabinda and Chris Jafta reported that Hlophe had visit...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - Transnet's Phelophepa II train has arrived at the Phoenix Station, north of Durban, providing primary health-care on wheels. Currently in operation until the 12th of April - except on weekends - the clinic offers various services, including eye checks and counselling. Acting Manager - Thelma Satekge - says all necessary Covid-19 precautions are being observed...

By Newsbreak Talk Producer and Presenter, Taresh Harreepershad - Electricty prices increase by 15 %. The petrol price soars to about R17 per litre. Both in the same month. How are you going handle the hike? Taresh Harreepershad speaks to the Coordinator Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice & Dignity Group, Mervyn Abrahams and Head of DebtBusters, Benay Sager about the tough times that lie ahead

by Newsbreak Producer, Taresh Harreeparshad - Nothing could have been done to save a man who sustained multiple gunshots wounds in Lenasia last night. According to ER24 spokesperson Russel Meiring, they found two men lying on the street, bullet ridden on Lenasia Service Road. One man was rushed to hospital in a critical condition while the other succumbed to his injuries. Meiring explains that the...

by Newsbreak Producer, Rachel Vadi - Calm has been restored at the Mangosuthu University of Technology in Durban for now, following a week of violent student and staff protests. The KZN MEC for Education, Kwazi Mshengu met with university management and student representatives this morning in a bid to map a way forward. SABC Reporter - Nonhlakanipho Magwaza - who was at the Umlazi campus this morn...

by Newsbreak Producer, Taliesha Naidoo - The Saudi Arabian ministry has issued an announcement that from the start of Ramadan, only Muslims immunised against Covid-19 will be allowed to perform the Umrah pilgrimage. The announcement comes after Saudi Arabia reported a spike in Covid-19 cases and deaths this week. The Umrah usually attracts thousands of pilgrims each year from countries across the...

India said today it had 43 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines to meet a surge in demand for shots over the next few days. The assurance came as health authorities of several states warned shortages were taking the shine off the national inoculation drive at the peak of a new wave of the coronavirus pandemic. Rana Sen reports .....

by Newsbreak Seior Producer, Genevieve Lanka - Police in KwaZulu-Natal have arrested two men for possession of drugs with the street value of over three-million rand. The suspects were intercepted after a high speed chase on the N3 freeway towards Durban. They are expected to appear before the Camperdown Magistrates court shortly. Provincial Police spokesperson Nqobile Gwala says twenty-two bags o...

By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - A crisis is looming within the South African music industry, with the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to impact artists on a daily. This is the views of the newly appointed chairperson of the Music Publishing Association (MPA) David Alexander. The MPA was formed to safeguard and protect music publishers, while also actively engaging with government and content u...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - "Government departments need to unite in order to change the culture of alcohol consumption in the country". This is the view of the Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance (SAAPA) in reaction to the announcement that 235 people died on the roads over the Easter weekend. Transport Minsiter Fikile Mbalula attributed many of the deaths to the consumption of al...

By Newsbreak Producer Genevieve Lanka - Residents of Burbreeze in Tongaat, north of Durban, say they have been left in the dark following rolling electrical faults in the area. Residents claim that they were left without electricity for more than 36 hours over the Easter long weekend. After the power was restored, another fault occurred early on Tuesday morning. Meanwhile, the eThekwini Municipali...

By Newsbreak Producer Genevieve Lanka - The Active Citizens Movement (ACM) say if the scourge of corruption in South Africa is to be rooted out, urgent interventions to be made to protect whistle-blowers. The organisation has written to the Commission of Enquiry into State Capture suggesting amendments to current legislation relating to the protection of whistle-blowers. This is in response to a c...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - Chairperson for Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Philly Mapulane, is urging management of the Durban University of Technology and students to seek peaceful resolution to their challenges. This after sixteen DUT students were arrested for public violence, illegal gathering and the contravention of the disaster management act. Earlier this...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - The South African Medical Association (SAMA) says if predictions of a third wave of COVID-19 infections post the Easter holidays are accurate -- then the country should experience a rise in the number of infections in the next two to three weeks. However, Dr Mvuyisi Mzukwa has expressed concerns as the country heads into the winter season. He says if the viru...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - 16 Durban University of Technology (DUT) students will be appearing before the Durban Magistrates Court today, facing charges of public violence, illegal gathering AND the contravention of the disaster management act. DUT has shutdown all five of its Durban campuses until further notice. Management says the closure was to prevent people from congregating on c...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - President of the DUT Student Representative Council (SRC) Zabelo Ntuli says a temporary shutdown is unfair to students as they need access to the campuses to register...

By Newsbreak Producer Genevieve Lanka - Hikes in fuels and electricity prices, coupled with the impact of the pandemic - has left many South Africans struggling to survive. According to Programme Coordinator at the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group Mervyn Abrahams, the cost of basic food is now beyond the reach of those living on minimum wage. He says if the country is to make an...

By Newsbreak's Genevieve Lanka - An animated film - called #SaveRalph - is part of a campaign by Humane Society International for a worldwide ban on animal testing. It features the the society's mascot "Ralph" being interviewed as he goes through his daily routine as a subject in a toxicology lab. Spokesperson and campaign manager Joseph Mayson says currently 40 countries have banned animal testin...

By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - In memory of her late husband and both her sons, Sharon Moodley's newly-launched book hopes to provide strength to those who have lost loved ones. Titled "Riding The Storm: A Journey of Grief, Loss and Hope", the powerful read was launched this week at the Durban Book Fair. Sharon became a widow in 1997 and in the most unfortunate turn of events, she would go...

By Newsbreak Senior Producer Genevieve Lanka - As the country braces for a possible third wave of Covid-19 infections, pro-ivermectin group - I can Make a difference - has welcomed an order by the High Court in Pretoria on the use of medicines containing the anti-parasitic drug. The order by Judge Cassim Sardiwalla allows registered practitioners to prescribe schedule three medicine containing Ive...

By Newsbreak South Asian Correspondent Rana Senn - India reported more than 115,000 new cases in just 24 hours, its highest single-day rise since the start of the pandemic a year ago. There was fear in cities and towns and people swarmed vaccination centers for the shots. But the authorities said only those who need will get it and not those who just want it. Rana Senn reports...

By Newsbreak Producer Genevieve Lanka - Drivers who flout the rules of the road must face the full might of the law. This is the view of the Department of Transport in KwaZulu-Natal. The comments come as the death toll in yesterday's fatal road accident involving a bakkie and a light motor vehicle rose to ten by the late afternoon. The incident occurred between Ulundi and Vryheid in northern KwaZu...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - The family of South African photojournalist Anton Hammerl have approached the United Nations (UN) to recover his body - a full ten years after was gunned down in Libya. Hammerl** was 41-years-old in 2011 when he left for the north African country to cover the conflict there. He and a team of journalists came under fire by armed forces, who had alleged links t...