Newsbreak

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - Disgruntled residents of Avoca, north of Durban, claim that trucking companies have been illegally operating from a private property at Prince Umhlangane Road for the last ten years. According to resident Anusha Premall, the property is zoned as a light industrial area - under which trucking activity is banned. She claims that trucking businesses were given l...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - A combination of artificial intelligence and mother nature can help the South African cannabis industry bloom and become a global powerhouse, if implemented correctly. These are the sentiments of AgriSmart Engineering. Constant Beckerling and Anlo van Wyk are the brains behind this project and they are engineering Masters students at the Wits University in Jo...

By Newsbreak Producer Genevieve Lanka - The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) says the proposal to postpone the Local Government Elections, which is scheduled for later this year, will be processed soon. This, after the EFF intensified its bid to have the polls pushed back -- lobbying other political parties and approaching the IEC to put the matter on the agenda. Initially the party had prop...

By Newsbreak Senior Producer Genevieve Lanka - The statements made by former Democratic Alliance leader, Tony Leon regarding Mmusi Maimane, are dehumanising and devalues the contributions Maimane made during his tenure as leader. This is according to Senior Research Specialist at the Human Sciences Research Council - Dr Joleen Steyn-Kotze. In an article on his new book, Leon referred to Maimane as...

By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - South-Africa does not have the expertise and plan to cope with the vaccine roll-out adequately across all nine provinces before the third wave strikes. That's according to retired epidemiologist, Dr Jo Barnes who urges individuals who travelled or welcomed travellers over the Easter Weekend to carefully watch out for flu-like symptoms over the next couple of...

By Newsbreak Senior Producer Genevieve Lanka - Eight people have been killed on the R34 in Melmoth on the northern KwaZulu-Natal in a collision between three vehicles. KZN EMS spokesperson Rob McKenzie says six others have been transported to nearby hospitals...

By Newsbreak Producers Hoosen Ebrahim and Shanell Daniel - Traffic authorities were out in full force along the N3 route between KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng as traffic peaked following the long weekend. Gauteng Traffic Police yesterday confirmed that 30 people died on the province's roads since the beginning of the Easter weekend. The law enforcement agency says despite heightened enforcement operat...

By Newsbreak Executive Producer Salma Patel - The arts and entertainment industry has evolved during the lockdown (to curb the spread of covid-19) last year by taking productions and audiences online. One of the successful productions was the concert of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, who performed from the comfort of his garden in Pakistan to a GLOBAL audience. Fans bought tickets online and were given a u...

By Newsbreak Producer Rachel Vadi - The COVID-19 pandemic has created a "perfect storm" for vaccine misinformation to go mainstream. This is according to CEO of the KwaZulu-Natal Doctor's Healthcare Coalition, Professor Morgan Chetty. He says so-called activists are exploiting the deaths of those who died of old age or underlying health conditions. He says in some instances people are manufacturin...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - Commuters may face a price hike in taxi fares. This according to Chief Strategic Manager for South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO), Bafana Magagula - as a record increase in the price of petrol comes into effect from midnight on Wednesday. The hikes include 93 unleaded petrol increasing by 95 cents per litre and 95 unleaded petrol by one Rand per litr...

By Newsbreak Producers Hoosen Ebrahim and Shanell Daniel - Durban police say drivers were ill-disciplined on the roads with pedestrians being major contributors to incidents in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. Here's Durban Metro Police spokesperson, Senior Superintendent Parbhoo Sewparsadh...

By Newsbreak Producers Hoosen Ebrahim and Shanell Daniel - Traffic authorities were out in full force along the N3 route between KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng as traffic peaked following the long weekend. Gauteng Traffic Police yesterday confirmed that 30 people died on the province's roads since the beginning of the Easter weekend. The law enforcement agency says despite heightened enforcement operat...

By Newsbreak Presenter, Taresh Harreepershad and Newsbreak Producer, Rachel Vadi.

By Newsbreak's Indian Correspondence, Rana Senn - Cricketing great Sachin Tendulkar has tested positive for COVID-19 and hospitalised in Mumbai which is hit hard by a surge in new cases. Other cities braced for stricter curbs as infections touched a six-month high in the world's third-worst affected country, where the vaccination drive appeared to struggle after a healthy start.

By Newsbreak Producer Taliesha Naidoo - Condolences are pouring in following the death of KwaZulu-Natal's first premier - Doctor Frank Mdlalose. The veteran IFP leader died from COVID-19 at the age of 89. He was premier from 1994 to 1997, and also served as the IFP's national chairperson. IFP chief whip Narend Singh says South Africa needs more dedicated and honest public servants like Doctor Mdla...

By Newsbreak Producer Rachel Vadi - After 23 years, local celebrity hairstylist, Shirley Naidoo of "Hair Sensations" will be bid farewell to the now closed down Hilton Hotel in Durban. Naidoo is the last client to vacate one of Durban's most iconic hotels. Even though the hotel shut its doors in January this year, Naidoo has continued to see clients. With the new owners now renovating the hotel, N...

By Newsbreak Producer Taresh Harreeparshad - Each province across South Africa is expected to have about 30 to 40 vaccination sites, when "Phase Two" of the vaccine rollout begins, possibly by the end of the month. This was presented to the Health Portfolio Committee by the Department of Health. Phase Two of the rollout will vaccinate people over 60 years of age and those with co-morbidities. Chai...

By Newsbreak Producer Rachel Vadi - Professor Kovin Shunmugam Naidoo was presented with the prestigious Ammen Award by the Shri Mariammen Temple Society in Durban at the weekend. The award paid tribute to Prof. Naidoo's achievements over the years, while also recognizing the role sport played in the transformation of South Africa's democracy. As one of the members of the Liberation and Transformat...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Metro police in Durban will ramp up their presence across beaches and tourist attractions this weekend, as holidaymakers flock to the city for the Easter break. Spokesperson, Senior Superintendent Parboo Sewpersad, says roads around beaches will be heavily patrolled by officers and a helicopter will be used to assist those on the ground. He said that lessons...

By Newsbreak Producer Genevieve Lanka - Coronavirus apathy among South Africans over the Easter period could push the country into the third wave, sooner than expected. According to Dr Terrence Kommal - the Executive Chairman of SA's Medical Expert Consulting Group - the second wave, which affected South Africa during the December festive period was fuelled by reckless behaviour, not just the emer...

By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - Starting on Monday, Gauteng-based swimmer and philanthropist Christine Roos will attempt to brave ice cold water of the Atlantic, to raise funds for the South African Bone Marrow Registry. The 29-year-old is a novice swimmer, but will attempt an elite level 7.4km swim from Robben Island to Big Bay. Roos will be accompanied by long-time friend, Chalana Skinner...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - Sending out a strong message - through silence. "Action in Autism" will raise awareness on the condition, by hosting a Silent Bring and Share to mark World Autism Month in April. By using signs and gestures, people will understand the challenges that those with Autism face. Director Kirsten Miller says that Austistic persons also require respect...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - The Political Party Funding Act (PPFA) is a step in the right direction to root out corruption in the country, but - there are still many loopholes that could see unscrupulous activities being committed by corrupt individuals. That is the view of Non-Profit Organisation, My Vote Counts (MVC). The act provides for political parties in national and provincial p...

By Newsbreak Senior Producer Genevieve Lanka - The suspect accused of the murder of Durban teenager Andile Bobo Mbuthu has been gunned down in Tongaat, north of Durban. 17-year-old Mbuthu was allegedly kidnapped and killed after being accused of stealing alcohol from a local tavern in April last year. Police spokesperson Thembeka Mbhele says the victim, who is the main accused in the Mbuthu case,...

By Newsbreak Producer Genevieve Lanka - Six provinces in South Africa are still using the bucket toilets, with government having missed several deadlines for the eradication of the system. This was revealed in the "Non-Financial Census of Municipalities Report 2019" compiled by Statistics South Africa. Auditor General - Tsakani Maluleke tabled the findings yesterday. The report also shows that una...