Newsbreak

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - After 24 years of service at the SABC, radio host and personality, Sureshnie Rieder - has bid her final goodbye to the public broadcaster. Rieder started her radio career here at Lotus FM after completing her journalism studies at the Durban University of Technology (DUT). She then moved to join 5FM in Johannesburg where she read news bulletins, hosted music...

By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - The South African Airways Pilots' Association (SAAPA) has threatened to go on strike over the conduct adopted by the airline's business rescue practitioners towards staff. The pilots claim they have been locked out of the airline since December, following a deadlock in negotiations over a three-decade-long regulatory agreement. The union has given the airline...

By Newsbreak Producer Taresh Harreeparshad - The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) is still staggering social grant payments. For April, pensioners will only be able to obtain their payments from the 6th. But senior citizens say one year on, it is unacceptable that payments are still not being made on the 1st of every month. This is despite various sectors reverting to normalcy. Member...

By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - The month of April marks 21 years since investigations began into the Throb Nightclub tragedy of the year 2000. Investigations found that a long-standing quarrel between rival nightclub owners lead to teargas been set off in the club, causing a stampede that killed 13 teenagers. One of the heroines of that difficult time in Chatsworth's history was nurse Hone...

By Newsbreak Senior Producer Genevieve Lanka - The non-profit organisation - South Africans Against Drunk Driving - says while the announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa to ban the sale of alcohol for offsite consumption over the long weekend is welcomed, government should consider raising the legal drinking age to 21. Director and Founder of SADD, Caro Smit says most road crash victims are bet...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Management at the Shri Mariamman Temple at Mt. Edgecombe north of Durban, say the 131st annual Easter prayer will go ahead as planned and does not poses a risk of being a COVID-19 super spreader event. The yearly prayer, which begins tomorrow and ends on the 5th of April, usually consists of food stalls and entertainment, all of which will be excluded. Chairm...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - Chairperson for the Phoenix Crime Prevention Forum - Umesh Singh, has welcomed the arrest of a group of suspects facing charges of attempted murder and possession of illegal firearms and ammunition. This after a break-in incident at Wetfern Road which resulted in a shootout between police and the suspects - leaving one suspect dead. Singh says the suspects wi...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - As Human Rights Month draws to a close, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and ReDefine Properties have found a solution to what was a rather distasteful incident. Last week, an Ndebele activist was refused entry into the Boulders Shopping Centre in Johannesburg because of his traditional attire. A video of the incident caused a major outcry af...

By Newsbreak Producer Genevieve Lanka - The situation in Mozambique reflects a deeper issue of governmental neglect and marginalisation. This is the view of Senior Research Associate based with the Institute for Global Dialogue - Sanusha Naidu. Earlier this week, insurgents linked to the Islamic State (I.S) carried out an attack on the northern Mozambique town of Palma, where dozens of people - in...

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 Producer Rachel Vadi - Police are investigating the murder of two people found dead in a bakkie on Old and New Greytown Road, in Pietermaritzbug yesterday. Police spokesperson, Sergeant Mthokozisi Ngobese says the couple were found by passersby near the driveway gate of their farm. Ngobese says police do not believe this to be a farm murder, but rather an opportunist crime...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - The upgrading of the Newcastle Airport in KwaZulu-Natal includes developing it into a technological hub, enabling the third largest city in the province to keep up with the changing times. These are the sentiments of Amajuba District Mayor, Dr Musa Ngubane. The Newcastle Municipality also plans on using video technology to promote tourism. In this week's Tech...

By Newsbreak Presenter, Taresh Harreepershad Vascular surgeon and founding member of the #Lymphatic and #Venous Disease Society, Dr Vinesh Padayachy says with the disease affecting 60% of people with leg ulcers, the Society aims to conduct critical research and investigate the causes and effects of the diseases.

By Newsbreak Senior Producer Genevieve Lanka - The search for two more victims who were swept away by floodwaters in the Weenen area in western KwaZulu-Natal at the weekend is continuing. The victims were travelling in a taxi, which was washed away when it was crossing a low water bridge over the Mngwenya River. Eleven people managed to reach safety - including the driver. However, two bodies were...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Political analyst Ongama Mtimka says the ANC's decision that cadres facing criminal charges must step aside within 30 days or face suspension is long overdue, but will not solve the issues of morality and integrity within the party. This is in reaction to the governing party's National Executive Committee (NEC) announcement made by party president Cyril Ramap...

By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - Bafana Bafana's failure to qualify next year's delayed AFCON 2021 tournament has once again raised questions around the hunger and overall quality of our national football team. Bafana needed just a draw to qualify for the tournament, but a 2-0 loss in Sudan on Sunday meant that the 1996 winners won't even have a chance to compete. Meanwhile, World Cup qualif...

By Newsbreak Producer Rachel Vadi - The South African National Christian Forum says it will take government to court if restrictions are imposed on religious gatherings this Easter. President Bishop Marothi Mashashane says there is no evidence that church gatherings are super-spreader events. He says that it is unbelievable that government can close churches while it does not comment on political...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - Hiking through scenic mountainous trails or even taking a brisk walk in your area - outdoor activities help immensely with physical and mental issues, especially during a pandemic. Based in Newcastle KZN, head of Hikeobics, Tsebiso Maruping, leads the way through the mountains and valleys of the area, helping people get fit the natural way. In this week's Med...

By Newsbreak Producer Shenell Daniel - Representative of the "I can make a difference" group of medical professionals - Dr Naseeba Kathrada has welcomed the decision made by SAHPRA to register a cream formulation which contains Ivermectin. The ointment is for the treatment of moderate to severe inflammation lesions in adults and is not intended to treat COVID-19. Meanwhile, the South African Healt...

By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - Shipping traffic through Egypt's Suez Canal resumed YESTERDAY after a giant container ship which had been blocking the busy waterway for almost a week was refloated. The four hundred metre long Ever Given became jammed diagonally in high winds early last Tuesday. It weighed over 200-thousand tonnes, blocking the canal for around 400 backed up vessels waiting...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - A South African woman from Queensburgh, south of Durban says she was astonished to have been named one of 25 Inspiring Global Tamil Women, earlier this month. Nirmala Govender, was awarded the accolade by the Tamil Cultural Association at Vauréal, in France. Govender comes from a cultured background and continues her Tamil advocacy through dance and music. Sp...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - The new US Consul general (CG) to South Africa in KwaZulu-Natal has pledged to help grow trade between the two nations and strengthen the healthcare system in order to further the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic. CG Anne Linnee says another major focus of her tenure is to promote entrepreneurship in the province in various sectors of the economy. She says...

By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - The ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting descended into chaos last night as supporters of secretary general Ace Magashule objected a seven-day deadline for him and others facing corruption to step aside. Initial reports suggest that the virtual meeting got out of hand and had to be stopped. The discussions surrounded Magashule needing to vacate offi...

By Newsbreak Producer Taliesha Naidoo - Business inspections in KwaZulu-Natal are expected to intensify ahead of the Easter weekend. This after three foreign nationals were arrested following compliance visits in the Durban CBD at the weekend. The inspections monitor compliance with lockdown regulations by businesses, liquor traders and gambling outlets. The Departments of Home Affairs and Labour...

By Newsbreak Producer Rachel Vadi - One suspect has been arrested for tampering and damaging essential infrastructure at the Effingham Railway Line in Durban. Police spokesperson, Captain Nqobile Gwala says a 46-year-old was apprehended by police as he was cutting a padlock with a steel hack saw. Captain Gwala says such theft is common place in South Africa - and often causes major problems with t...