Newsbreak

By Newsbreak Producer, Hoosen Ebrahim - Political leaders describe the late Monarch as a person who championed social cohesion. Chief whip of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) in the National Assembly, Narend Singh describes King Goodwil Zwelithini's contribution towards society as equal, encouraging world leaders to follow the example of diversity from the late leader...

by Newsbreak Producer, Hoosen Ebrahim - Two veteran aviators - retired major general Des Barker and retired Colonel Rama Iyer have died when the light aircraft belonging to the SA Air Force Museum crashed while landing at Swartkops Air Force Base, south of Pretoria. The single-engine Patchen Explorer reconnaissance aircraft was the only one ever built. Newsbreak spoke to Editor of World Airnews -...

Seventy-two-year-old amaZulu King Goodwill Zwelithini has been laid to rest at the Kwa-Dlama-hlahla palace at Nongoma in northern KwaZulu-Natal, in a ceremony called ukutshalwa in the early hours of this morning. In Zulu culture, the term ukutshalwa refers to the belief that a King never dies but that he is planted. The longest serving Zulu monarch died from COVID-19 complications last week. He ha...

by Newsbreak Producer, Tashlan Naidoo - South Africa will next month receive 20 million vaccine doses from Pfizer/BioNTech, however its efficacy rates against the dominant Covid-19 variant is not conclusive. That's according to Vice President for Research at the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), Professor Jeffrey Mphahlele. The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHP...

by Horisani Sithole - Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi has vehemently condemned the brutal attack on a learner outside Lenasia South Secondary School South of Johannesburg this week. MEC Lesufi visited the school after video footage of the brawl went viral on social media. The video shows a learner being brutally attacked by other learners on a road with oncoming traffic. Gauteng Education spo...

President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to deliver the eulogy at the memorial service of AmaZulu King Goodwill Zwelithini Ka-Bhekuzulu at Nongoma, in northern KwaZulu-Natal. The funeral service is expected to begin at 10am, at the Kwa Khetha Omthandayo Royal Palace. Late last night the 72-year-old monarch's remains were interred - known as 'ukutshala' in isiZulu, meaning 'planted'. The cere...

by Newsbreak Producers, Rachel Vadi, Salma Patel and Tashlan Naidoo - Yesterday Newsbreak brought you that story about controversial property developer, Woodglaze Trading fined R7.5 million for environmental breach. This was a case brought by the eThekwini Municipality. Spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority, Natasha Kara, says the charges relate to two pieces of property that was bei...

by Newsbreak Producer, Shanell Daniel - The Durban University of Technology remembers and honours the contributions made by King Goodwill Zwelithini to the institute. King Zwelithini was a former Chancellor of M.L Sultan Technikon, prior to the merger with Technikon Natal, that resulted in the establishment of the Durban Institute of Technology (DIT) in 2002 and later DUT. Senior Director of Corpo...

by Newsbreak Producer, Rachel Vadi - The controversial property development company, Woodglaze Trading has been fined R7.5 million for environmental breach. Representatives from the company appeared in the Durban magistrate Court after pleading guilty to contravention of the National Environmental Management Waste Act, contravention of the National Water Act and two counts of contravention of the...

by Newsbreak Producer, Hoosen Ebrahim - Wealthy international members from the World Trade Organization (WTO) have blocked a push by over 80 developing countries to waive patent rights in an effort to boost production of COVID-19 vaccines for poor nations. The proposal brought by South Africa and India was supported by hundreds of civil society organisations, including Doctors Without Borders, Oxf...

Produced by Tashlan Naidoo - In just 10 days, South Africa will mark 1 year of being in lockdown, and much has changed. The digital migration is one of the greatest advents of this period, with many having to learn new skills and adapt to technological advancements. Social media has seen an upsurge in activity due to people spending more time indoors and on their devices. The rise of 'influencers'...

by Newsbreak Producer, Shanell Daniel - Three suspects allegedly involved in fraudulent activity related to The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) funding have been granted bail at the Durban Magistrates Court. The suspects aged between 32 and 40 were arrested after a known suspect allegedly forwarded money into three different bank accounts that were unknown to the institution. A total...

by Newsbreak Producer, Hoosen Ebrahim - British Airways, operated by Comair in South Africa, has announced the reopening of bookings for flights between Johannesburg and Victoria Falls. Amid fears of the third Coronavirus wave looming, the airline says it would begin travel from the 13th of May. The reopening of the route is in time to experience Victoria Falls during its peak tourist season when...

AmaZulu traditional Prime Minister - Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi - has confirmed that the body of King Goodwill Zwelithini's body will be interred - referred to as ukutshala in Zulu - at midnight tonight. The memorial service which will be addressed by President Cyril Ramaphosa tomorrow. Meanwhile, more politicians including Deputy President David Mabuza, EFF leader - Julius Malema, ANC Secretary...

By Newsbreak Executive Producer Salma Patel - The South African women's cricket team are doing the country proud. They've clinched the fourth One-Day International against India in the five-match series. The Proteas won the toss and opted to bowl, restricting their hosts to 266 for the loss of four wickets in their 50 overs. Player of the match Mignon du Preez scored 61 off 55 balls. The fifth and...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - The bodies of two men believed to be vagrants have been found decapitated at a railway line on Plane Street, at Tongaat, north of Durban. It's been reported that the men used to sleep under a bridge next to the railway line. Spokesperson for local security company, Reaction Unit South Africa, Prem Balram, says the circumstances surrounding the incident remain...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - The Anti-Racism Network South Africa (ARNSA) believes that more family conversations need to be had in order to curb the scourge of racist tendencies in the country. This as the 6th annual Anti-Racism Week kicked off. The campaign will culminate on Human Rights Day and the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, on the 22nd of this mon...

By Newsbreak Producer Rachel Vadi - A man believed to be in his forties, has lost his arm in an industrial accident at Chatsworth, south of Durban, last night. Rescue Care Advance Life Support Paramedic, Sheldon Lombard say paramedics found the man with his arm stuck in an industrial printing machine. Lombard says a specialist surgeon had to be called to perform an emergency field amputation of th...

By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - KwaZulu-Natal's Tourism Sector will be getting much-needed relief from government. MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Ravi Pillay has launched a special Tourism Relief Fund amounting to around 20-million-rand. This fund aims to save some businesses in the tourism and hospitality sector that have found themselves in distress durin...

By Newsbreak Executive Producer Salma Patel - Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng WILL NOT APOLOGISE for his Pro-Israel comments - AT LEAST FOR NOW. Mogoeng has indicated that he will appeal the matter. The Judicial Conduct Committee has ordered Mogoeng to retract his statements and issue an apology for his utterances, which complainants found to be pro-Isreal and anti-Palestine. In a statement, the JCC...

By Newsbreak Executive Producer Salma Patel - Parents and caregivers should pay attention to the emotional well-being of children during these uncertain times during a pandemic. According to Counselling psychologist, Kerry Salvesan, its often assumed that children are resilient and can bounce back quicker from an experience, but that during these unprecedented times of Covid19 and the lockdown the...

By Newsbreak Producer Rachel Vadi - As tributes continue to pour in for the late amaZulu King Goodwill Zwelithini Ka Bhekuzulu, the business fraternity echoes the sentiments of His Majesty's contribution to economic development in KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa as a whole. Durban businessman and philanthropist, Vivian Reddy, says the stature and respect commanded by the monarch was able to bring i...

By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - The South African National Council for the Blind have raised concern over the lack of access to online banking services catering for this community. The council says that several complaints have surfaced about the inaccessibility of online banking systems for blind people - and that such complaints were either ignored or not addressed to their satisfaction. T...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - There is no possibility that embattled power utility, Eskom, can rescue itself from the financial damage already committed at the state-owned enterprise. These are the sentiments of Director and Chief Economist of Efficient Group, Dawie Roodt. Eskom says it will continue with its maintenance plans for its power stations despite the heightened risks of load sh...

By Newsbreak's Executive Producer, Salma Patel - Local Businessman, Ishwar Ramlatchman, says he is struggling to come to terms with the death of King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekhuzulu. The King had bestowed the title of honorary Prince to Ramlatchman - who considered the Monarch a father-figure and a mentor. In an emotional interview with Newsbreak, Ramlatchman says the bond and friendship he share...