Newsbreak

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - Star College in Durban has become the best performing independent school in KwaZulu-Natal after achieving a 100% matric 2020 pass rate. Thanks to these results, Star College ranks ninth in the top ten schools in the country and first in the province according to the site gradesmatch.co.za. Principal, Osman Karaayvaz, says he owes this success to additional cl...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - The DA in KwaZulu-Natal claims that the province's pass rate is not indicative of the real picture in KZN. The province achieved a 77.6 percent pass rate, however according to DA KZN Spokesperson on Education, Dr Imran Keeka, this figure does not represent the cohort of matriculants who started school in Grade 1, twelve years ago, or as the Class of 2020 bega...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - Having her priorities straight is what got 18-year-old Senelka Veerasamy through her matric year. The Fourways High School matriculant now has a National Senior Certificate Bachelors Degree under her belt and is excited for what the future holds for her. Speaking to Newsbreak, Veerasamy says the pandemic resulted in her final year of schooling being very chal...

by Newsbreak Producer, Shanell Daniel - The Pietermaritzburg High Court has confirmed that the long awaited trial between the State and former President Jacob Zuma and French arms company, Thales, will officially start on May 17th. This as Judge Nkosinathi Chili verified the matter as trial ready. Zuma and Thales are facing corruption, racketeering and money laundering charges linked to the multi-...

by Newsbreak Producer, Shanell Daniel - The body of a 30-year-old Zimbabwean national woman has been discovered at uShaka Beach, in Durban Central. According to KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson, Colonel Thembeka Mbhele, it's believed that the woman had drowned - and was later found by members of the community...

by Newsbreak Producer, Tashlan Naidoo - There's excitement and celebration in the air today for many matriculants across the country, as they received their final exam marks earlier today.

by Newsbreak Executive Producer, Salma Patel - KwaZulu-Natal Education MEC Kwazi Mshengu says the province's mathematics results are improving. The matric class of 2020 scored a 51 percent pass rate for mathematics, an increase from 47 percent in 2019. Top achievers Thembelihle Tsengane and Dipika Somaroo say studying during lockdown was extremely challenging. Somaroo is the best performing matric...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Oncologists in South Africa are excited about research findings that suggest immunotherapy medication has greater efficacy in the treatment of up to six different types of cancer. Immunotherapy is a method to treat cancer that uses a person's immune system to fight the killer disease. According to the Cancer Association of South Africa, cancer is the second l...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Trade union COSATU says they support the introduction of a possible "wealth tax" in tomorrow's budget speech - but say implementation needs to be done in a systematic manner. The wealth tax is something that many economists have said could be implemented, while others say it is premature to speculate. Tax experts have touted this budget to be the toughest tha...

By Newsbreak Producers Tashlan Naidoo and Shanell Daniel - The announcement of a 76-point-two percent pass rate in the 2020 National Senior Certificate has been met with mixed reaction. This as the results show a drop of five-point-one percent as compared to 2019. Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga, announced the overall pass rate during a media conference yesterday. To discuss the 2020 NSC...

By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - Chelsea new boss Thomas Tuchel faces arguably his toughest test to date tonight, when Blues team travel to Bucarest to face Atletico Madrid in the Champions Laegue. All eyes will be on Atletico striker Luis Suarez - who has previous history with Chelsea. Meanwhile, Italian striker Ciro Immobile's Lazio play one of the tournament's favourites - Bayern Munich t...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - The Commission of Inquiry into State Capture has filed an urgent application with the Constitutional Court against former president Jacob Zuma, calling for him to be jailed for two years. This relates to Zuma's defiance of the order by the apex court compelling him to appear before the Commission in Johannesburg. The application seeks an order from the court...

By Newsbreak Executive Producer Salma Patel - A forensic consultant has been brought in to investigate the whereabouts of award-winning Durban actor Pranesh Maharaj, who's been missing since early February. Dawn Gounden, who specialises in missing persons and trafficking, says that they are investigating all leads. Maharaj's car was found in Bhisho in the Eastern Cape. Gounden says they have spoke...

By Newsbreak Producer, Rachel Vadi - A 48 year old man is expected to appear at the Port Shepstone Magistrates Court today for theft of a piece of San Rock Art. According to Hawks spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Philani Nkwalase, the suspect was arrested after he advertised the Rock Art online. The Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation team in Port Shepstone together with the K9 Unit execut...

By Newsbreak Producer, Rachel Vadi - 18 year old Nirav Doorgapershad from Moringside in Durban achieved a 92% Matric pass at the independent school, Curro Heritage House in Durban. He says the support from parents, friends and teachers is what saw him through the difficult year of 2020

By Newsbreak Executive Producer, Salma Patel - Young Akhil Govan from St Benedicts College in Gauteng achieved matric success in the 2020 IEB exams. 18 year old Govan - who is from Alberton in Johannesburg South - says hard work pays off and has advised other matrics to try again if thy are not happy with their results

By Newsbreak Producer, Shanell Daniel - The alleged mastermind behind the murder of 28-year old Tshegofatso Pule, will remain in custody until his bail hearing next Monday. Nthutuko Shoba, made his first appearance at the Roodepoort Magistrate's Court, in Gauteng, today. This follows Muzikayise Malephane being handed down a 20-year jail sentence by the High Court in Johannesburg after entering int...

By Newsbreak Producers Salma Patel and Matthew Veeran - Murder, sexual offences and attempted murder has increased in the country. This was reflected in the crime stats released by Police Minister Bheki Cele for the period from 1 October to the end of December 2020. During this quarter South Africa was in lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Cele says that the majority of murders were l...

By Newsbreak Producer Rachel Vadi - Ahead to the much anticipated matric results today, the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) encourages parents and family members to be aware of warning signs in those learners who may not have received the exam results they expected. Operations director at SADAG, Cassey Chambers says the class of 2020 faced unprecedented learning circumstances am...

By Newsbreak Producer Rachel Vadi - The Department of Health says over 10,000 health-care workers have already been administered with the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine, that arrived in the country last week. General Practitioner, Dr Jeff Govender from Gelvandale in Port Elizabeth, was one of the first private health-care workers to receive the vaccine yesterday in the Eastern Cape. Dr Govende...

By Newsbreak Executive Producer Salma Patel - Durban club and radio DJ, Kevin Naidoo, popularly known as "Kevin Rebellious" is to be laid to rest today. 47-year-old Naidoo was a former Lotus FM DJ who ran an online radio platform providing entertainment during the lockdown. News of his death went viral on social media as fans expressed shock. On Thursday, Kevin took to Facebook to announce his dep...

By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - A young Port Elizabeth girl is making waves both literally and figuratively. 14-year-old Zia Hendricks is a surfing prodigy who has caught the attention of those in the sport for her exceptional talent. With a huge love for the ocean, Zia has always been eager to push herself in challenging ways. At only eight years old, she was selected for the Mandela Bay t...

By Newsbreak Talk Presenter and Producer, Taresh Harreepershad - International Mother Language Day recognizes that languages and multilingualism can advance inclusion, and the Sustainable Development Goals' focus on leaving no one behind. This year's observance is a call on policymakers, educators and teachers, parents and families to scale up their commitment to multilingual education, and inclus...

By Newsbreak Presenter and Producer, Taresh Harreepershad - ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule has confirmed that the party's top six will soon meet with former president Jacob Zuma. Police Minister Bheki Cele and EFF leader Julius Malema recently visited Zuma at his residence in Nkandla, northern KwaZulu-Natal. Zuma has refused to appear before the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture despit...

By Newsbreak Producer, Taresh Harreepershad - Muzikayise Malephane has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for murdering 28-year-old Tshegofatso Pule in June last year. He entered into an agreement with the state after pleading guilty in the High Court in Johannesburg this morning. Her body was found in an open veld in Roodepoort, west of Johannesburg. Interview with SABC reporter Sashin Naidoo.