Newsbreak

By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - With financial resources limited and the pandemic still causing devastation, the Aryan Benevolent Home (ABH) in Chatsworth, south of Durban has decided against accepting new admissions for the foreseeable future. The home consists of over 400 staffers who help to care for and educate its 700 plus residents - many of whom are elderly and suffer from various co...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - Although the COVID-19 pandemic has been quite stressful for adults, children too have had their fare share of challenges when dealing with the impact of the virus. To help these children cope with the changing times, a children's book series called "Duma says" has been introduced by author and illustrator, Nkosinathi Ngubane. The series is about the adventure...

UK Citizens hoping to return home from 33 countries that the British government considers to be COVID-19 hotspots - including South Africa and other Southern African nations - will face stricter quarantine measures from next week. All will be made to pay for a 10-day stay at a government-approved hotel - with any travellers caught giving false information about the countries they've travelled thro...

While rhino poaching showed a 33% decline in SA for 2020 - wildlife conservationists say the continued, avid demand from Asia, remains the greatest threat to the preservation of the species. The latest figures from the Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Department notes that in 2020 - 394 rhinos were lost to poaching - compared to the 594 in 2019. Lockdown regulations on limited movement and the...

By Newsbreak South Asian Correspondent Rana Senn - Several Indian ministers have been moving base to a home-grown social media platform where users can communicate in their mother tongue rather than in English. KOO is seen as an alternative to Twitter which faces complaints of hosting divisive posts and hashtags intended to malign the South Asian nation. Rana Sen reports...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - A case of murder is being investigated following the fatal shooting of 52-year-old Dayalan Vadiveloo Pillay at Canelands, north of Durban. According to spokesperson for local security company, Reaction Unit South Africa, Prem Balram, Vadiveloo succumbed to a gunshot to his head by two armed men. The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under investig...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - The Comrades Marathon for 2021 has been cancelled. The Comrades marathon Association (CMA) says the decision comes in the wake of concerns over COVID-19. Engagements were conducted with KwaZulu-Natal Athletics, Athletics South Africa, the National Coronavirus Command Council and members of the medical fraternity. But CMA Chairperson Cheryl Winn says the good...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Residents, funeral undertakers and community activists from Chatsworth, south of Durban are furious after a malfunction to a newly installed multi-million rand furnace at the Mobeni Heights Crematorium. This just hours after the facility was reopened by the eThekwini Municipality on Monday. According to community activist Visvin Reddy, the first cremation was...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Deputy city manager at eThekwini Municipality, Dr Musa Gumede says the furnace has been repaired and will be monitored closely in the coming days...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - FitSA - a non-profit organisation representing gyms across the country, is calling for a move to 75% capacity at gyms. This due to the negative impact the Coronavirus pandemic has had on the industry, despite being allowed 50% capacity since August last year. FitSA spokesperson, Grant Austin, says the industry has proven itself capable of ensuring regulations...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - The pandemic in South Africa has highlighted erratic and often irresponsible alcohol consumption habits, which resulted in numerous trading bans in the liquor industry. Now a local alcohol company has sought to change this by reintroducing an online education programme. "DRINKiQ.com" includes useful tools, facts and support around issues of alcohol consumptio...

As President Cyril Ramaphosa prepares for his annual State of the Nation Address tomorrow, he is being called to take responsibility for the controversy surrounding the AstraZeneca vaccine which arrived in the country last week. Cosatu says it reflects badly on Ramaphosa's leadership that government has procured the vaccine that is expiring in April. Again the vaccine has proved to be less effecti...

Scientists from the World Health Organisation and China's National Health Commission are yet to identify the origins for the novel coronavirus: SARS-COV2. This after four weeks of investigation and research in the city of Wuhan. The joint-team held a press briefing to give an update on their work. The studies have concluded that indeed the COVID-19 virus stems from an animal but cannot conclusivel...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Persistent rainfall over the last few weeks in the Gauteng province has resulted in the Vaal dam breaching 100% capacity and it is expected to continue increasing in the coming days. Just 2 months ago, the dam was at a mere 20% and this is the first time since 2018 that it has reached 100%. Department of Water and Sanitation spokesperson Sputnik Ratau says ma...

By Newsbreak South Asian Correspondent Rana Senn - Rescuers have so far recovered 26 bodies but 170 people, mostly workers, are still reported missing in India's Uttarakhand state. A flash flood wiped out dams and power plants following a landslide, which ecologists blamed on construction activity in the glacier-capped Himalayan region. Rana Senn reports...

By Newsbreak Producer Rachel Vadi - The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for public access to online learning in South African schools. While the Department of Basic Education has championed online technology to bring innovation to education, the virus has since highlighted the need to accelerate implementation at school level. According to Pravesh Manilall, Senior Infrastructure Manger...

By Newsbreak Producer Taliesha naidoo - A mental health initiative known as #MindfulMondays, will be launched online next week by the current Miss South Africa - Shudufhadzo Musida. Upon being crowned, Musida announced that she would be focusing on raising awareness around mental health. She is now keeping to her word and will use Instagram to speak to various experts on a diverse range of topics...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - The National Department of Health expects a batch of the Johnson & Johnson vaccines to arrive in the country by the end of the week, with its rollout to then begin at an accelerated pace. This after the AstraZeneca vaccine drive was put on hold due to its low efficacy rate when dealing with the 501Y.V2 variant of the virus. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine produ...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - Concerns related to the financial expenditure for the Serum Institute vaccine have surfaced, with many people now deeming it a "waste of money". Director and Chief Economist at Econometrix, Dr. Azar Jamine, says the R120-million spent on the first batch of the vaccine is a drop in the ocean compared to the COVID-19 budget in SA, however it will take many year...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - eThekwini municipality spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela says the new furnace equipment cost R3.5 million and that teams are working on repairing the other incinerator soon...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - The Mobeni Heights crematorium at Chatsworth, south of Durban has officially reopened after seven years. This welcomed news came following the installation of a newly acquired piece of equipment. This hard to find import now allows the crematorium to open one of its two furnace - helping to relieve strain on funeral services in the south. ANC MPL, Maggie Gove...

By Newsbreak's South Asian Correspondent Rana Senn - At least 150 people were missing and feared killed after a glacier burst and triggered flash floods in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand. A massive search and rescue operation was on at the site as some environmentalists believed the disaster was perhaps linked to the impact of climate change in the Himalayas. Our South Asian corresponden...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Metro police in Durban had their hands full this past weekend due to the relaxation of several COVID19 regulations such as the sale of alcohol and the opening of beaches. Metro Police Spokesperson, Senior Superintendent Parboo Sewpersad says they saw an increase in motor vehicle crashes, domestic violence cases and unruly behavior. Sewpersad says their main f...

Health minister, Zweli Mkhize says they have chosen the AstraZeneca vaccine due to promising results and its flexibility. Mkhize was speaking during a virtual media briefing yesterday evening to update South Africans on the available vaccines. It follows AstraZeneca's announcement that its vaccine only offers limited protection against mild disease caused by the variant that has been discovered in...

By Newsbreak Producers Taliesha Naidoo and Matthew Veeran - President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) to a joint sitting of the National Assembly (NA) and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on Thursday, 11 February 2021. The theme for this year's SONA is following up on our commitments: making your future work better. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pand...