Newsbreak

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - Two parolees who hitchhiked a lift with a motorist have been arrested for his murder. 56-year-old Bhekuyise Mazibuko was reported missing at the Hlobane SAPS, in KZN's Zululand District Municipality after he failed to arrive at his home. His body was discovered in the bushes at Leenek area. Reports say the men robbed the victim of his vehicle and also shot hi...

By Newsbreak South Asian Correspondent Rana Senn - India has unveiled ambitious plans to more than double its spending on healthcare in a 477-billion-dollar budget for the year starting April. It also aims to ramp up infrastructure to put the nation back on track as the world's fastest-growing major economy. Rana Senn reports..

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that more than 40 million COVID19 doses will be procured by the second quarter of this year. In the meantime, he announced that alcohol sales will now be permitted from Monday to Thursday between 10am and 6pm. Beaches and parks have now been opened to the public, while religious gathering have been allowed but are subject t...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Creative thinkers have once again put the country on the map, coming up with some of the best dispute resolutions, not only for SA, but the continent and the rest of the world. The African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD) has once again made the top 25 global "Think Tanks". Out of over 11,000 similar groups, ACCORD came in at number...

President Cyril Ramaphosa has hailed the arrival of the first doses of COVID-19 vaccine as a chance to turn the tide on a disease that has devastated the country. Ramaphosa addressed the nation last night following a meeting of the cabinet and his Co-ordinating Council on the country's COVID-19 response. The President also announced a partial lifting of the ban on the sale and distribution of alco...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - Infertility is a lonely journey - one which isolates couples from a society that always asks the question, "when are you having a baby?"'. These are the sentiments of journalist and author of "What's on my mind? Making babies", Nivashni Nair Sukdhev. February marks "Reproductive Health Month" in South Africa, however little focus is placed on infertility. In...

By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - Transparency International has released its 2020 "Corruption Perceptions Index", showing the extent to which corruption has impacted the world. Interestingly, South Africa barely shifted its position, coming in again with a score of 44 out of 100 and a rank of 69, alongside Bulgaria, Hungary, Jamaica, Romania and Tunisia. The report points to how essential it...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Former president Jacob Zuma says he feels that he has a target on his back and will not cooperate with Constitutional Court ruling compelling him to appear before the State Capture Commission of Inquiry. The court last week ruled that Zuma must appear before the commission and will not be allowed to exercise his right to remain silent. Zuma says he does not f...

By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - Social media is abuzz with messages of condolences for popular Lotus FM presenter Bhai Azad, who sadly passed away yesterday due to Cancer. Known for his love of Urdu poetry and the "Qawali Hour" programme on Sundays, Bhai Azad hailed from a humble background. While his radio career was relatively short, he spent decades hosting at various religious instituti...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - South Africa's first one-million Covid-19 vaccines is expected to arrive at 3PM, thereafter taken in for tests to ensure it is in appropriate condition for human vaccination. The vaccine, named "covishield", is produced under licence from AstaZeneca by the Serum Institute of India. President Cyril Ramaphosa has identified this as the largest and most complica...

February will inevitably be one of the most eventful political month for the year. For the first time in almost 109 years, the ANC NEC will discuss the future of its Secretary General emanating from the party's step-aside resolution. Party President Cyril Ramaphosa will face a motion of no confidence from the African Transformation Movement and after failed attempts to snub the Zondo Commission fo...

By Newsbreak Producer Taresh Harreeparshad - South Africa is eagerly awaiting the arrival of one million COVID-19 vaccines this morning. The Astra Zeneca vaccine has been bought from the Serum Institute of India. Once here, the vaccine will undergo some quality assurance testing - before it is rolled out to front-line health-care workers. This forms part of "phase one" of the national vaccine roll...

By Newsbreak Producer Rachel Vadi - Numerous COVID-19 funeral practises have been questioned, following a list of recommendations - released and compiled by local health-care workers. The list contains numerous protocols that have since raised objections by families of those who've lost people to Coronavirus, with many describing it as a contravention of cultural beliefs and rituals. These concern...

By Newsbreak Producer Rachel Vadi - Three suspects are expected to appear at various courthouses in KwaZulu-Natal today, following a spate of robberies during the week at post offices in the province. Hawks spokesperson Captain Simphiwe Mhlongo says they are investigating the possibility of a syndicate in operation - as vehicles used in the robberies were found during the arrest. Post offices in H...

By Newsbreak Presenter, Taresh Harreepershad and Newsbreak Talk Producer, Rachel Vadi South Africans are eagerly awaiting the arrival of 1 million covid-19 Astra Zeneca vaccine being produced by the Serum Institute of India. Once here the vaccine will undergo some quality assurance testing- before it is rolled out to frontline healthcare workers. This is phase one of the National Vaccine roll-out....

By Newsbreak Producer, Rachel Vadi With only two days left until South Africa's firearm amnesty period officially ends - the Phoenix Police Station says the Firearms Collection office will remain opened this weekend. Police spokesperson, Captain Louise Naidoo says the special concession has been made to allow those gun owners who have not yet handed their firearms in, to do so freely and legally....

By Newsbreak Producer, Taresh Harreeparshad About a hundred workers at the Suncoast Entertainment Centre are currently picketing in Durban. They say they have not been paid their annual bonus and contributions to their retirement funds have not been paid. These benefits are part of their contractual agreements- but according to them the employer has reneged on these agreements. Newsbreak speaks to...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Chief social worker at the SA Anti-Drug Forum (ADF) Shantal Bechoo has vowed to continue the work of the organisation. Bechoo says while it will be a mountain to climb, the late Pillay equipped her with the knowledge and know-how to take it forward...

By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - Durban media strategist Marlan Padayachee says local rehabilitation centres should preserve the work done by late activist Sam Pillay and help contribute to funding, sponsorships and resources to help rid the country of it's crippling drug scourge. He says the situation especially in areas such as Chatsworth, Phoenix, Umhlanga and Kwa-Mashu, is getting out of...

By Newsbreak Producers Shanell Daniel, Tashlan Naidoo and Hoosen Ebrahim - The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation is set to tackle racism in South Africa head on, from a grassroots level. The foundation has partnered with "Show Racism The Red Card", a UK anti-racism education organisation, to take push the narrative in the country using sport. The project launched yesterday via a Zoom webinar panel, with s...

By Newsbreak Proucer Taresh Harreeparshad - Despite being statistically better investors than men, the World Economic Forum (WEF) claims that women retire with 30 to 40% less money. This gender disparity is further widened as savings app "Franc" says their investor base comprises of 70% men. The question now is - if women are such good investors, why do they have much lower returns? Founder Dr Tho...

By Newsbreak Producer Taresh Harreeparshad - A significant victory for religious tolerance: after the South African National Defence Force amended their military dress code policy to allow Muslim women to wear their headscarf alongside their uniforms. This follows the case of Major Fatima Issacs who was taken to task for wearing her headscarf. The Legal Resources Centre took the issue to the Equal...

By Newsbreak Producer's Tashlan Naidoo and Taresh Harreeparshad -The Constitutional Court has nudged former president Jacob Zuma closer to appearing before the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture. Today the Court ruled that Zuma must appear before the Zondo Commission and give evidence. The commission had lodged an urgent application to force Zuma to appear before it and respond to allegation...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - With religious gatherings prohibited under the lockdown, the South African Hindu Maha Sabha believes this will serve as a catalyst for festivals and prayers to be done virtually going forward, post pandemic. Thousands of Hindu's have for the last 10 days have been observing rituals online for the Kavady festival that pays homage to Hindu deity Muruga. Temples...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - The agricultural sector has been impacted greatly by the Coronavirus pandemic, resulting in escalating food prices - which average households are struggling to afford. While money is tight, so too is the situation on the ground when it comes to the growing and harvesting of crops during the global pandemic. In this week's Green Scene, we speak to Agricultural...