Newsbreak

KZN Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu has slammed claims on social media that the province has run out of bed space, and that mortuaries are full, due to Covid-19. As of the 28th of December 2020, she identified a 66% bed occupancy rate. Shanell Daniel reports...

A severe cold spell is likely to hit northern India including the capital Delhi, which has already been grappling with harsh conditions since November. The extreme weather alert came as a dampener to many as it also advised against alcohol consumption at year-end parties and ruled drinking even at home, may not be a very good idea. South Asian correspondent, Rana Sen reports....

By Newsbreak Producer, Tashlan Naidoo - From alcohol manufacturers, to bottle makers, to truck drivers and advertisers, the list goes on as to the economic devastation the latest liquor sales ban will cause to its supply chain. Over 1 million direct jobs in the alcohol sector now hangs in the balance, with much uncertainty as to what the future holds. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the ban on...

By Newsbreak Producer, Tashlan Naidoo - Beaches may be closed to bathers, but fishermen with a valid permit are still allowed to cast away, given they do so within the curfew and adhere to COVID19 protocols. President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday announced the closure of beaches across the country, except the Northern Cape, to curb the spread of COVID19. In the new regulations published by government...

By Newsbreak Producer, Rachel Vadi - The festive season is usually accompanied by the hustle and bustle of long queues at shopping centers and malls. This year however, with the coronavirus ravaging the country in the 2nd Wave, the long queues are now at pop up, drive-through COVID-19 testing stations. According to Community Leader, Omi Singh, hundreds of cars have been lining up at the temporary...

By Newsbreak Producer, Shanell Daniel - Chairperson for the Chatsworth Community Policing Forum, Jakes Singh, says moving the country to an adjusted level 3 is not enough - and more needs to be done on the ground within communities to tackle the spread of Covid-19...

By Newsbreak Producer, Shanell Daniel - Video footage and pictures have gone viral on social media, showing members of the Phoenix, north of Durban, community queuing outside local taverns - long after the curfew - to purchase alcohol. This as President Cyril Ramaphosa earlier this week announced an adjusted level 3 lockdown which includes the banning of alcohol sales. Chairperson for the Phoenix...

By Newsbreak Producer, Taliesha Naidoo - The passing of 76-year-old stuggle veteran Rajas Pillay has left great shoes to be filled. These are the sentiments of fellow struggle veteran and close comrade to Pillay, Sunny Singh. Pillay passed away yesterday at King Dinizulu Hospital in Durban, from illnesses unrelated to Covid-19. She joined the Umkhonto weSizwe - which is the armed wing of the ANC -...

By Newsbreak producer Shanell Daniel - KwaZulu-Natal police are investigating charges of murder and attempted murder after a taxi with 13 passengers was shot at by unknown suspects while traveling at the Cacaneni area in Ekombe. Four people aged between 24 and 56 were declared dead at the scene. Provincial spokesperson, Colonel Thembeka Mbhele, says a shootout ensued between police and the suspect...

By Newsbreak producer Shanell Daniel - Netcare's healthcare facilities has urgently recalled all frontline staff from leave and is deploying additional doctors, nurses, paramedics and healthcare worker teams to areas of need. This as the recent surge of Covid-19 cases particularly in the Eastern Cape, Limpopo, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal placed great demand on the groups facilities. In a statem...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - The Clare Estate Umgeni Hindu Crematorium, in central Durban, is calling on government to extend cremation times despite the curfew as it sees a sharp increase in daily cremations at the sight. From an average of eight cremations a day pre Covid-19, the crematorium now faces an increase to 27 cremations per day - half of which are Covid-19 related deaths. Sec...

By Newsbreak Producer's Shanell Daniel and Tashlan Naidoo - South Africa will only receive the Covid 19 vaccine during the second quarter of 2021. President Cyril Ramaphosa revealed this during his address lastnight about the country's response to the current surge in coronavirus infections. President Ramaphosa also announced the decision to move the country back to adjusted level 3 lockdown as th...

by Newsbreak Producer, Taliesha Naidoo - A Durban doctor has been receiving numerous queries for Ivermectin, a drug that is making international headlines as a so-called "miracle cure" for COVID-19. Dr Naseeba Kathrada, better known as Dr Kats, says she has been inundated with requests from individuals frantically seeking the drug over the festive period. Ivermectin is a medication used to treat m...

by Newsbreak Producer, Rachel Vadi - Two healthcare workers at the RK Khan Hospital at Chatsworth, south of Durban have died due to COVID-19. Chairperson of the hospital's board, Reverend Cyril Pillay has confirmed to Newsbreak that two nursing staff members succumbed to the virus this weekend. He says their deaths have left staff members devastated. Two weeks ago, Pillay confirmed that 23 staff m...

India will from today hold a dry run of the largest and the most ambitious vaccination program in its history from today. The two-day exercise in four states will give the final touches to the complex project designed to see off a pandemic that played havoc with life and livelihood during the past 12 hard months. Rana Senn reports........

by Newsbreak Producer, Taliesha Naidoo -KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu is encouraging citizens in the province to avoid social gatherings to ease the burden being placed on healthcare facilities. She says the number of patients at public and private hospitals in the province are sharply increasing....

by Newsbreak Producer, Rachel Vadi -Gift of the Givers founder, Dr Imtiaz Sooliman says frontline workers are exhausted and struggling to cope with the influx of infections since the second wave. The country breached the one million covid 19 infection mark late yesterday. Dr Sooliman says people need to do more to assist in the fight against the pandemic......

by Newsbreak Producers, Taliesha Naidoo and Hoosen Ebrahim - There was a hive of activity on KwaZulu-Natal's coastline yesterday as beaches across the province re-opened after closing for Christmas and Boxing Day. Bathers took advantage of the re-opening by enjoying a sweltering day in the sea with hundreds of beachgoers swimming under the strict watch of the lifeguards on site. Beaches will close...

by Newsbreak Producer, Shanell Daniel - Newsbreak wraps up the commemoration of the 160th anniversary of the arrival of Indian-origin indentured labourers to South Africa. Newsbreak has paid tribute to the stalwarts, the market gardeners, the tailors, jewellers, businesspeople and the cooks who have left a legacy that we enjoy today. Now at the end of the 160th anniversary, Historian, Dr Juggie Pa...

By #NewsbreakTalk Presenter, Taliesha Naidoo - The South African Indian cuisine is a unique one, but its story starts long before Indian Indentured labourers arrived in the then port of Natal over 160 years ago. We discuss the evolution of the South African Indian cuisine, the iconic dishes that transcended cultural barriers and how the Indian community used their culinary skills to survive indent...

By NewsbreakTalk Presenter Taliesha Naidoo Are you protecting your peace this festive season by prioritizing your health? Personal boundaries are always important, but during the coronavirus pandemic, they've taken on a new meaning and necessity. In the midst of the festive season, saying "No" to party invites, event gathering or evening turning down a hug should be your new normal, but for many t...

By Newsbreak Executive Producer, Salma Patel - A new local movie - The Golden Cock Revenge of Manu - promises to be an hour and a half of escapism from the tough year of the pandemic and subsequent lockdown. Producer, Director and Star of the movie - Masood Boomgaard - says what started out as a fun project found its way to the big screen by fluke......

By Newsbreak Producer, Shanell Daniel - The reality of being unable to share a hearty meal with family this Christmas has encouraged the Kuilsriver Community Action Network and Ithemba Giving Hope organisations to collect and distribute plates of food to those in need. Speaking to Newsbreak, founder, Latifah Jacobs, says the Donate-A-Plate campaign hopes to bring relief to those impacted by Covid-...

By Newsbreak Producer, Rachel Vadi - Lifesaving South Africa president - Dhaya Sewduth - says such disobedience toward lifeguards is common. this after a group of men attacked lifeguards at Manaba Beach in Margate on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal. It is believed that the attack stemmed from the bathers not wanting to comply with lifeguards' instructions to swim within the designated areas. Sewd...

By Newsbreak Producer, Rachel Vadi - Four men are expected to appear in the Ramsgate Magistrates Court in connection with an attack on lifeguards at Manaba Beach in Margate on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal. It is believed that the attack stemmed from the bathers not wanting to comply with lifeguards' instructions to swim within the designated areas. A video circulating on social media shows sim...