Newsbreak

SABC Group Executive for News - Phathiswa Magopeni says she will stop issuing retrenchment letters to her staff. She also committed to retracting letters already received by some workers. This after newsroom staff demanded a meeting with top management to address the retrenchment process currently underway. Noma Bolani reports...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - The South African Police Service will launch the Safer Cities Concept at the Inanda JL Dube Stadium, north-west of Durban, on Friday. The concept is being rolled out in 10 cities across nine provinces. Aimed at tackling crime even before it is reported and reducing gender-based violence against women, the concept forms part of the police crime prevention stra...

By Newsbreak Executive Producer Salma Patel - KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikhala has reshuffled his cabinet. In a surprise move, MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube has been re-assigned the portfolio of Finance while MEC Ravi Pillay has been assigned the Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs portfolio. What seems like a simple swop of portfolios between the two MEC's, speculation is rife that...

By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - Local author and journalist Fakir Hassen is using the 1860 anniversary as a catalyst to get South African books into libraries free of charge. Hassen launched his 21st coffee table book virtually on Facebook last night, entitled "160 Years of Inspiration"...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo- The Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution or CASAC have labelled as 'weak', the recusal application by former president Jacob Zuma against the Chairperson of the State Capture Commission Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo. Zondo was due to hand down his ruling as to whether or not he will recuse himself, but this morning adjourned the m...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - The South African Hindu Maha Sabha say they are pleased that a local betting company has taken strict action against an employee for allegedly making racist and anti-Hindu sentiments during Diwali celebrations at the weekend. A Facebook post at the weekend in which a racehorse trainer made disparaging remarks about Diwali, has caused an uproar. The company ha...

By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - With the aim of forming "Watch Groups" that will help put books into South African libraries free of charge, Fakir Hassen's 21st coffee table book has a special message behind it. Launched virtually on Facebook, the new book entitled "160 Years of Inspiration" coincides with 1860 celebrations this year. Hassen says a number of people from Dubai, India and Aus...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - India has issued orders that online news portals and global streaming giants will be subject to state regulation. The move has drawn a mixed response as some believed it may help to deal with false information but others said it was a first step towards censorship of digital media... Credits: Rana Senn, New Delhi.

Director of the 1860 Heritage Centre in Durban - Selven Naidoo - says 26 years into South Africa's democracy, many stories of indenture remain untold. Yesterday marked 160 years since indentured men and women labourers arrived in Durban to work on the sugarcane plantations under the then British rule. Minoshni Pillay attended an inter-faith prayer and a day of shared memories from the descendants...

By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - With the number of Diabetes cases continuing to rise across the globe, experts have encouraged people to consider an "Artificial Pancreas" - a technological advancement which is becoming more common worldwide. Officially referred to as an "Automated Insulin Delivery" system, an Artificial Pancreas is essentially an insulin pump connected to a continuous gluco...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - With numerous adjustments already being made this year due to the lockdown, many matric pupils are overwhelmed and anxious about final examinations. The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) has seen a rise in calls from pupils and students who have had to play catch-up, afraid of what their future may hold. Operations Director at SADAG, Cassey C...

by Newsbreak Producer, Taresh Harreeparshad - it's quite fascinating to marvel at how the dance of Indians stamped the soil of South Africa. , SAIDA's Vasugi Singh traces how dance came to the shores of the country........

by Newsbreak Producer, Taresh Harreeparshad - The steps of Indian dance are being retraced this November, to mark today's celebration of 160 years since the arrival of Indians to South Africa. "From Indenture to Stage" is a virtual dance conference that pays homage to Indian performing arts. Hosted by the South African Indian Dance Alliance (SAIDA), the event will launch on Monday. Organiser Smeet...

The 160th Anniversary of Indentured Labour is being commemorated by government with KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala heading a multi-faith prayer at the the site for the monument on the Durban beachfront. The event then moved to the 1860 Heritage centre for the premier's address and meeting of descendents of some of the Indentured Labourers. The event pays tribute to those indentured labourers...

South African artist and cartoonist, Nandha Soobben is using his art to pay tribute to South Africans of Indian origin, who have made remarkable achievements in their fields, locally and internationally. Meant to commemorate the 160th anniversary of the arrival of Indians in South Africa in 1860, the calendar is a remarkable capsule of hand-painted portraits. Minoshni Pillay spoke to Soobben and f...

By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - The family of 65-year-old Clare Estate resident Vishnu Naidoo are struggling to come to terms with his passing, following the discovery of his body yesterday. Naidoo was last seen leaving his home at lunchtime on Friday, driving a white Chevrolet bakkie. His family then sent out flyers and messages, offering a reward for information relating to his whereabout...

By Newsbreak Producer Taresh Harreeparshad - There's been little progress in the move to incorporate the story of indentured Indian labourers into the History syllabus of South African schools. According to Anand Jayrajh of the 1860 Indentured Labourers Forum's - the Department of Basic Education is still in the process of finalising the project. This follows the Department's response last year th...

By Newsbreak Producer Taliesha Naidoo - A new research investigation has uncovered the traumatic and inhumane conditions faced by Indian indentured labourers in South Africa. Latashia Naidoo, an award-winning journalist and 2020 Open Society Foundation Global Investigative Journalism fellow at Wits University, completed a year-long research project into the atrocities of Indian indentured labour....

By Newsbreak Producer Taliesha Naidoo - It's still possible to trace your lineage and learn more about your ancestors, even 160 years later. This is because the Gandhi-Luthuli Documentation Centre at UKZN has made it possible for individuals to find out more about their forebears. All you need is a ship list number or copies of unabridged birth certificates that contain list indenture numbers. The...

By Newsbreak Producer Rachel Vadi - As commemorations around the arrival of the 1860 Indian Indentured Labourers are observed today - controversy has surrounded the eagerly anticipated building of an 1860 monument - that was launched ten years ago. During the 150 year celebrations, in 2010, 10-million-rand was supposedly set aside for the building of the monument by the then KZN Premier, Willus Mu...

By Newsbreak Executive Producer Salma Patel and Newsbreak Talk Producer, Rachel Vadi. 16 November 2020 marks 160 years since the Indian Indentured Labourers came to South Africa. Kicking off the commemorations is a special unveiling of a monument at the Shir Marriammen Temple in Mount Edgecombe, north of Durban. But there have been promises of an official monument being established for more than t...

By Newsbreak Executive Producer, Salma Patel and Newsbreak Producer, Rachel Vadi The Festival of Lights; Diwali is often celebrated with family and friends gathering for delicious meals and fancy firework displays. But with the threat of a second wave of the coronavirus looming, #NewsbreakTalk looks at how celebrations are taking place in the new norm

By Newsbreak Producer, Rachel Vadi In what is being called an historic win, Al Jamaah has taken over political leadership from the Democratic Alliance in Ward 9 in Lenasia - after winning the nation-wide bi-elections held on Wednesday. The newly elected councillor, Imraan Ismail Moosa says this is a proud moment for Al Jamaah, especially because of the community support they have received. He says...

By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - With Diwali and World Diabetes Day both being observed tomorrow - the Heart and Stroke Foundation are urging people to look at alternatives when it comes to preparing their sweetmeats and delicacies. An estimated 1 in 10 people are diagnosed with diabetes, with close to 50% of them going undiagnosed. Health Promotions Manager - Dana Govender explains how bein...

By Newsbreak Producer Rachel Vadi - Woman will be the main focus of the 1860 Commemoration celebrations taking place at the Shri Marriammen Temple in Mount Edgecombe this weekend. Chairperson of the temple society and of the 1860 Commemoration Council - Seelan Archary says its important to pay homage to the matriarchs of society who are often the backbone of communities. He says the organisation w...