Newsbreak

By Newsbreak Producer, Rachel Vadi World Sight Day is an annual event creating awareness held on the second Thursday of October - to focus global attention on blindness and vision impairment. This year, World Sight Day is commemorated under the theme, "Hope In Sight". Neville Balakrishna from the KwaZulu-Natal Blind and Deaf Society says hope is needed for those who are visually impaired, especial...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - The Democratic Alliance (DA) in KwaZulu-Natal is calling for motorists in the province, who have been unfairly charged - despite a vehicle licence renewal grace period - be refunded or credited in 2021. According to DA KZN Transport spokesperson, Sharon Hoosen, Provincial Transport MEC Bheki Ntuli has turned down this request, saying that those who have been...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety & Liaison, Bheki Ntuli reacted to the DA saying that he turned down a request by the part, for motorists in the province be refunded or credited in 2021. Ntuli says the allegations by the DA are "blatant lies"...

As tributes continue to pour in for the late sound engineer and recording artist - Shabir Azam Khan, cultural promoter and musician Tansen Nepaul, says Khan always made sure every event he worked on had a professional touch. He went on to describe Khan's work in the community as kind and selfless, as he always tried his best to uplift those around him. Nepaul also says that Khan played a pivotal r...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - The filming of season 7 of "Snakes in the City" - a popular television programme tracking snake rescues in Durban - is back on track following the lockdown. Household names Simon and Siouxsie are ready to search every nook and cranny in search of various snake species. In this week's Greenscene, Newsbreak's Shanell Daniel caught up with the duo at Umhlanga fo...

By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - "Investing in your future from the day you earn your first salary should be something that is instilled in the youth of today". This is the message from consulting firm "Consolidated Wealth". They say that today's youth could actually live longer due to the advancement in medical technology. This means that financial sustainability needs to be taken more seri...

By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - The entertainment industry is mourning the death of legendary sound engineer and recording artist - Shabir Azam Khan. Described as one of the stalwarts of the entertainment space, Shabir worked closely with numerous musicians, producers and even Lotus FM personalities. Former station manager Fakir Hassen shared a close relationship with Khan - of whom he met...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - As South Africa faces various social ills, racial discrimination, corruption and crime, many people have opted to address the doom and gloom through the medium of social media. The "Jerusalema Dance Challenge" has been sweeping across the globe with people putting aside their differences and joining in on the fun. According to technology expert Pretesh Sewraj...

By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - As the world marks "Breast Cancer Awareness Month" Transnet have launched a campaign via the Phelophepa train to service communities who battle to access basic health-care. The train is to undertake journeys through deep rural communities across the country, screening and educating people on managing cancer. Breast Cancer is the most common cancer in women -...

By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - In what has been described as an historic show of unity, the two biggest labour federations in the country, Cosatu and Saftu - who collectively represent around three million workers, will be embarking on a national strike against corruption and unemployment TODAY. South Africans have been warned to expect services including transport, schooling, and governme...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - There is a massive pressure on the ANC integrity commission in KwaZulu-Natal - to yield decisive results. This is according to Political analyst Sanusha Naidu. Former eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede, appeared before the commission regarding a waste management tender she is allegedly involved in. In August, Gumede was asked to step aside from her position as me...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - The latest behavior of U.S President Donald Trump - especially his attitude toward COVID-19 protocols and his car ride two days after testing positive - will have a detrimental effect on his re-election campaign. Political analyst at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) Dr Lubna Nadvi has been commenting on the matter after Trump faced a backlash yesterday...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - Adapting to a new normal after numerous COVID-19 related disruptions to the school year can be challenging for Grade 11 pupils, who will soon enter their matric year. Experts are now advising that a little preparation going in their final year, could go a long way. Head of Faculty for ICT at the Independent Institute of Education, Nola Payne says working from...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - "Crime in the north of Durban is out of control with dead bodies found, women raped and robberies reported every week. These are the sentiments of Reaction Unit South Africa Director, Prem Balram, following the discovery of a deceased 38-year-old man at Waterloo, north of Durban. It's reported that the man was found with multiple lacerations to his body. Balr...

By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - The South African Hindu Maha Sabha supports public demands for accountability, transparency and consequences for acts corruption. The organisation's anti-corruption webinar this weekend is set to bring awareness, escalate mobilisation against corruption and contribute to anti-corruption strategies. President of the Maha Sabha, Ashwin Trikamjee, says corruptio...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - A Durban-based doctor, whose wife spent more than two weeks on a ventilator after contracting COVID-19, says adequate rest and immune boosting is key to fighting the virus. 67-year-old Dr Prithy Ramlachan and his 65-year-old wife contracted the virus around the same time during the peak in July, and after just 4 days, she took a turn for the worse and had to...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - A 24-year-old Durban based final year medical student says he is honoured at being named among the "200 Young South Africans" by the Mail & Guardian. Kapil Narain says societal issues that he witnessed growing up stemmed his passion for the medical field and helping those around him. Narain is a multi-award-winning youth leader, driven by the need to improve...

By Newsbreak Producer Taliesha Naidoo - In South Africa, heart disease remains one of the biggest health threats, with 225 people succumbing to the disease every day. The arrival of COVID-19 means those with underlying heart conditions face a higher risk, which is why your heart health is more important now than ever before. In this week's Medical Monitor, dietician Mbali Mapholi explains how hear...

By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - Former Western Cape Premier Ebrahim Rasool, says he looks forward to nurturing rugby from a grassroots level - after his appointment as new chairman of the Western Province Rugby Football Union (WPRFU). The move was made by union president Zelt Marais last month, with Rasool selected for his knowledge and experience as a politician and diplomat. Speaking to N...

By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Trade organisation National Union of Metalworkers or NUMSA say they will not back down from their strike action at the Gautrain offices in Johannesburg until their demands are met. The union says its members will be picketing as part of its indefinite strike until the Bombela Operating Company (BOC) engages them meaningfully on their demands. NUMSA accuses th...

By Newsbreak Producer Rachel Vadi - Religion has always played an important part in the lives and history of the South African of Indian heritage. In this month's 1860 focus, Rachel Vadi looks at the importance of the relationship between religion and the descendants of the Indian Indentured Labourers. The curator of the 1860 Heritage Centre, Selvan Naidoo, says while there has been an evolution o...

By Newsbreak Producer Rachel Vadi - With the national lockdown having halted many additional screening services, the "Pink Drive" will make its way to Phoenix and Chatsworth this week - providing Cancer screenings - free of charge. Sham Maharaj from the Phoenix Youth Centre says they are hoping that people will come out in their numbers to help get them back onto the track for a healthy living. Th...

By Newsbreak Producer Taliesha Naidoo - The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) are expected to embark on a nationwide strike due this Wednesday - a day that marks "Global Day for Decent Work". Cosatu, which is the largest trade union in the country, is calling all public servants to join the socio-economic strike against job losses, gender-based violence, collective bargaining and mis...

By Newsbreak Talk Host, Taresh Harreepershad The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport admits that the process of driver and vehicle license renewals could be better handled. This follows several complaints by you on Newsbreak, that the long queues and lack of assistance has made renewals challenging. Department Spokesperson Kwanele Ncalane explains that there are several proposals on the cards to...

By Newsbreak Producer, Rachel Vadi A 92% drop in COVID-19 positive cases has been recorded at the nine Netcare Hospitals in KwaZulu Natal as of this morning. This is according to Craig Murphy, Netcare's Coastal Regional Director. Murphy says the hospitals reached their peak of the infections in late-July and early August 2020, and has since had a steady decline in the number of patients admitted f...