Newsbreak

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Rachel Vadi - The 41st Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) will once again showcase South Africa and African stories to an international audience - however this year's festival will be held virtually. A local story that has garnered much international appeal is Tokoloshe "The Calling". Written and produced by Arish Sirkissoon aka "LX Seth...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Popular KwaZulu-Natal snake rescuer Nick Evans has now slithered his way on to television screens with his new show "Snake Season". The programme - which premiered yesterday on DSTV's "People's Weather" channel - follows Evans through nail-biting encounters with spitting cobras, boomslangs and the fearsome black mamba. Evans sa...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - Five female pupils who attacked a Grade 10 learner at Newlands East Secondary, in Durban, have been expelled. Spokesperson for the Department of Education in KwaZulu-Natal, Muzi Mahlambi says investigations resulted in the decision being made ultimately to expel the pupils. Earlier this year, a video showing the gruesome attack...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - The medical fraternity is mourning the death of leading Johannesburg Maxillofacial Surgeon, Dr Yusuf Bamjee. He died earlier this week after succumbing to complications associated with COVID-19, with reports suggesting he suffered for over 40 days with the virus. Dr. Bamjee was actively involved in community work, being one of...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - Film Producer Anant Singh says Advocate George Bizos will remain in the books of history for his role in South Africa's democracy. The renowned human rights lawyer died at his home in Johannesburg at the age of 92. Bizos is most well known as Mandela's lawyer during the historic Rivonia Treason Trial. He also assisted Singh wit...

SABC News and Current Affairs — The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education is currently investigating a case of sexual misconduct at a Phoenix school, north of Durban. The teacher has been suspended following allegations of sexual misconduct from learners. The Education Department has confirmed that the matter is currently in court. It's believed that the teacher made sexual advances at learners wi...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer, Hoosen Ebrahim Police have warned potential car buyers in the Pietermaritzburg region about an online scam in which fraudsters target people looking to buy second hand vehicles. Reports indicate that these criminals operate under the name "Izy Motors" - where vehicles are advertised mainly on social media, including Facebook. They then dupe in...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - The eThekwini Municipality has officially reopened its heritage and recreational facilities. With the country now under Alert Level 2 of the lockdown, necessary safety precautions will be implemented at each of the reopened facilities. These include the City's 95 libraries with only the Durban City Hall Library remaining closed...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - An integrated task team consisting of community leaders in Amanzimtoti, south of Durban have come on board in solving a sewage crisis that has left the river system in a "shocking state". Chairman of Amanzimtoti Conservancy, Andrew Manning says load-shedding is severely impacting the health of the river system. He says that whe...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Prodcuer Matthew Veeran - This Heritage Day theater lovers will have the chance to witness Rajesh Gopie's award-winning play "Tamasha on Hope Street", from the comfort of their homes. The first play of its kind to be streamed online, "Tamasha" tackles controversial themes such as poverty, social injustice and xenophobia - all set to the backdrop of Chat...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - An integrated task team consisting of community leaders in Amanzimtoti, south of Durban have come on board in solving a sewage crisis that has left the river system in a "shocking state". Chairman of Amanzimtoti Conservancy, Andrew Manning says load-shedding is severely impacting the health of the river system. He says that whe...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Taresh Harreeparshad - Business for SA (B4SA) has defended the extension of the COVID-19 Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme or TERS - despite the payment suspensions. Employment and Labour Minister, Thulas Nxesi said that government has taken the decision to extend the relief payments, as some industries have extended their lockdowns unt...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - Over 80-thousand food parcels earmarked to be delivered to the poor and vulnerable in Durban have not been delivered as yet. This is according to the Inkatha Freedom Parties - KZN Social Development Portfolio Committee member - Les Govender. He says that the social development department have been paid 25-million-rand to delive...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - MEC FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT - Mrs Nonhlanhla Khoza told Newsbreak in an exclusive interview that her office would be taking strict action against three service providers who failed to deliver on their mandate. MEC Khoza says an urgent meeting would take place soon to ensure the remaining food parcels are delivered swiftly to com...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Taresh Harreeparshad - The World Health Organisation (WHO) is concerned that disruptions to health care will have a negative effect on the global child mortality rate. The number of global under-five deaths dropped to its lowest point on record in 2019 - down to 5.2 million from 12.5 million in 1990. This is attributed to health care systems th...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Political analyst Dr. Lubna Nadvi says the EFF got it wrong in their approach to shut down Clicks stores around the country. Dr Nadvi says the party had the perfect opportunity to use the advert to find constructive solutions in dealing with racism in South Africa. This could have also been used as a method to gain voters ahead...

SABC News and Current Affairs — Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar - together with an Indian firm - will flag off a "battle royale" style mobile game in a tribute to fallen Indian soldiers. The announcement came as the authorities blocked 118 Chinese apps, including the popular video game "PUBG". Rana Sen reports...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - Residents from New Germany in the north Durban region have been warned against the increase in illegal dumping that has plagued the region in recent weeks. Community Activist in the area - Riona Gokool told Newsbreak that dirt has now piled up for around half a kilometre along High street. She says that law enforcement needs to...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Executive Producer Salma Patel - Entertainment application "TikTok" has been banned in India - while other countries like Indonesia and Japan are considering restricting the app. TikTok is a social media platform for creating, sharing and discovering short music videos. Some videos though have come under fire for being discriminatory. But, two friends f...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education has suspended two pupils following a viral video circulating on social media showing a female pupil being severely assaulted. KZN MEC for Education, Kwazi Mshengu, has condemned the incident, stating that investigations are underway. In the video, the alleged bully is seen punching and...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - Taking readers on a far-away journey without them moving an inch, books have the ability to expand ones imagination beyond their borders - especially during a global pandemic. Today marks International Literacy Day with this week being National Book Week. However, due to Covid-19 social distancing restrictions, the NBW is now b...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producers Tashlan Naidoo and Shanell Daniel - Several Clicks stores have reportedly been vandalized and petrol-bombed amid the nationwide protest by the EFF following a controversial online advertisement. The company placed an advertisement labelling black natural hair as 'dry, damaged and frizzy', while white natural hair was depicted as 'normal'. Mean...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - CEO of Videovision Entertainment - Anant Singh says Dangor's contribution to uplift society and tackle social injustices is significant. Singh adds that his passing is a great loss to not only South Africa, but for the rest of the world too...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - This year marks the 15th anniversary of Netcare 911's life-saving helicopter services. Known as "HEMS", the helicopter emergency medical service first took flight in 2005 and has since completed over 10,000 missions. One of a few 24-hour "air ambulances" of its kind in South Africa, the helicopters also operate around the conti...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - 2020 marks South Africa's ports landlord, Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) 20th year in operation. And as the saying goes "move with the times" so have the port authority. TNPA Acting Chief Operating Officer, Captain Rufus Lekala says most of their 9 ports are using the most modern infrastructure and latest technology,...