Newsbreak

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Taliesha Naidoo - A group of history buffs are undertaking a project that will profile the life and times of South Africa's most popular township - that being Chatsworth, south of Durban. The project, called "Mapping Chatsworth", will profile the suburb by telling the stories of the streets, people and popular places. Author and historian Kiru...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Rachel Vadi - Close to three months after the COVID-19 lockdown began in South Africa, restaurants are to open their doors to the public for sit-in dining from today. However, under the new level three regulations, alcohol cannot be served and the Restaurant Association of South Africa wants government to explain why this is the case. Represent...

SABC News and Current Affairs — The Fair Trade Independent Tobacco Association, FITA has expressed disappoinment about the High Court in Pretoria's dismissal of its legal challenge against government's current ban on the sale of tobacco products. A full bench of judges ruled that FITA's argument that cigarettes should be regarded as essential, because tobacco is addictive, has no merit.

SABC News and Current Affairs — by Newsbreak Producer, Rachel Vadi - Sixty-three schools in KwaZulu-Natal have reported eighty positive Covid-19 cases - since schools reopened their doors three weeks ago under lockdown level 3. This is according to spokesperson for the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education, Muzi Mahlambi. Following the intervention of the Department of Education, Mahlambi says 28...

SABC News and Current Affairs — by Newsbreak Producer, Shanell Daniel - The historical 1980 School Boycotts will be brought into conversation as former student leaders and activists who participated in the boycotts engage in a virtual meeting hosted by the 1860 Heritage Centre. Facilitator and veteran community activist, Siva Naidoo, says the dialogue is crucial to remember the struggle and pave a...

SABC News and Current Affairs — by Newsbreak Producer, Rachel Vadi - And if you are wondering where the sardines will make a showing this weekend - local fishing expert, Adam Kamdar, says, you may never know. Many experts are saying that this year's sardine run has been the best in the last few years, and Kamdar says we can expect more successful nettings in the days to come.

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Rachel Vadi - The Independent Community Pharmacy Association (ICPA) has raised concerns after noticing that consumers are buying "Dexamethasone" in order to prevent COVID-19 infection. Jackie Maimin, CEO of ICPA says Dexamethasone is an extremely useful medicine in a number of conditions - but only when used correctly. Maimin says it is wrong t...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By the Newsbreak team - Angler Sanjay Ramsarup goes through this week's fishing hotspots...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - The Fair-Trade Independent Tobacco Association (FITA) have provided an update on their court case, saying that while they understand the frustration of smokers, the judges have a complicated decision to make. FITA want the Pretoria High Court to set aside the ban on tobacco sales that was implemented by government at the start...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Executive Producer Salma Patel - Israel's plans to annex settlements in the occupied West Bank is sending major shockwaves through the international community. The United Nations has warned that the plans would constitute a most serious violation of international law. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Cabinet is preparing to start discussions on July...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - Umgeni Water in KwaZulu-Natal has confirmed that four employees have tested positive for COVID-19 at their offices in Pietermaritzburg. According to Spokesperson for Umgeni Water, Shami Harichunder, water safety has not been compromised and any water provided is safe for consumption...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - The South African Weather Services says the southern parts of the country can expect a series of cold fronts today, continuing into the weekend. On Saturday afternoon, a cold front is also expected, resulting in strong to gale force winds along the south-west and south coast, as well as the adjacent interior. Forecaster for the...

SABC News and Current Affairs — by Newsbreak Producer, Rachel Vadi - Chairperson of the KwaZulu-Natal Doctors Healthcare Coalition, Professor Morgan Chetty says there is currently no cure for the disease caused by coronavirus, COVID-19. Chetty is urging people not to try any home remedies ..

SABC News and Current Affairs — by Newsbreak Producer, Rachel Vadi - A family of five and their employee at Escourt in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands are being treated for poisoning after consuming a cattle de-worming medication - hoping it would cure them of COVID-19. KwaZulu-Natal Private Ambulance Service spokesperson, Craig Botha says when emergency services arrived at a doctor's room, they found...

SABC News and Current Affairs — The supplementary budget has painted a bleak picture of the South African economy as the country battles the coronavirus pandemic. It shows a deterioration in government finances with marked increases in debt, weak revenue collection and more spending pressures. The local economy is now expected to contract by 7.2% this year. Tshepo Mongoai reports...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Day one of administering the COVID-19 vaccine to the first eight trial participants went well. That's according to Principal Investigator for the vaccine trial at Johannesburg based Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, Dr. Anthonet Koen. The rest of the participants consisting of 2,000 people aged between 18 and 65, will be given t...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - Fishing experts believe that the lockdown regulations and reduced activity in South Africa over the past few months have had a major impact on the oversupply of sardine shoals across the KwaZulu-Natal coastline. This is according to Durban fishing expert and Chatsworth tackle shop owner - Adam Kamdar. He has been actively invol...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Taresh Harreeparshad - Financial stress during COVID-19 could result in heightened gambling addictions. According to specialist clinic "Riverview Manor" in KwaZulu-Natal, a recent UK study showed a 64% increase in either the amount of time or money spent on gambling during the pandemic. With the opening up of casinos, the risk in South Africa i...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Finance Minister Tito Mboweni is expected to re-arrange the national budget set out for COVID-19 relief and citizens shouldn't expect any good news this afternoon. That's according to economist Owen Nkomo, who says Mboweni has very few options to try and resuscitate the economy. The Minister is set to deliver his supplementary...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - Saudi Arabia has stopped international visitors from making the Islamic pilgrimage of Hajj this year, in an effort to control the Coronavirus pandemic. According to Rafeek Hassen, Director of the Islamic Interfaith Research Institute (Iifri), only a very limited number of people currently living in the kingdom may participate....

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - With the growing number of cyber breaches, any person processing personal information will now have an obligation to notify the Information Regulator. This after President Cyril Ramaphosa proclaimed sections of the Protection of Personal Information Act (PoPI) into law recently. Anyone processing personal information in South A...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Policy and political analyst at the University of South Africa (UNISA) - Somadoda Fikeni says that we are likely to see the fraud and corruption trial against the former president commencing sometime next year. Fikeni believes that this case will NOT continue to drag on in the same fashion as it has over the past few years...

SABC News and Current Affairs — by Newsbreak Producer, Hoosen Ebrahim - The annual sardine run is set to grace the shores of Durban this week. That's according to Durban angler and bait shop owner - Adam Kamdar. He says that major shoals have been netted along Winklespruit Beach yesterday. Speaking to Newsbreak, Kamdar says the colder weather patterns and increased shark activity is a positive sig...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer, Matthew Veeran - Tsogo Sun Hotels has stepped in to prevent the permanent closure of the historic Edward Hotel on the Durban beach-front. The news comes after hotel management group Marriott International announced that it would be "ceasing operations" at the iconic building - along with Mount Grace Country House & Spa in Magaliesburg and the...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer, Rachel Vadi - Two suspects - linked to the murder of 72 year old Premla Moodliar were arrested last night by detectives of the KZN Investigation Unit. Moodliar, a well known business woman - was found dead at her residence on Sparks Road in Overport, in Durban on the 3rd of May this year. Her hands were bound with tape and her home ransacked....