Newsbreak

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - There is no scientific findings confirming the relation between cold weather and an increased risk of COVID-19 infections. This is according to General Practitioner based in Durban - Doctor Prithi Ramlachan. With a cold-front expected in parts of the country this week, concerns have been raised about the possible spreading of t...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - The South African Anti-Drug Forum (ADF) have reacted to the continued ban on tobacco sales during lockdown level three, saying the move continues to baffle them. Chairperson Sam Pillay has had his hands full for much of the lockdown, assisting recovering addicts and facilitating the movement of hampers for impoverished families...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producers Matthew Veeran and Taliesha Naidoo - President Cyril Ramaphosa says the whole country will move to Alert Level Three from next Monday. The president says this will allow for the further opening of the economy while government continues to contain the spread of the Coronavirus. He was addressing the nation at the Union Buildings in Pretoria las...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Taliesha Naidoo - There has been a noticeable increase in young South Africans of Indian origin embracing their heritage during the lockdown period. If you're a social media user then you've probably come across several pages online dedicated to dance and music in the vernacular. But why is it that in times of adversity, the Indian origin commu...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Taresh Harreeparshad - A 24-year-old final year medical student Kapil Narain at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN`s), Nelson Mandela School of Medicine has been appointed as the Chair of FAMSA (Federation of African Medical Students Association) COVID-19 Technical Working group (TWG). He joined Newsbreak Talk to discuss his vision for medic...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Rachel Vadi - The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Health, Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu has confirmed nine positive cases at the Mahatma Gandhi Hospital in Phoenix, north of Durban. In her address yesterday afternoon, the Minister confirmed that six health-care workers and three patients had contracted COVID-19. Minister Simelane-Zulu said that the suspected af...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Rachel Vadi - A special COVID-19 awareness drive was carried out with success in Chatsworth, south of Durban on Friday. Chatsworth Community Policing Forum (CPF) Chairperson, Jakes Singh says police together with the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) discovered a number of illegal activities, including the arrest of several illegal i...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - The Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital at Phoenix, north of Durban is currently being decontaminated after six nurses and four patients tested positive for COVID-19. Board member of the hospital, Sham Maharaj says the KwaZulu-Natal Health Department will be doing oversight of the facility to make sure that the process has been fo...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - The more than 200 South Africans who were set to board a plane and be repatriated from India today will have to wait a little longer as their flight was postponed due to administration issues. Earlier this week, we spoke to a South African student studying in India named Keiyuran Govender. He says that the new flight is expecte...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Taresh Harreeparshad - The National Department of Health says if people adhere to the guidelines issued for fighting COVID-19, the high number of cases predicted may be reduced. This follows a Modelling Symposium hosted by the Department, that said infections are expected to peak in September with up to 3 million people infected and death toll...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Rachel Vadi - Religious institutions being declared an essential service was just one of the issues raised by leaders of various faiths in South Africa - in a virtual meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa. This is according to the President of SA Hindu Maha Sabha, Ashwin Trikamjee, who was part of the meeting. Trikamjee says religious bodies c...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Scholar transport fees are expected to increase- as grade 7 and 12 learners return to school on the 1st of June. That's according to Midrand Learner Transport Association's Brian Govender. He says scholar transport providers have not been paid for about two months now- and have to further incur higher operational costs for mask...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Principals from seven of the nine provinces in South Africa say they are not ready to reopen their schools by the Basic Educations proposed date of the 1st of June. This is according to a survey conducted by teachers Union SADTU. Basic Education Minister Angie Motsekga announced last night that schools will reopen in phases fro...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Parents have expressed varied views to the decision to re-open schools. Some say they trust the governments plans, while others want the minister to come up with stricter safety and hygiene measures before they send they children back to school. Pupils too share similar sentiments. Newsbreak spoke to a few grade 7 and 12 learne...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - Nursing Union DENOSA has reacted to that story saying the lack of PPE is the main cause for the outbreak at the hospital...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - KwaZulu-Natal non-profit organisation FEMSSISA have expressed displeasure in response to Tuesday's announcement by Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga - that schools will re-open on the 1st of June. Chairperson Vishnu Naidoo says while the plans in place seem adequate, allowing learners to resume schooling as early as June...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - Staff and patients at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Phoenix, north of Durban have expressed fear and concern after four patients and two nurses tested positive for the Covid-19 virus. This has resulted in over 30 medical staff being screened and their results still pending. Hospital management have told Newsbreak that...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Taresh Harreeparshad - The Department of Basic Education says that they will assess whether or not to fast track home-schooling registration processes - based on the number of cases that come through. Spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga says that there is an assurance that those interested in home schooling for the 2020 academic year will be supported....

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Taresh Harreeparshad - Following the announcement that schools will be opened for grade 7 and 12 learners from the 1st of June - the issue of home schooling has popped up. This as many parents are not convinced that their children will be adequately protected from COVID-19. But education analysts are not convinced that the Department of Educati...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - A counselling psychologist says many South Africans have developed a mental health problem as a result of the nationwide lockdown and the uncertainty around the COVID-19 pandemic. Rakhi Beekrum says if one starts feeling anxious or stressed during this time, they need to acknowledge it, speak up, and reach out for help or it co...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Taresh Harreeparshad - Hospitals need to establish separate zones and entry points for those who test positive for COVID-19. That's a key recommendation from a team of three UKZN medical experts following an investigation into the COVID-19 outbreak at St. Augustine's Hospital. 15 patients died from the virus. The facility had to be shutdown aft...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - There has been concern in some quarters that schools will not be ready in terms of safety, especially when it comes to grade 7 learners and teachers. The Federation of Governing Bodies of South African Schools (FEDSAS) - CEO Paul Colditz says while the plan in place in a concrete one, he is still disappointed by certain aspects...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Rachel Vadi - Grade 7s and 12s will be the first to return to school and the lower grades will then follow. Professor Wayne Hugo from the School of Education and Development at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) says the Minister's plan is one that is well thought out. He says that the school year cannot be lost as South Africans need to th...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - A multi-national Information Technology company has opened a digital learning platform to the public, providing 30 days free access to anyone that registers before the end of May 2020. Hewlett Packard Enterprises (HPE) aims to develop new digital skills in business administration and marketing amongst others. People will also b...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - A 22-year-old South African student stranded in India will spend his birthday under quarantine - as he gets set to be repatriated along with over 200 others this Friday. Keiyuran Govender has been completing his MBA at the University of Bangalore since August last year. During his stay in India, Govender has been left to fend f...