Newsbreak

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - As the country battles to curb the spread of COVID-19, a group of South Africans are trying to harness the power of corn through 3D printing. Reusable face shields are being produced by "RUAH movement" and distributed free of charge to assist critical health-care workers in the battle against the coronavirus. 3D Printing expert...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer, Taresh Harreeparshad - Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Thoko Didiza announced her department had allocated one point two billion rand for smallscale farmers in a bid to ensure food security as the country battles the coronavirus. Didiza has also urged informal traders to maintain a 1 metre spacing between stalls to ensure that socia...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer, Tashlan Naidoo - Political analyst Ongama Mtimka has welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa's decision to place Communications Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams on two-months special leave. The action comes after a photograph of the Minister and former deputy minister Mduduzi Manana sharing a meal. Ndabeni-Abrahams' suspension will include a month...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - With speculation rising that South Africa's lockdown may be extended to further curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus, an economist says this will be detrimental to the already ailing economy. Already battered and bruised, the economy could shrink even further should government extended the lockdown as it has been rumoured. Chi...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - The KwaZulu-Natal Health Department is set to meet with the management of Durban's St Augustine's Hospital after 48 of the hospital's staff tested positive for COVID-19. DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL AT DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH - YOGAN PILLAY has assured citizens that government is doing all in its capacity to make sure that an incident...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - President Cyril Ramaphosa says he has called a meeting with Communications Minister Stella Ndabeni Abrahams over a picture circulating on social media that appears to show her enjoying lunch with former Deputy Higher Education Minister Mduduzi Manana - in an apparent violation of the lockdown rules. Meanwhile, political analyst...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - Police Minister Bheki Cele says he is appalled by the alarming spike in gender-based violence cases reported to the police since the lockdown began. Cele says over 2,000 complaints were made and close to 150 people arrested during the first week of the lockdown. The comments come after a 14-year-old girl was raped in Soweto las...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Salma Patel - Civil society organisations are rallying to bring in much-needed food hampers and essentials to the needy and vulnerable during the 21 day lockdown. In Durban, some groups are in charge of feeding and housing the homeless at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, whilst others are distributing hampers to underprivileged homes affected by the...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - As people become desperate to get their hands on their liquor of choice amidst the lockdown, some are adopting criminal tactics to stock up on alcohol around the country. Five suspects in total have been arrested in the Western Cape and Port Elizebeth respectively over the past three days for breaking into and looting liquor ou...

SABC News and Current Affairs — by Newsbreak Producer, Taliesha Naidoo - The Bangladesh Market at Chatsworth, south of Durban will remain closed until the country's lockdown is over. Tony Govender, the Ward 70 councillor which comprises the Westcliff, Woodhurst, Silverglen says traders must refrain from trading at the market or face the risk of being arrested. Traders have been raising questions o...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Mental health experts warn that the COVID-19 pandemic and the national lockdown could have a negative impact on people's mental health and well-being. The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) says they have received several calls and messages from anxious citizens. There are concerns about a possible extension of...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Taliesha Naidoo - For most people, stress is a daily phenomenon. Add COVID-19 to the mix and stress levels can sky rocket. Being mindful of how you cope with stress during the uncertain times that lie ahead is a positive step in the right direction. That's according to Professor Suna Kassier, Head of Dietetics at the University of KwaZulu-Natal...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Taliesha Naidoo - There has been a noticeable increase in attacks against monkeys during the nationwide lockdown. That is according to non-profit organisation, Centre for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife or CROW. The centre, which remains fully operational during the lockdown, has seen 27 monkey's admitted after being shot with pellet guns. CROW'...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - A Chatsworth man who was diagnosed with COVID-19 is doing well at the Greys Hospital in Pietermaritzburg. That's according to ward 71 councillor, Previn Vedan. He says the family are also doing well under self-isolation, while they wait for results. Meanwhile, there's been several fake news messages being spread on social media...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer, Tashlan Naidoo - Community activist Visvin Reddy says it's critical that members of the community support each other during trying times. This after a man tested postive for COVID-19 in Chatsworth, south of Durban. Following the news of the positive case, the community took to social media sharing images of the patients home and personal infor...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer, Tashlan Naidoo - A COVID-19 case in the suburb of Chatsworth, south of Durban has left residents in fear of local transmissions. Social media has been abuzz since the case came to light over the weekend, with various images and messages regarding the patient's identity going viral. The patient tested positive on Sunday and was subsequently mov...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - Health experts have slammed government's measures of banning alcohol and cigarette sales during the country's first 21 day lockdown in history. They say that the blanket prohibition on the sale of alcohol and cigarettes during the lockdown has raised serious concerns among mental health professionals on how people will cope wit...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Rachel Vadi - With many of the 208 countries affected by COVID-19 barring local and international flights and also on national lockdown - thousands of Muslims around the world are holding their breath as they wait for news from the Saudi Arabian Ministry regarding this years Hajj pilgrimage. President of the South African Hajj & Umrah Council (...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - South Africans are concerned about health workers who will be deployed to do home testing for COVID-19. Home-owners fear that criminals will also use this as an opportunity to scam their way into homes. This follows the announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa that key provinces and hotspots will be prioritised as the governme...

SABC News and Current Affairs — Communities continue to disobey COVID-19 lockdown regulations. From taxi drivers trying to stop essential services workers going to work, to motorists being on the road despite not having the necessary documents proving they are performing an essential service. Some communities have even bizarrely taken the initiative of enforcing the lockdown regulations themselves...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Rachel Vadi - Events of historical significance may not always seem important to the everyday man. Leading up to this year's commemoration of the the arrival of the 1860 Indian Indentured Labourer, Newsbreak's Rachel Vadi canvasses the views of historians, researchers and academics - asking them the significance around 16th November 1860 - the...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer, Taliesha Naidoo - A South African stuck in Egypt is pleading with government to assist him in getting back home. Clive Pillay, left South Africa on the 9th of March for the African Gymnastics Championship and was meant to return on the 20th of March. However, that has not yet happened due to restriction of movement in both countries. Pillay, w...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer, Shanell Daniel - There has been a stark increase of between 20 to 60 percent in gender-based violence cases in country's that are under lockdown due to the Coronavirus. This is according to Gender Academic Specialist, Doctor Aradhana Mansingh. She says with alcohol consumption and gambling not allowed during the various lockdown's, the rate of...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - Head of Durban Solid Waste (DSW) Raymond Rampersad, says a Coronavirus scare within the department caused refuse collection to come to a halt during parts of the week, however everything is back to normal and collection is being made with urgency. He further refuted the claims of employees NOT making regular refuse collection i...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - Irate residents of Woodhurst, in Chatsworth, south of Durban, claim that refuse removal in the area has been backlogged for far too long, including during the 21 day national lockdown. Concerned resident Suren Ganapathie, says the area has been facing refuse collection issues from long before the lockdown period, claiming that...