Newsbreak

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer, Shanell Daniel - Encouraging prayer at home and shortening the duration of services are some of the measures being taken by the United Ulama Council of South Africa to curb the spread of the Coronavirus. This is in-line with the announcement made by President Cyril Ramaphosa - related to public gatherings being limited to 100 people due to the...

SABC News and Current Affairs — India has ramped up efforts to control the spread of coronavirus and tightened a lockdown as the number of cases rose to about 125. The Taj Mahal was closed and Mumbai ordered offices to keep half of workers at home as the police warned against gatherings and restricted lavish Indian weddings. Rana Sen reports from New Delhi...

SABC News and Current Affairs — Home owners have been advised to be extra vigilant. This follows reports of criminals who try to access residential homes and claim to be government officials and medical practitioners, who are doing Covid-19 home testing. Once they gain entry, the impersonators rob unsuspecting victims, mostly of cellphones. On Sunday, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a National...

SABC News and Current Affairs — by Newsbreak Executive Producer, Salma Patel -The Chatsworth taxi association has implemented its own measures in tackling and preventing the spread of the Coronavirus. The association says that operators are providing free hand sanitisation to all commuters entering taxis. The association's Secretary - Leon Loganathan - told Newsbreak that they've taken the fight a...

SABC News and Current Affairs — by Newsbreak Producer, Shanell Daniel - Humanitarian organisation, Gift of the Givers, has come on board in aid of health facilities dealing with the Coronavirus throughout the country. With funding of five-million-rand, intervention includes providing protective equipment for high risk medical personnel who are on the frontline dealing with the virus, as well as ge...

SABC News and Current Affairs — by Newsbreak Producer, Taliesha Naidoo - The Democratic Alliance (DA) Federal Executive has resolved to postpone its policy conference due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The conference was scheduled to take place on the 4th and 5th of April before the Federal Congress which was due to take place on 30th and 31st May. The Federal Congress is where a new leadership of the...

SABC News and Current Affairs — by Newsbreak Executive Producer, Salma Patel - Children are most susceptible to the spread of any infectious virus. This is according to an expert who works with children in the health sector. Child rights activist - Karen Pillay says its important for adults not to scare young children with masks and gloves when educating or dealing with COVID-19 info sharing. She...

SABC News and Current Affairs — by Newsbreak Producer, Hoosen Ebrahim - Police around the country have issued a stern warning to motorists who continue to risk drinking and driving. This follows an announcement made by law enforcement to stop the use of breathalysers at roadblocks due to fears of the coronavirus spreading. Metro police spokesperson - Parbhoo Sewpersad - explains the strong approac...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer, Shanell Daniel - A Grade 3 learner has been killed after he was run over by bus on his way to school at Redcliff, in Verulam, north of Durban. It's alleged that the 9-year-old learner - of Redcliff Primary School - was crossing the road when a bus, which was being reversed on the oncoming lane, ran over him. Spokesperson for local security com...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer, Shanell Daniel - The University of KwaZulu-Natal's academic programme is suspended with immediate effect. This is according to UKZN's Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Nana Poku. In a statement, the university confirmed that the suspension includes all tests. Adding that management has resolved to work with Senate, which is accountable...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer, Taliesha Naidoo - The KwaZulu-Natal Health Department says it intends to allocate at least one healthcare facility per district that will be dedicated to treating positive coronavirus patients. Health MEC - Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu - says more facilities have now been added to the initial list four hospitals. She says the widespread availability...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer, Taliesha Naidoo - Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize says they are investigating a further four more people who may be infected by the coronavirus in South Africa. Currently, 61 people have been infected by Covid-19 in the country. Mkhize is among 14 ministers who are briefing the media in Pretoria, on the details of government's interventions to...

SABC News and Current Affairs — This year marks the 160th commemoration of the arrival of Indian Indentured Labourers to South Africa. Every Monday Newsbreak will bring you special features during this momentous commemorative year..............

SABC News and Current Affairs — by Newsbreak Producer, Hoosen Ebrahim - Experts believe that the bold steps taken by President Ramaphosa declaring a National State of Disaster amid the coronavirus outbreak, would impact South Africa massively in the short term. Senior Lecturer at the School of Economics and Business Science at the Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg, Lumkile Mondi - says ther...

SABC News and Current Affairs — by Newsbreak Producer, Rachel Vadi - Hygiene at places of worship, like mosques, has come under the spotlight amid government's plans to curb the spread of coronavirus in the country. Mohammad Farouk Soofie, trustee and Imaam of the Habibia Soofie Saheb Badsha Peer Darbaar at Riverside, Durban says local mosques have already implemented various measures, such as sho...

SABC News and Current Affairs — by Newsbreak Producer, Taresh Harreeparshad - Tourism South Africa CEO Sisa Tshona supports a call to have airlines and travel agencies refund payments made for pre-planned trips. Many have been lamenting the pre-existing nature of travel- where cancelled trips or bookings are rarely refundable. This poses a major loss to travellers who have been forced to cancel tr...

SABC News and Current Affairs — by Newsbreak Producer, Rachel Vadi - A police officer - who issues liquor licenses and second hand goods licences - will be appearing in the Durban Magistrates Court later this morning - after he attempted to bribe a man who had outstanding fines. According to police spokesperson, Brigadier Jay Naicker, the man approached the Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit - who se...

SABC News and Current Affairs — To news on the international front: EIGHT South Asian countries have decided to pool their efforts against Coronavirus which has infected fewer than 150 people in the impoverished region. India proposed setting up an emergency fund, offering 10 million dollars, to get it going as governments say they fear the global outbreak could unhinge their fragile economies. Fr...

SABC News and Current Affairs — One session of Hubbly Bubbly can be equivalent to smoking up to 200 cigarettes. This is according to a recent study by the World Health Organisation. The study found that water pipe and E-cigarrete smokers are actually at a higher risk of cancer, respiratory and heart diseases than cigarette smokers. Hubbly Bubblies, Vapes and Twisps have become a fashion statement...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer, Shanell Daniel - A planned water shut down is expected to affect the Pinetown CBD, Ashley, Caversham Glen and Nazareth Water Supply System in Durban - this from 6pm on Saturday (14 March) until 10am on Sunday (15 March). EThekwini Municipality spokesperson, Msawakhe Mayisela, says the City, through its Water and Sanitation Unit, will be undert...

SABC News and Current Affairs — India reported its first Coronavirus death while the number of those infected sharply rose to 74 overnight. The government further tightened travel rules and said it was geared to face a full-blown outbreak but scientists at national facilities testing patients for COVID-19 were clearly overwhelmed. Rana Sen reports .....

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer, Taliesha Naidoo - Health Minister Zweli Mkhize says the number of coronavorus cases in the country is likely to rise as more positive results are currently being verified by the National Institute of Communicable Diseases. The number of confirmed and verified COVID-19 infections in the country now stands at 24. Gauteng has four new cases with...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer, Taliesha Naidoo - Security has been beefed up at the Ranch Hotel and Resort at Polokwane in Limpopo. The hotel and resort is the official quarantine area for 121 South African who are being repatriated from China by the SANDF. Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize outlined the travel process that's being taken today - to repatriate the South African...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer, Shanell Daniel - KwaZulu-Natal police are investigating a double murder after a drive-by shooting claimed the lives of a 38-year-old man and 35-year-old woman at Alpine Drive, in Shallcross, south of Durban. The 38-year-old man has been identified as Devendren Lionel Pillay, the second eldest son of well-known alleged drug dealer - Yaganathan...

SABC News and Current Affairs — By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - As the number of people infected with the coronavirus in KwaZulu-Natal continues to rise, two Durban schools have taken precautions while they await the results for pupils who may have contracted the virus. Orient Islamic school had issued letters to parents earlier this week saying that the learning facility had learnt that fi...