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Lotus FM News Break
#PODCAST HIV and TB trailblazer Prof. Salim Abdool Karim to receive Mapungubwe Order in Gold #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Senior Producer Taresh Harreeparshad - Prof. Salim Abdool Karim- CAPRISA Director and clinical infectious diseases epidemiologist- will receive the Order in Gold for his work in HIV/Aids and tuberculosis research, and health policy development which is placing South Africa on the international stage. Prof. Karim says this humbling honour invigorates him to continue working for another career span in research...
#PODCAST The eThekwini Municipality launches a major awareness drive to address traffic fine administration failures #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - A lack of interest on the part of motorists, outdated personal information and a lack of awareness on payment methods are some of the reasons motorists are not efficiently served road fines or make payments. That's according to Mabusi Mafunda, the eThekwini Metro Police Acting Senior Manager in Fines Processing Administration. As the Metro Police Service Directorate continues with bylaw enforcement operations, stop-and-searches and roadblocks across the city, the Municipality is also prioritising public education on traffic fines and payment processes. Mafunda elaborates on this...
#PODCAST Analysis: Parliament initiates Phala Phala impeachment probe despite looming election-related delays #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Senior Producer Taresh Harreeparshad - Political parties have until this Friday to submit names of who will serve on the Impeachment Committee to probe Parliament's Section 89 Independent Panel report into President Cyril Ramaphosa's Phala Phala matter. This follows the Constitutional Court ruling that invalidated the National Assembly's decision not to institute impeachment proceedings against the President based on the report. The matter takes another turn- as President Ramaphosa himself plans on taking the report on review. Deputy Chairperson of the Constitutional Affairs Committee of the Law Society of South Africa Andries Kgatlampi Nkome helps us understand the processes that are likely to unfold...
#PODCAST Prof. Keertan Dheda to be awarded Silver National Order for community-driven TB diagnostics #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Senior Producer Taresh Harreeparshad - Prof. Keertan Dheda - Head of the Division of Pulmonology in the Department of Medicine at the University of Cape Town with a joint appointment at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine- will receive the Order in Silver for his work in pulmonology that has revolutionised the management of tuberculosis and other respiratory infections globally. He says the National Order inspires him to continue working on TB diagnostic innovation in local communities...
#PODCAST Wellness Wakeup: Experts demand urgent support for nurses, as staff shortages threaten care #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Executive Producer Salma Patel - This Nurses Month, there needs to be more support for these healthcare professionals who essentially form the backbone of the healthcare system. Yet, the focus is often on the patient and not on the realities and pressures that nurses face daily. In this week's Wellness Wake-Up, Maggie Naidoo, the Regional Manager at Charisma by Adcorp, a company providing nursing staffing solutions, says the challenges affecting nurses including staff shortages, long shifts and burnout need to be addressed to prevent a brain-drain of these essential healthcare workers...
Hate Speech rears it's ugly head again: here's the recourse #sabcnews
-by Newsbreak's Taresh Harreeparshad. Two cases of hate speech have hurt the sentiments of minority communities in South Africa. The South African Hindu Dharma Sabha has lodged a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission- over derogatory comments made by media personalities Ngwize Mchunu and Nhlamulo 'Nota' Baloyi about the South African Indian community. And in North Beach, Durban- the Muslim community was subjected to horrific wall graffiti- making derogatory remarks about Islam. The North Beach CPF in Durban has opened a case at the local SAPS. But these incidents occur- despite the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill being firmly in place. In this edition of Newsbreak Talk- we discuss how the existing legislation against hate speech can be used to seek justice against racist remarks...
The Phala Phala process unfolds #sabcnews
-by Newsbreak's Taresh Harreeparshad. The ball is rolling on the Phala Phala matter. President Cyril Ramaphosa says he intends on taking the independent panel report on the issue on review. This follows the Constitutional Court ruling that invalidated the National Assembly's decision not to institute impeachment proceedings against President Ramaphosa based on the findings of that report. Now Speaker of Parliament Thoko Didiza has established a thirty-one member parliamentary impeachment committee that will determine whether the President will face impeachment. But if the President wants the report to be reviewed- where does that leave the impeachment process? Legal expert Andries Kgatlampi Nkome and political analyst Dr. Levy Ndou helped us make sense of these developments...
#PODCAST: Investigation underway into anti-Islamic graffiti in Durban
By Newsbreak Producer, Tashlan Naidoo - The North Beach CPF in Durban say a thorough investigation is underway following a spate of recent anti-Islamic graffiti in and around the area. A case of hate speech has since been opened with SAPS. While the slurs have since been removed, it has created a sense of fear and sparked a cause for concern to sew interfaith division within the area. Chairperson of the North Beach CPF, Mahomed Essa says it is encouraging to note that residents of all faiths have united in condemning such acts...
#PODCAST:Halaal tourism leaves food for thought at the 2026 Travel Indaba
By Newsbreak Executive Producer, Salma Patel - The billion dollar Halaal industry has been showcased by a Western Cape tour operator at Africa's Travel Indaba this year. Halaal Hopper offers strictly halaal and vegetarian travel and dietary options for Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Halaal is a faith-based requirement meaning "Permissable". Fayrouz Holliday-October, the Chief Vision Officer, explains what halaal tourism entails......
#PODCAST DBN martial arts practitioner launches weekly Taekwondo & Hapkido lessons in response to rising crime #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - Amid a relentless surge in local violence, Durban coach Dr. Zaheed Khan has launched weekly Taekwondo and Hapkido sessions at Hartley Road Primary School to equip local residents with essential self-defence skills. The initiative seeks to transform men, women, and children into disciplined defenders, providing a grassroots countermeasure to the crime statistics currently crippling the community. Dr. Khan describes the program as a direct response to the city's "crime-ridden" streets... OUTRO: That was Durban-based Taekwondo and Hapkido coach, Dr. Zaheed Khan talking to Hoosen Ebrahim. Dr Khan can be contacted on 083 796 8722.
#PODCAST Hold My Hand campaign spotlight crucial early childhood interactions through its Brain Power competition #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Mathew Veeran - The Hold My Hand national campaign has seen an overwhelming response to its Brain Power competition, with over 500 entries submitted by caregivers across all nine provinces. This initiative celebrates everyday interactions - such as singing, playing and storytelling - that foster critical early childhood development during the first five years of life. Hold My Hand is a national campaign of action for children and teens, urging all of society to help develop the future of South Africa. This morning we're joined by Social Mobilisation Lead, Mesuli Kama... For the competition, you can send the words "Brain Power" to 0600 411 111 on WhatsApp and thereafter submit a short video, voice note or photo showing how you engage with a child or teen through activities like singing, storytelling, playing or merely just talking. Competition closes: 23 May 2026
#PODCAST SAMA discuss advances in medical tech, noting that AI will make health care more accessible in SA #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Senior Producer Taresh Harreeparshad - The South African Medical Association (SAMA) says that Artificial Intelligence or AI is going to make healthcare more accessible to all South Africans- only if it is used correctly. The Association just concluded a dialogue in Durban assessing the country's readiness for the National Health Insurance (NHI) in the context of AI. It found that while AI can help bridge several logistical divides to healthcare access- it still needs to be technically controlled with great sensitivity. Dr. Zanele Bikitsha is SAMA vice-chairperson...
#PODCAST Newsbreak Fishing Report - 15 May 2026 #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - Cast away with this week's Newsbreak Fishing Report, brought to you by KZN angler Sanjay Ramsarup...
Taking a close-up to boost local economies through film production in KZN #sabcnews
-by Newsbreak's Salma Patel Choosing locations for film productions can help to boost local economies through tourism in small towns in KwaZulu-Natal. That was the main conclusion drawn from the panel discussion by the KZN Tourism and Film Authority entitled Filming the Future. Panelists at Africa's Travel Indaba spoke about the reciprocal relationship between tourism and the film industry. Durban International Film Festival director - Sakhile Gumede - says that by renting out homes to film crews or working as an extra on a production can benefit a township economy and boost tourism...
#PODCAST The increased ship traffic around the Cape of Good Hope raises concerns over whale populations #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - South African researchers are warning that a sharp rise in global shipping traffic around the Cape of Good Hope is placing whales along the country's coastline at greater risk of deadly ship strikes. The warning follows the rerouting of vessels away from the Red Sea and Suez Canal after attacks linked to Houthi rebels and escalating tensions in the Middle East. New research presented to the International Whaling Commission shows commercial traffic around southern Africa has nearly doubled since 2023. Scientists say the increase is creating dangerous overlap between major shipping corridors and globally significant whale populations off the Western Cape coast. Conservationists fear more whale deaths could follow if mitigation measures are not introduced urgently. In this week's Greenscene, we spoke to Chief Scientist and Manager at UP's MRI Whale Unit, Professor Els Vermeulen...
#PODCAST Insurance providers urge the public to review risk cover, as high-value personal item theft surges #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - South Africans are increasingly carrying high-value personal items - ranging from smart phones to specialised sports equipment - that often exceed R50,000 in combined value, leaving these possessions exposed to significant risk outside the home. While many residents prioritise securing their property behind locked doors, insurance experts warn that daily commutes and public spaces now represent the primary frontier for theft and accidental damage. To address this, "moveables cover" is something being cited as an essential safeguard, designed to protect personal belongings wherever they are used in this modern, mobile world. Insurance executive Sherry Sibeko joined me to take this conversation further...
#PODCAST COSATU warns of a worsening jobs crisis after the official unemployment figures hits 32.7% #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Trade Union COSATU are concerned that the unemployment figures for the second quarter of the year will grow even further due to increased economic uncertainty. This after Stats SA revealed that the official unemployment rate rose by one-point-three percent to 32-point-seven percent in the first quarter of this year. This means that 8.1 million out of the almost 25-million labour force are unemployed. Unemployment increased in all the country's provinces except KwaZulu Natal, with the highest increases recorded in the North West and Eastern Cape. The unemployment rate among young people aged 15 to 24 stood at 60-point-nine percent and 40-point-six percent among those aged 25 to 34 in the same quarter. COSATU National spokesperson, Zanele Sabela says this should be declared a national emergency...
#PODCAST Section27 predict a rise in unwanted pregnancies following the crippling US health funding withdrawal #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Senior Producer Taresh Harreeparshad - Civil society organisation Section27 is concerned that last year's PEPFAR funding pullout by the United States will have a negative impact on the rate of un-wanted pregnancies in the country. The Stop Stockouts Project has just released a report entitled Impact, Adaptation and Opportunity – South Africa's Health System Post-PEPFAR. It shows that adolescent girls and young women were the first to experience reduced access to contraceptive and HIV prevention or management services during the pullout. According to the report in April to June last year the number of patients who were unable to access their preferred contraceptive method increased sharply across eThekwini, King Cetshwayo and uMgungundlovu. These three districts in KwaZulu-Natal have a high HIV prevalence. Section27 chief executive Sasha Stevenson says there are some key recommendations that government needs to implement to ensure unwanted pregnancies are reduced...
#PODCAST SA and Mauritius sign a memorandum of understanding to strengthen tourism partnerships #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Executive Producer Salma Patel - South Africa and Mauritius have signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen partnerships in tourism between the two nations. The MOU forms part of the Indian Ocean Island's drive to appeal to the local travel market. Mauritius has a bigger and better presence at Africa's Travel Indaba this year, featuring stakeholders from hospitality and travel to promote improved tourism packages for South Africans. Newly appointed chairman of the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority, Dinesh Burrenchobay, says the Island will also be hosting the Africa Rugby Sevens Tournament in June as part of their new offering to sport-lovers...
#PODCAST: South Africa to host Global Flagship Event marking International Day for Biological Diversity
By Newbsreak Senior Producer, Taresh Harreeparshad - South Africa will host the Global Flagship Event to mark International Day for Biological Diversity in Johannesburg next week- in what is billed as a global first. this follows the first ever request by the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity to host the flagship event. South Africa is recognised as one of the world's largest bio diverse countries. Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Narend Singh explains how this year's theme resonates so significantly with local communities...
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