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Lotus FM News Break
Infrastructure summit aims to position KZN as investment and development hub
By Newsbreak Executive Producer, Salma Patel - Positioning KwaZulu-Natal as the leader in infrastructure investment and development is the key aim of a summit bringing together public-private partners to mobilise business and create jobs. The Infrastructure Connect Summit currently underway in Durban aims to make KZN the leading investment destination in Africa. Kaone Lekalake, Head of Client Coverage at Standard Bank in KwaZulu-Natal says this summit will benefit future investors and businesses......
Calls mount for overhaul of SAPS amid Feroz Khan dismissal
By Newsbreak Producer, Tashlan Naidoo - Calls are mounting for a complete overhaul of the South African Police Service, amid growing concerns over corruption, interference and the integrity of criminal investigations. This follows the dismissal of Major General, Feroz Khan. The Former deputy Crime Intelligence head remains at the centre of those concerns, with allegations against him including tender fraud and the leaking of sensitive state information. Khan's dismissal by SAPS follows his failure to appear at a disciplinary hearing, while his appearance before the Madlanga Commission has been postponed to the 28th of September. Private investigator and security analyst Mike Bolhuis says Khan's case is symptomatic of deeper problems within the police service that require urgent and fundamental reform...
#PODCAST Nine South Africans return home after narrowly escaping Nepal floods #sabcnews
A mother and daughter are among nine South Africans who have returned home after narrowly escaping devastating floods in Nepal. Sulosh Pillay and her daughter, Dr Keshnie Pillay, arrived at King Shaka International Airport yesterday, after seven members of their group landed in Johannesburg on Tuesday night. The group had travelled to Nepal on a spiritual pilgrimage to Mount Kailash. They had crossed the affected border area just two days before the floods struck. Keshnie says seeing the devastation first-hand has been difficult to process. Gcinokuhle Malinga reports...
#PODCAST Global safety conference in Cape Town addresses rising violent crime and murder rates #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - As South Africans continue to grapple with violent crime and growing safety concerns, experts are meeting in Cape Town to confront the challenges behind injury and violence. Researchers and safety specialists from more than 80 countries are attending the 16th World Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion. The conference comes at a time when Statistician-General Risenga Maluleke announced the 2025/2026 victims of crime report where murder increased, with more households saying they experienced the violent crime compared to previous years. CEO of the Foundation for Professional Development, Dr Gloria Maimela says the conference is examining how government, communities and society can work together to tackle violence and prevent injuries, which they say claims more than 4.4 million lives globally each year...
#PODCAST Wonderbag SA launches 'Bowl Cosy' innovation to empower women financially #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Executive Producer Salma Patel - Spring has sprung and now the work of empowering women financially comes to the fore. Enter the Bowl Cosy - an innovation that allows one to hold a hot bowl of soup or a meal without burning one's hands. The idea came about from re-purposing unusable pieces of material from the mother-project. This means that more women will be given opportunities to produce and sell the product ensuring that they earn an income. Sarah Collins, CEO of Wonderbag SA explains how the idea of the bowl cosy came about...
#PODCAST Durban Botanic Gardens to host annual Indigenous Plant Fair this weekend #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - The Botanical Society of South Africa's KZN Coastal Branch will host its annual Plant Fair at the Durban Botanic Gardens this weekend. The event will run from 9am till 4pm on Saturday and Sunday, with free entry and secure parking for visitors. Local nurseries will sell a wide range of indigenous South African plants, while experts will present talks on gardening, conservation and wildlife habitats. Among the speakers are Dr Elsa Pooley, Jane Troughton and Muhammad Adamjee, who will discuss South Africa's gold medal at the 2026 Chelsea Flower Show. Jane Troughton explains what attendees can expect...
#PODCAST Heart Awareness Month | Experts warn of cardiovascular risks and the concerning rise in youth vaping #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - As South Africa marks Heart Awareness Month this September, the Heart and Stroke Foundation are warning of the growing burden of cardiovascular disease and its deadly consequences. The campaign will focus on four major heart health concerns — coronary heart disease, heart failure, heart rhythm disorders and hypertension — with an emphasis on prevention, early detection and treatment. Health Promotion and Health Risk Assessment Officer Courtney Du Plessis says one non-negotiable is the need for young people to know their blood pressure...
Scores of undocumented migrants arrested Gauteng construction site
By Newsbreak Producer, Tashlan Naidoo - About 40 undocumented migrants have been arrested at a construction site in Gauteng during a multidisciplinary labour inspection led by Employment and Labour Deputy Minister Jomo Sibiya. The operation is aimed at rooting out non-compliance with labour laws, but the arrests are also raising questions about whether employers exploiting undocumented workers are being held equally accountable. SABC reporter, Culvin Mabasa joins us on the line for an update....
LGE26: New poll suggests Women remain more likely to support the ANC
By Newsbreak Senior Producer, Taresh Harreeparshad - A new poll by the Institute of Race Relations- or IRR suggests that women voters are more likely to vote for the ANC than the DA. The report entitled The Political State of Play – SA's Women Voters 2021 to 2026 shows that when it comes to the female vote- the ANC led the DA by 11 points among women at 37% to 26%. For the male vote- the difference was only 1 point among men at 27% to 26%. Research author Hermann Pretorius explains what drives the female vote...
Nepal disaster death toll climbs, as search for 6 missing South African's continue
By Newsbreak Producer, Tashlan Naidoo - The death toll from the flash floods in Nepal has now crossed 1000, even as more than 3000 people remain missing or unaccounted for including six South African nationals. A week since the disaster hit, Nepal's Prime Minister Balendra Shah says the floods were driven by climate change and has urged the international community to take action. A group of South African pilgrims who narrowly escaped devastating floods in Nepal are returning home today. Two Durban residents are among those expected to arrive at the King Shaka International Airport. The group was on a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash with the Mohanji Foundation South Africa when disaster struck last Wednesday - days after they completed their climb to the summit. They had already left the affected area, narrowly avoiding the floods and landslides that left a trail of death and destruction. Six South Africans remain. Our reporter, Gcinokuhle Malinga is at the Durban Airport and joins us on the line for an update....
#PODCAST SANTACO women's wing launches summit to tackle GBV in public transport #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - The South African National Taxi Council's women's wing has launched a national summit in Gauteng aimed at tackling Gender-Based Violence in the public transport sector. The initiative brings together government officials, transport leaders and community stakeholders to address the safety of women using taxis and other forms of public transport. It also focuses on transforming the taxi industry and strengthening measures to protect female passengers. . SANTACO National spokesperson, Rebecca Phala explains...
#PODCAST 2026 Karri Parent Survey reveals that SA parents support school phone restrictions and social media bans #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Nine out of 10 South African parents want tighter controls on cell phone use at schools, while nearly three quarters believe children under 16 years should be banned from using social media. That's according to a recent survey by an online payment platform. The 2026 Karri Parent Survey canvassed almost 2,800 parents across all nine provinces. More than half support children taking phones to school, but want them locked away during the school day, while 37 percent back an outright ban. Chief Financial Officer Faheem Bhaila explains the findings...
#PODCAST Stats SA report highlights murder as only rising crime in South Africa #sabcnews
Murder is the only crime that has increased according to the latest Victims of Crime report, with more households saying they experienced the violent crime compared to previous years. The report was released by Statistician-General Risenga Maluleke during a media briefing in Pretoria. He says about 94 percent of households that experienced murder reported it to the police. Siphiwe Mkhize reports...
#PODCAST Techno Touch | NASA launches next-generation space telescope to probe deep space #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - NASA has successfully launched its next-generation space telescope on a mission to probe the fundamental mysteries of the cosmos from a vantage point roughly one million miles from Earth. Boasting an optical field of view 100 times larger than both the Hubble and James Webb space telescopes, the advanced observatory is engineered to conduct vast, high-resolution infrared surveys across deep space. Over its lifespan, the mission will map billions of galaxies to investigate dark energy and dark matter while identifying tens of thousands of previously unknown exo-planets. I found out more in this week's Techno Touch... Credits: BBC World
#PODCAST Comedian Dr. Riaad Moosa brings 'The Best Medicine' show to Wild Coast Sun #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - South African comedian and Medical Doctor Riaad Moosa is bringing his acclaimed "The Best Medicine Comedy Show" to the Wild Coast Sun on the 19th and 20th of this month. Riaad Moosa is known for blending intelligent humour, social observation and everyday experiences into comedy that resonates with South African audiences. Ahead of his performances at the Tropical Nites Theatre, Hoosen spoke to Moosa about his approach to comedy...
Twenty-nine undocumented foreign nationals arrested in KZN raids
By Newsbreak Producer, Tashlan Naidoo - Undocumented foreign nationals, expired food and health code violations were among the many stark discoveries made during raids in the Pietermaritzburg CBD. KwaZulu- Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli, leads the operation in collaboration with the SAPS and the Department of Labour and Immigration. The raids stem from concerns raised by intelligence regarding the employment of undocumented immigrants. SABC reporter, Gcinokuhle Malinga is on the ground and brings us an update....
#PODCAST Rhino Energy Solutions partners with The Capital Hotels group on major solar rollout #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - South African hospitality is shifting its solar strategy, moving past basic emergency backup power to target the country's soaring peak electricity bills head-on. Local installer Rhino Energy Solutions has partnered with The Capital Hotels and Apartments group on a multi-site solar and battery rollout, including key sites like Zimbali. Designed strictly as a daily cost-cutter, the system charges when grid power is cheapest and runs the hotels during expensive peak hours, all without requiring upfront cash from the hotel group. Rogan Davies is the CEO of Rhino Energy Solutions...
#PODCAST Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa (CHOC) urges early detection and support during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - September marks Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, with experts calling on more communities to make a difference in the fight against the disease.This year's global campaign under the theme, "Turn the World Gold," aims to shine a light on childhood cancer and the importance of early detection. In South Africa, around 1,000 children are diagnosed with cancer every year, although many cases are believed to go undetected. Regional Manager for the Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa (CHOC) in KwaZulu-Natal, Agie Govender explains some of the challenges facing children and families affected by cancer, and why greater awareness could help save lives...
#PODCAST KZN Tourism and Film Authority drives initiative to boost economic empowerment for women #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - The KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority wrapped up Women's month by bringing industry stakeholders together to strengthen opportunities for women in the province's tourism and film sectors. A stakeholder session was held in Durban yesterday focused on greater participation, inclusion and economic empowerment for women across both industries. The engagement looked at some of the challenges women face, while exploring initiatives and partnerships aimed at creating greater access and opportunities for growth. Interim Chief Operating Officer (COO) at KZN Tourism and Film, Phindile Makwakwa says collaboration will be key to ensuring more women can participate meaningfully and benefit economically from these sectors...
#PODCAST SACAP to host inaugural architecture education conference at UCT to address industry challenges #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - South African Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP) will hold its inaugural Education Conference at the University of Cape Town on the 10th and 11th of this month, bringing together local and international voices to debate the future of architecture in South Africa. The conference comes as the profession faces mounting pressure from rapid urbanization, climate change, infrastructure challenges and the rise of artificial intelligence. Government, regulators, academics, students and built-environment professionals will examine whether current education, training and registration systems are preparing architects for these challenges. President of SACAP, Charles Nduku elaborates...
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