Lotus FM News Break
DA Leader John Steenhuisen won't seek a third term: where does that leave the party? #sabcnews
-by Newsbreak's Taresh Harreeparshad. What happens to the DA- now that leader John Steenhuisen confirmed that he will not be seeking a third term? Well the party says there are no front runners for the post, because applications have not officially opened. Steenuisen announced that he will not run for DA leadership in order to focus on his government duties as Minister of Agriculture. He cites the need to devote his efforts to fight the foot and mouth outbreak in the country as a key factor influencing his decision. Meanwhile internal party squabbles are also being suggested as a reason for his decision- after former finance chair Dion George has removed from cabinet. Steenhuisen had earlier faced financial misconduct allegations but was cleared by the party's investigations. We spoke to DA spokesperson Karabo Lerato Khakhau and political expert Dr. Levy Ndou...
#PODCAST KZN Premier seeks province to be declared a state of disaster following FMD outbreak
By Newsbreak Producer, Tashlan Naidoo - The KwaZulu-Natal premier, Thami Ntuli says they have put in application to declare a provincial state of disaster following the outbreak of foot and mouth disease. The Premier held a media breifing earlier this morning as calls mounts for the declaration. SABC reporter, Dries Liebenberg has the latest....
#PODCAST Newsbreak Fishing Report - 06 February 2026 #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer, Hoosen Ebrahim - In our fishing report feature, Sanjay Ramsarup updates you on the latest from the angling front...
#PODCAST Health Professions Council arrest another person caught operating as a medical practitioner illegally #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) has arrested yet another person caught operating as a medical practitioner without being registered with Council. The female foreign national was arrested in Midrand, Gauteng where she was temporarily standing in for General Practitioner, Dr Ahmed Kaka. HPCSA Registrar, Dr Magome Masike says action will be taken against both individuals in questions...
#PODCAST Superyacht Training Academy (SYTA) expands maritime education to secure lucrative careers for local talent #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - The NetEd Group has officially announced its acquisition of the Cape Town-based Superyacht Training Academy (SYTA), marking a significant expansion into South Africa's luxury maritime education sector. This strategic move integrates the academy's accredited programs into a larger educational network that includes established institutions like Eduvos and the Isa Carstens Academy. Stuart Loxton, CEO of SYTA, joins us to discuss how this partnership will scale the training of professional crew as the V&A Waterfront prepares to host a new, dedicated superyacht basin. He says the acquisition is perfectly timed to capitalize on the growth of the yachting industry and the increasing international demand for highly skilled SA talent...
#PODCAST The Justice Department publishes draft cannabis regulations - setting possession and cultivation limits #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development has published for public comment the draft regulations for the possession and cultivation of cannabis for private use. This as part of the Cannabis for Private Purposes Regulations. The draft regulations stipulate among others, the maximum amount of cannabis for possession in private or public place, the maximum number of cannabis plants for cultivation in private and the maximum amount of cannabis for transportation...
#PODCAST SASOG issue an urgent safety warning following a tragic maternal death at a midwife-led setting in Pretoria #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - The South African Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (SASOG) has issued an urgent safety warning following a tragic maternal death at a private midwife-led setting in Pretoria. Experts are now highlighting the alarming departures from clinical standards - including the dangerous use of induction drugs and high-risk deliveries being performed without formal hospital backup. SASOG now emphasizes that independent midwife-led care is strictly for low-risk pregnancies and urges expectant families to verify any written emergency agreements with named obstetricians. SASOG President Professor Ismail Bhorat elaborates...
#PODCAST ANALYSIS: Steenhuisen bows out of DA leadership contest
By Newsbreak Producer, Taliesha Naidoo - DA leader John Steenhuisen has announced that he will not seek re-election for the third term as DA leader. Steenhuisen made this announcement during a media briefing in Durban. The DA's Federal Congress is scheduled to take place in April. Steehuisen who is also Minister of Agriculture says he wants to shift his focus in eradicating the Foot-and-Mouth disease. Steenhuisen's political career started 30 years ago. We unpack this further is Chief research specialist in democracy and citizenship at the Human Sciences Research Council, Professor Joleen Steyn-Kotze.....
#PODCAST High Court dismisses Zuma, Thales leave to appeal bid
By Newsbreak Producer, Tashlan Naidoo - The Pietermaritzburg High Court in KwaZulu-Natal has dismissed the application of former president Jacob Zuma and French arms company Thales to be acquitted. Judge Nkosinathi Chili made the ruling earlier this morning. Zuma had applied for leave to appeal Chili's earlier ruling in which he dismissed their application for acquittal. Zuma had joined Thales in the application for acquittal. Zuma and Thales face charges of racketeering, corruption, fraud and money-laundering related to the 1990 controversial multi-billion-rand arms deal. SABC reporter, Dries Liebenberg has the latest....
#PODCAST Adjudicator orders pension fund to pay former security guard - after admin fees wipe out his benefits #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - A pension fund administrator has been ordered to pay a former security guard after failing to trace him for years, even though money was sitting in his name. The Pension Funds Adjudicator found that the Tennant Life Benefit failed in its legal duty to track down the member, allowing his benefit to be wiped out by administration fees. While the main retirement payout was correctly paid by another fund, the ruling raises serious questions about how pension funds treat untraced members - especially when the amounts involved are relatively small. Deputy Pension Funds Adjudicator, Naheem Essop explains...
#PODCAST New report by FoodForward SA finds that 70% of food aided households still suffer from severe hunger #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - A new national report has exposed a crisis in South Africa's social safety net, finding that 70% of households already receiving food assistance remain trapped in moderate-to-severe hunger. The research, conducted by FoodForward SA, reveals a structural failure where one in four families go an entire day without food - despite the country maintaining an overall agricultural surplus. Joining us today is Andy Du Plessis, Managing Director of FoodForward, to discuss the interventions needed to move beyond short-term relief and protect the millions of children facing chronic malnutrition. He joins me to unpack these findings and explain what must be done to break the cycle of food insecurity...
#PODCAST Jo'burg principal's viral Amapiano dance highlights how a positive school culture can assist learning #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Taliesha Naidoo - From TikTok to the classroom, a viral dance is now putting a century-old school in the spotlight. Sacred Heart College, a 101-year-old independent Catholic school in Observatory, Johannesburg, is trending after its principal - Mr. Dhiraj Bharuth took part in the "Zep Amapiano" dance challenge. 2.6 million views later and the video has sparked a different conversation: on how a modern and positive school culture can help shape learning. Newsbreak spoke to Principal Bharuth about what led to the viral moment and what it meant for the school community...
#PODCAST Tshwane Mayor outlines the City's Energy Infrastructure Stabilisation Plan
By Newsbreak Producer, Tashlan Naidoo - The City of Tshwane Mayor, Dr Nasiphi Moya has outlined the City's Energy Infrastructure Stabilisation Plan. The city has been experiencing prolonged power outages, with various unstable substations tripping and leaving residents without electricity for days and sometimes even weeks. Centurion and Pretoria East are among the worst affected areas. SABC reporter, Luyanda Danca is following the story and brings us an update...
#PODCAST Schools in Pinetown report disconnection of municipal services
By Newsbreak Producer, Taliesha Naidoo - Schools in the Pinetown District have had their electricity disconnected, Acacia Primary School has had both its water and electricity supply disconnected. According to teacher union, NAPTOSA, these disconnections were carried out without the mandatory notice of disconnection being issued to the affected schools. As a result, the schools are currently unable to operate effectively. We speak to NAPTOSA's Thirona Moodley....
#PODCAST ANALYSIS: John Steenhuisen expected to exit DA leadership race
By Newsbreak Producer, Taliesha Naidoo - DA Leader John Steenhuisen has announced that he will not be standing for re-election as party leader. He will address the media in Durban tomorrow where he started his political career some 30 years ago. Despite this developments, the party's Federal Chairperson Helen Zille has denied any tension within party ranks. We unpack this with political commentator, Professor Pieter Duvenage...
#PODCAST Health Department launch HPV Vaccination Drive specifically for young girls to combat cervical cancer #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - The Department of Health launched its 2026 Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination drive. The programme targets girls aged nine and older, mainly those in Grade 5, as part of ongoing efforts to prevent cervical cancer. Cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women in South Africa, with more than 5,700 cases reported every year and over 3,000 lives lost. Health experts have warned that unvaccinated girls, as well as women living with HIV, face a significantly higher risk. National Department of Health spokesperson Foster Mohale explains why parents should have a positive approach towards this initiative...
#PODCAST Under-resourced PROTEC matriculants outperform the IEB average with a remarkable 91% Bachelor pass rate #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - Matrics from PROTEC's 2025 Learner Excellence Programme have achieved a remarkable 91.4% bachelor pass rate, surpassing the national IEB average despite coming from under-resourced, non-fee-paying schools. The program, which provides specialized support in STEM subjects and English, saw almost 300 learners secure a total of 461 distinctions. PROTEC CEO Balan Moodley says the results prove that targeted educational interventions and student dedication can bridge the resource gap to produce top academic outcomes...
#PODCAST Economist Dawie Roodt explains why the Rand is still undervalued - despite hitting a four-year high #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Economists believe that despite the appreciation made by the rand over the recent past, it is still an undervalued currency. Last week, the rand dropped to below 16-rand to the US dollar for the first time in almost four years. Dawie Roodt says while there are several factors influencing the rand - including geo-political issues, there could be many positives over this year - but it will be a tight rope to walk. Roodt says South Africa is becoming more attractive to foreign investment due to its inflation outlook...
#PODCAST Durban business confidence rebounds after a year-long decline #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Senior Producer Taresh Harreeparshad - Business confidence in Durban showed strong signs of progress- as the Durban Business Confidence Index rose from 52.12 points in the third quarter of 2025 to 63.38 points in the fourth quarter. This is the first improvement after a deteriorating consecutive four quarters. It shows that 6 out of 10 surveyed business executives are satisfied with the existing business conditions in the city. But Research Associate in the Macroeconomics Research Unit at University of KwaZulu-Natal Dr Ntokozo Nzimande cautions that it's still early days to see how far this business confidence will carry the city of eThekwini...
#PODCAST Wellness Wakeup: Thousands brave the Kavady heat as experts share natural sunburn relief tips #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Senior Producer Taresh Harreeparshad - Thousands of Hindu's braved the blazing sun yesterday to observe the festival of Thaipoosam Kavady - which may have left a few a little sun-burnt. Wellness practitioner Esha Parraw says that soothing the skin barrier with some holistic ingredients could really have an impact to heal sunburn and sustain the wholesome magic of the Kavady festival. In this week's Wellness Wake-Up we find out how to soothe sunburn, naturally...
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