Lotus FM News Break
#PODCAST International Men's Day 2025: Experts emphasize the need to prioritise mental and physical health conditions #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Senior Producer Taresh Harreeparshad - Strong families start with healthy men. That's a point being emphasised ahead of International Men's Day on Wednesday. This comes as men's mental and physical health conditions often get swept under the carpet- due to societal stigma about masculinity. Yet about 79% of suicide deaths in South Africa are men. In this week's Wellness Wakeup 1Life Insurance Chief Medical Officer Dr Avron Urison explains why it's so important for men to take control of their health...
#PODCAST Newly crowned Mrs South Africa - Verushka Singh looks to tackle environmental challenges and climate change #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - The newly crowned 2026 Mrs South Africa is ready to share the human side of environmental challenges and climate change. 39-year-old Verushka Singh received the honour on the weekend and is the first South African of Indian origin to hold the title. The Johannesburg chemical engineer and climate change strategist says she remains in shock after being crowned. Singh reacts to her win...
#PODCAST Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Telemedicine "crucial" in the fight against cancer, says Roche South Africa #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Shanell Daniel - Real action is needed to help people who are fighting health battles like cancer. That's according to Head of Communications at Roche South Africa, Gugulethu Makhubo. She says the integration of Artificial Intelligence, telemedicine and digital health platforms not only save lives but also unlock billions of dollars in economic value. Makhubo says when innovation meets partnership, lives can be saved and protected...
#PODCAST Sociologist Professor Ashwin Desai commemorates 165 years since the arrival of Indians to South Africa #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Senior Producer Taresh Harreeparshad - Descendants of the 1860 Indentured Indian Labourers converged on Durban's South Beach yesterday to mark 165 years since the arrival of Indians in South Africa. The day saw dignitaries, civil society and even the elderly reflect on the gains made by Indian sugar cane farmers in South Africa. Sociologist Prof. Ashwin Desai explains how significant this contribution has been...
165 Years since Indentured Indian Labourer's arrived in SA: the legacy continues to inspire #sabcnews
-by Newsbreak's Taresh Harreeparshad. Descendants of the 1860 Indentured Indian Labourer's converged on Durban's South Beach to mark 165 years since the arrival of Indians in South Africa. The day saw dignitaries, civil society and even the elderly reflect on the gains made by Indian sugar cane farmers in South Africa. In this special broadcast we discuss how significant the contribution by the 1860 Indentured Indian Labourer's has been, 165 years on...
Scoring service delivery in South Durban ahead of a Local Government Election year #sabcnews
-by Newsbreak's Taresh Harreeparshad. Local Government Elections are expected to be held next year. But have the promises from previous elections been kept? Newsbreak Talk decided to get the conversation started- by speaking to local organisations in the south of Durban to assess the state of service delivery ahead of next years polls...
#PODCAST Fixing the basics: Thabiso Ndebele on SA’s municipal-money crisis
By Newsbreak Producer, Taliesha Naidoo - When taps run dry or rubbish piles up, frustration is instant, but the real crisis often starts long before the service collapses. Across South Africa, municipalities are expected to deliver clean water, collect waste and maintain roads, yet many are running on financial fumes. A new World Bank report shows our municipal debt is just 0.8% of GDP - far lower than other middle-income countries - meaning most towns simply can't borrow to fix or build infrastructure. We spoke to Thabiso Ndebele, managing director, Ntiyiso Revenue Consulting part of the Ntiyiso Consulting Group, who wrote an opinion piece about this. He says there is no quick fix, but there is a clear path....
#PODCAST Record October rainfall triggers flooding, impacts infrastructure - and raises SA food price concerns #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - It's been one of the wettest Octobers on record and the South African Weather Service says some parts of the country saw more than four times their usual rainfall. From Limpopo to the Free State, fields are flooded, rivers are rising, and communities are counting the cost. Senior Manager for Disaster Risk Reduction at the South African Weather Service Rudzani Malala, says the impact has been widespread - affecting farms, roads, and even water supply systems. He explains the shift in weather patterns and the direct impact on food prices in the country...
#PODCAST Economist explains why SA's energy crisis and unequal labour market practices continue to hinder growth #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - A leading insurance firm believes the energy crisis and unequal labour market practices continue to hinder economic growth for South Africa. According to Coface Africa Economist, Aroni Chaudhuri, says the economy has been stagnant for the past 15 years, underperforming against most emerging economies globally. Chaudhuri says while reforms and policies are in the place, a much greater concerted effort is needed to get the ball rolling...
#PODCAST A new study by University of Pretoria researchers uncovers the science behind the long limbs of a giraffe #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - A new study published in the Journal of Experimental Biology by researchers from the University of Pretoria and the University of Adelaide reveals the primary function of the giraffe's long legs is to reduce blood pressure and save energy. The long legs effectively raise the heart closer to the brain, lessening the already massive energy cost - estimated to be a saving of 1.5 tonnes of food per year - required by the giraffe's heart to pump blood up its long neck. This evolutionary adaptation, which saw giraffes develop long legs before long necks, helps the animal manage the extreme physiological demands of its height, diverting saved energy toward critical tasks like fighting and reproducing. The study was conducted by Professor Edward Snelling, an experimental physiologist...
#PODCAST Newsbreak Fishing Report - 14 November 2025 #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - Cast away with this week's Newsbreak Fishing Report, brought to you by KZN angler Sanjay Ramsarup...
#PODCAST KwaZulu-Natal's Great Outdoors Expo 2025 opens its doors for adventure enthusiasts this weekend #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Prodcuer Hoosen Ebrahim - KwaZulu-Natal is gearing up for one of its biggest outdoor showcases of the year - the Great Outdoors Expo 2025 - set to take over the Durban Exhibition Centre this weekend. From rugged 4x4s and camping gear to hiking trails, motorbikes, and local travel hotspots, this expo promises to be a paradise for anyone who loves the great outdoors. Organizer Damian Bradley explains the educational aspect on offer at the show...
#PODCAST Purple Profile movement gathers momentum in a bid to highlight the role women play in the country's economic growth #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Thousands of women are standing with advocacy group Women for Change, who are calling for a women's stay-away a day before the start of the G20 summit, to highlight the crucial role women play in the country's economic growth. More than 25-thousand people, mostly women changed their social media profile photos purple in support of the initiative. The demonstrations aim to highlight the social and economic impact of women's absence by protesters refraining from all forms of paid and unpaid labour for a day. Director of Acumen Media, Tonya Khoury says there have been more than 150-thousand engagements on such posts over the last week - as women from all walks of life share their stories as survivors of GBV and stand in solidarity with each other - with the aim of just being heard...
#PODCAST New study by FoodForward SA reveals a deepening food insecurity crisis, affecting approximately 16 million people #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - A new study commissioned by FoodForward SA and the University of Cape Town has revealed a deepening food insecurity crisis in South Africa, affecting approximately 16 million people. Driven by high food prices, unemployment and stagnant incomes - the research identifies the Eastern Cape as the epicenter. It also found severe food insecurity highest among female - and youth-headed households. FoodForward SA MD Andy du Plessis says there's now an urgent need for collective interventions...
#PODCAST Crocworld's preview their WildED Adventure Camp - a programme that aims to provide a digital detox for children #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Executive Producer Salma Patel - Children now have the opportunity to enjoy their school holidays in the wild. The WildED Adventure Camp aims to provide a digital detox for children aged 8 to 13 years of age at the Crocworld Conservation Centre at Scottburgh on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast. The camp, which runs from 15-19 December, promises outdoor challenges, caring for animals, lighthouse hikes, and many other adventures. Matt Matchell-Cox - the co-owner at WildED Africa and the Programme Director has more than two decades of local and international experience organising adventure camps and he says this is a very different holiday experience for children...
#PODCAST SA's economic policy undergoes a significant shift, as Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana presents his mini budget #sabcnews
South Africa's economic policy underwent a significant shift during the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) yesterday, as the government officially announced a reduction in its long-standing inflation target from a range of 3–6% to a new target of 3%. The government indicated that the short-term drawbacks of the change, including reduced revenue collections, are outweighed by the long-term benefits of lower inflation expectations, which will anchor interest rates and support economic growth. This major policy move emerged during the presentation of the mid-term budget by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, where the country's economic growth forecast for the year was simultaneously revised down to 1.2% from the previously projected 1.4%. This report by Naledi Ngcobo...
#PODCAST Gauteng authorities condemn "deliberate & malicious campaign of sabotage" ahead of the G20 Leaders' Summit #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - The Gauteng Provincial Government has condemned a "deliberate and malicious campaign of sabotage" in Johannesburg. Vandals are destroying G20 signage and newly revamped infrastructure ahead of the Leaders' Summit later this month. The acts are specifically targeting recently repaired streetlights, traffic signals and official G20 signage. The government views this as an attempt to undermine the country's image and reverse significant infrastructure investment. Gauteng Spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga urges the public to help police arrest the criminals involved in what he calls a coordinated campaign...
#PODCAST Black Friday Warning: Shoppers urged to be aware of cyber scams amid the discount frenzy #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Taliesha Naidoo - Black Friday has become one of the most anticipated shopping events in South Africa, attracting thousands of shoppers both in-store and online. While the promise of massive discounts excites consumers, it also provides an ideal opportunity for fraudsters to exploit unsuspecting buyers...
#PODCAST National Shelter Movement join the Department of Social Development to host the annual GBV Shelter Indaba #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - In an effort to strengthen the country's response to Gender Based Violence and Femicide, the National Shelter Movement of South Africa (NSMSA) and the Department of Social Development have joined forces to host the 5th annual GBV Shelter Indaba. The three-day event began yesterday in Johannesburg, brings together role players from women's shelters, government, and civil society. KwaZulu-Natal Representative for the Movement, Nadia Munsamy breaks down the various session and topics that discussions will focus on...
#PODCAST AKA murder suspects extradited to South Africa
By Newsbreak Producer, Tashlan Naidoo - The two suspected AKA hitmen are expected to appear before the Durban Magistrates court this afternoon. Malusi and Siyabonga Ndimande arrived by charter plane from Mbabane where eSwatini authorities surrendered them to Interpol in terms of an extradition order. Upon arrival at Durban's King Shaka International Airport, the brothers were led to an office in leg irons where they were formally charged in connection with the 2023 murder of rapper Kiernan 'AKA' Forbes and his friend Tebello 'Tibz' Motsoane in Durban. SABC reporter, Dries Liebenberg is following the story and brings us an update...
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