Lotus FM News Break
Putting a human face to mental health challenges #sabcnews
-by Newsbreak's Taresh Harreeparshad. Mental health advocacy is certainly on the up-take this Mental Health Awareness Month. The KZN Mental Health Advocacy Group held it's 10th annual Walk and Wellness Fair in Durban this Sunday. But how much of a human face is placed on the mental health conversation? Jonathan Annipen and Sumanth Joobraj shared their stories of mental health with us...
"We regarded him as a political commissar"- ANC KZN Chairperson Siboniso Duma pays tribute to Nathi Mthethwa #sabcnews
-by Newsbreak's Taresh Harreeparshad. ANC KwaZulu-Natal Chairperson Siboniso Duma has described the late Nathi Mthethwa as a political commissar- saying that he was able to dissect and analyse key parts of the ANC constitution and lead his comrades. Mthethwa died after falling from the 22nd floor of a hotel in Paris this week. Mthethwa was the South African Ambassador to France. A delegation is expected to arrive in France today to investigative the circumstances around his death. Meanwhile Duma reflects on the inspiring role Mthethwa played in the ruling party...
#PODCAST Mandla Mandela's wife, Nosekeni, demands his immediate release
By Newsbreak Producer, Taliesha Naidoo - The wife of Mandla Mandela, Nosekeni, has called for his immediate release. Mandela was detained with other activists following the interception by the Israel navy of the flotilla vessels trying to carry aid to Gaza. Among the other confirmed detainees are acclaimed author Zukiswa Wanner and activist Reaz Moola. SABC News reporter, Nkululeko Nyembezi has more details...
#PODCAST SAMA says R2 Billion looted from Tembisa Hospital is a major setback for SA’s health reform
By Newsbreak Producer, Tashlan Naidoo - The South African Medical Association (SAMA) says the looting of 2-billion-rand from the Tembisa hospital is of great concern amid talks of implementing National health Insurance (NHI). The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) earlier this week revealed extensive corruption, maladministration and procurement fraud at Tembisa Hospital in Johannesburg.It revealed that three criminal syndicates, in collaboration with department officials were responsible for the looting. Vice-Chairperson of SAMA, Dr Zanele Bikitsha is calling for those responsible to be held accountable and the looted funds to be recovered and put back into the system....
#PODCAST Gender Equality in Agriculture: Spotlight on CGIAR Gender Conference
By Newsbreak Producer, Taliesha Naidoo - South Africa is set to host a major global gathering next week as the CGIAR Gender Conference kicks off in Cape Town from 7 to 9 October. The event aims to shed light on gender equality in agriculture ahead of the UN's International Year of the Woman Farmer in 2026. This, as the world faces rising food prices, worsening climate shocks, and mounting pressure on small-scale farmers -especially women and youth - to do more with less. Dr. Karen Nortje, Senior Researcher and Group Leader for Gender Equality and Social Inclusion at the International Water Management Institute in Pretoria says with just five years left to meet the Sustainable Development Goals, gender equality remains a key gap, and a key solution….
#PODCAST Durban #JusticeForPalestine protest demands action and sanctions
By Newsbreak Producer, Salma Patel - A #JusticeForPalestine protest is scheduled to take place in Durban this evening after news emerged that Israeli forces had abducted South African and International activists currently on the Global Sumud Flotilla to Gaza. A video of former President, Nelson Mandela's grandson, Mandla, is doing the rounds on social media stating that he has been abducted by Israeli forces and is appealing to the government to intervene urgently. Nasiha Soomar (SOO-maar) Executive Member of South Africa-Palestine Movement says this evening's protest at Maritime Place in the Durban Harbour, will call for total sanctions against Israel after this interception of the peaceful flotilla heading for Gaza ...
#PODCAST We find out why Indian street food or "chaat" is becoming a popular menu item for South African Diwali celebrations #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Senior Producer Taresh Harreeparshad - Indian street food or chaat is becoming a very popular menu item for Diwali celebrations at home. That's the view of Indian culinary expert Bhumika Bhatt. She says chaat has become a firm favourite for the South African Indian community- with many opting to incorporate it into Diwali festivities this year. Her stand "Chilli and Chaat" will be at the Durban Hindu Temple's Diwali Mela this Sunday where she will share cool display ideas for the festival of lights... * The Diwali Mela runs at the Durban Hindu Temple this Sunday at 10am
#PODCAST Newsbreak Fishing Report - 03 October 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 The Trans African Tourism and Unity Campaign look to secure a visa-free policy for Africans traveling the continent #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - Imagine road-tripping the entire African continent, not just for a holiday, but for a cause that could fundamentally change Africa's future. That's exactly what the Trans African Tourism and Unity Campaign team, led by former Ghanaian MP Ras Mubarak, is doing. Their mission is a monumental one: securing a visa-free policy for Africans travelling in Africa. This continental odyssey is a massive undertaking, spanning 39 countries. The convoy has already reached the 39th country on their itinerary where they plan to depart South Africa tomorrow for their next leg, bringing the call for a united, borderless continent to the next country on their itinerary. Newsbreak spoke to Former Ghana MP and Trans African Tourism & Unity Campaign lead, Ras Mubaruk who expressed disappointed at South Africa's reaction to their proposal...
#PODCAST Majority of the Flotilla boats have been intercepted by Israeli forces and blocked from entering Palestinian waters #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Executive Producer Salma Patel - Most of the boats of the Global Sumud Flotilla have been intercepted by Israeli forces and blocked from entering Palestinian waters. Just one boat, The Mykonos, has entered and is said to be heading towards Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid and medicine. Local activist Chief Mandla Mandela released a video yesterday saying that they had been abducted by Israeli forces. Not all South African activists are traveling in the same boat. Saydoonisa Sayed from the South Africa Palestine Movement says the government is working with civil society to ensure that those South Africans abducted by Israeli forces are brought home safely...
#PODCAST Pretoria veterinarians use the power of 3D printing to successfully save the life of an eight-year-old Pomeranian #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - A team of animal health specialists from the University of Pretoria's (UP) Faculty of Science successfully saved the life of an eight-year-old Pomeranian named Popcorn, who had sustained a severe skull fracture after being bitten by a larger dog. The specialized team at the Onderstepoort Academic Hospital used a CT scan to create a 3D model of her skull, which informed the design and printing of a custom-made titanium plate, used to relieve pressure on her brain. Surgical Resident at the Faculty of Veterinary Science's Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital - Dr. Shannon van Rooyen says Popcorn's journey is celebrated as a story of courage, innovation and hope, showcasing the astonishing advances of modern medicine...
#PODCAST The family of the late Nathi Mthethwa speak out - saying they're devastated about his untimely death #sabcnews
The family of the late Nathi Mthethwa says they are devastated about his untimely death. The 58-year-old ambassador to France died in Paris yesterday after he reportedly fell from the 22nd floor of the Hyatt Regency Hotel. The family gathered at Mthethwa's rural home at KwaMbonambi on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast. Nonjabulo Mntungwa-Makamu reports…
#PODCAST Local businesses urged to adapt their digital commerce offerings - as the global tide continues to shift #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - A rapidly changing global retail landscape, driven by the rise of platforms like TikTok Shop, is now compelling South African businesses to urgently modernise their digital commerce strategies. According to Greg Vercelloti, Commercial Director at Dariel Software, powerful online marketplaces are overtaking traditional online stores, signaling a critical shift in consumer behavior. Vercelloti suggests that local enterprises must adapt to this trend now or risk being left behind by this massive global economic wave...
#PODCAST Despite efforts of a select few, Chatsworth activists say illegal dumping continues unabated #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Activists from Chatsworth south of Durban say illegal dumping is continuing unabated despite the best efforts of some community members in trying to keep the streets and parks clean. Resident and activist, Kay Govender who started the "Chatsworth Community Projects" group in which residents get together to clean the streets, says the situation is getting worse. Govender says it is very sad that residents dispose of refuse and unwanted items in the likes of parks and pathways, creating foul smells and hindering access for children and others to utilise on a daily basis...
#PODCAST President Ramaphosa mourns the tragic death of South African ambassador Nathi Mthethwa in Paris #sabcnews
President Cyril Ramaphosa has paid tribute to the late South African ambassador in France, Nathi Mthethwa. Ramaphosa is saddened by the passing of Mthethwa, who died under tragic circumstances in the French capital at the age of 58. According to the French prosecutor, Mthethwa was found dead outside the Hyatt Regency Hotel in the West of Paris. Ditaba Tsotetsi has more...
#PODCAST National Financial Ombud Scheme warn motorists that poor vehicle maintenance could void insurance claims #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - The National Financial Ombud Scheme (NFO) has issued a stark warning that could leave thousands of insured South African motorists exposed after an accident. The non-life insurance division is standing firm saying poor vehicle maintenance could legally void your insurance claim. The NFO says there is an "unspoken contract" between you and your insurer, and if your car is un roadworthy, that contract is broken. In this interview, the NFO's Edite Teixeira-Mckinon explains how motorists can stay protected and properly insured...
#PODCAST The Inaugural Red Mango Arts Festival to mark 165 years of Indian South Africans with Theatre, Music and Food #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - The inaugural Red Mango Arts Festival will debut at Sastri College in Durban from October 8–11, 2025, marking 165 years since the arrival of Indians in South Africa with a four-day, multi-cultural celebration of theatre, music, and comedy. Conceived by acclaimed actor Rajesh Gopie, the festival features a curated lineup of works, including the Pulitzer-nominated play Letters of Suresh, the classic musical The Boy Friend, and the homegrown South African classic Out of Bounds, aiming to give powerful voice to the resilience and creativity of South African Indians. Gopie says the festival seeks to use the transformative power of performance to reflect on the past, inspire the present and shape a more inclusive future... *You can follow the festival on social media, get your tickets secured via Webtickets and you can call Vidisha on 083 280 6330 for any other festival related queries.
#PODCAST CBi-electric: low voltage warns against installing uncertified and non-compliant electrical products #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Experts in the electrical product sector are warning consumers to refrain from purchasing non-compliant components amid an influx in the market. Electrical product manufacturer, CBi-electric: low voltage says installing uncertified components into their home could have severe consequences. According to the company, the global counterfeit electrical goods market is estimated at around 4-point-5 billion rand. International Export Sales Executive at CBi-electric: low voltage, Khensani Ndobe outlines what consumers should look out when purchasing any electrical product or even when hiring a professional service provider...
#PODCAST Madlanga Commission: WhatsApp messages show cartel payments to the ANC via an associate of Senzo Mchunu #sabcnews
General Dumisani Khumalo who has led the KwaZulu-Natal political killings task team, told the Madlanga Commission that he is in possession of WhatsApp messages demonstrating that alleged cartel member, Vusumuzi "Cat" Matlala, facilitated payments to the ANC through Senzo Mchunu's alleged associate Brown Mogotsi. Matlala who is currently behind bars for attempted murder and money laundering, is believed to be one of the "big five" cartel members who have infiltrated law enforcement agencies. Sibahle Motha reports...
#PODCAST Environmental activists to protest against fossil fuel expansion at Africa Energy Week underway in Cape Town #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Scores of environmental activists, community leaders and citizens from Cape Town will today protest against the expansion of fossil fuel use outside the Africa Energy Week conference. The conference which is Africa's biggest gathering of energy policymakers, companies and investors is being help in Cape Town for the duration of this week. The protest is aimed at highlighting what they call the negative effects of fossil fuels to communities. Mitchelle Mhaka from the African Climate Alliance says such a conference is counter-productive to a just transition to green energy and that many livelihoods are at risk should the expansion of fossil fuel use continue...
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