Lotus FM News Break
Schools urged to do their homework before renting out their facilities #sabcnews
-by Newsbreak's Taresh Harreeparshad. The Department of Basic Education is investigating Glenhaven Secondary School in Verulam, north of Durban- after the school was left in state of chaos. It is alleged that the school premises was rented out for an Easter celebration. But according to community members- an animal was slaughtered at the school. This resulted in animal remains and blood smeared across the classroom. Meanwhile Public Works and Infrastructure MEC in KwaZulu-Natal Martin Meyer is expected to release a report about Havenpark Secondary School, north of Durban, for allegedly turning their sport field into a bus and truck depot. These incidents have opened a critical debate about whether or not schools should lease their property to private entities for commercial use. Take a listen...
#PODCAST ANALYSIS: DA gears up for decisive federal congress
By Newsbreak Producer, Taliesha Naidoo - The Democratic Alliance heads into a pivotal elective congress this weekend, with a leadership shake-up on the cards as long-time figures such as Helen Zille and John Steenhuisen step aside. But it's the emergence of an unexpected challenger that's turning heads - relatively unknown Sibusiso Dyonase has entered the race at the eleventh hour to take on frontrunner and Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis. Is this a sign of a more competitive, democratic DA or deeper divisions within the party? We unpack this with independent political commentator - Professor Pieter Duvenage....
#PODCAST Minister Macpherson visits illegally occupied police station in Carletonville
By Newsbreak Producer, Tashlan Naidoo - The Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson has raised concern over abandoned Government properties being illegally occupied and used for criminal activities. The Minister today conducted a visit to an illegally occupied police station in Carletonville as part of a broader government push to reclaim hijacked state properties. The visit forms part of the broader "Operation Bring Back" campaign, aimed at restoring government buildings that have been unlawfully taken over. The affected station is located within the Merafong City Local Municipality, where several state properties are reportedly under illegal occupation. SABC reporter, Culvin Mabasa is there and brings us an update...
#PODCAST Suspects in AKA, Tibz murder case abandon bail application
By Newsbreak Producer, Tashlan Naidoo - The two brothers linked to the murder of rapper Kiernan "AKA" Forbes and his friend Tebello "Tibz" Motshoane have once again abandoned their bail. The Durban Magistrate's Court was today expected to hear Siyabonga and Malusi Ndimande's bail application. During the last proceedings, the brothers informed the court through their legal representatives, that they would now seek bail after previously abandoning their first application. The Ndimande siblings were extradited from Eswatini last year. They were then transferred to the Ebongweni Super Maximum Correctional Facility in Kokstad in January, due to security concerns. They are due back in court next week Friday. SABC reporter, Celumusa Zulu was at court and brings us an update....
#PODCAST Newsbreak Fishing Report - 10 April 2026 #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Hoosen Ebrahim - Cast away with this week's Newsbreak Fishing Report, brought to you by KZN angler Sanjay Ramsarup...
#PODCAST eThekwini Ratepayers Protest Movement threaten mass action in contestation of proposed municipal tariff increases #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Civil society group, the eThekwini Ratepayers Protest Movement (ERPM) are threatening mass action in contestation to the proposed 2026/2027 tariff increases. Mayor Cyril Xaba in his recent Draft Budget Policy Statement announced a proposed electricity tariff increase of 10-point-5 percent for business and residential consumers. The proposed Water tariff increase is 16 percent for business and 15 percent for residential. The proposed sanitation tariff increase is 14 percent for business and 13 percent for residential, while the proposed tariff increase for refuse is 13 percent for residential consumers. Following a mass meeting held earlier this week, concerned residents and organisations expressed frustration toward the proposed increases, calling it unaffordable amid a climate of poor service delivery. Chairperson of the Movement, Asad Gaffar explains the options put forward by residents in taking this matter forward...
#PODCAST No More Excuses: UP experts slam state neglect, as millions face a "water justice" crisis #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - Experts from the University of Pretoria are warning that South Africa's water crisis is a failure of water justice, as millions remain without safe and reliable access. This crisis is particularly acute in KwaZulu-Natal, where major hubs like eThekwini and Msunduzi face critical wastewater collapses and ongoing water curtailments due to neglected infrastructure. Postdoctoral fellow Dr. Olayinka Adeniyi stresses that the state must stop offering justifications and instead treat these persistent service failures as a direct violation of human rights...
#PODCAST Pressure mounts as civil society groups call for the release of the National Register for Sex Offenders #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Taliesha Naidoo - Pressure is mounting on the South African justice system as civil society groups are calling for the release of the National Register for Sex Offenders. Civil rights organisation - Action Society has launched a national campaign demanding the immediate publication of the register to help protect women and children. Last year, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi said efforts were under way to ensure the NRSO would be accessible to the public. Juanita du Preez, the national spokesperson for Action Society says despite this, the register remains inaccessible to the public, putting vulnerable lives at risk...
#PODCAST The Long Road to Recovery: What the US-Iran ceasefire means for South Africa #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Economists believe that while markets have responded positively to the US-Iran ceasefire, the economic shock will take a long time for economies to recover. The rand strengthened against the US, while oil prices significantly dropped in the hours following the ceasefire agreement. But with the impact already being felt on economies across the globe, what does this mean for South Africa. Chief economist at the Efficient Group, Dawie Roodt says it could take years for economies to recover, should this ceasefire last and the strait remain open...
#PODCAST From giant wasps to microscopic jellyfish - the hunt is on for the animal kingdom's most painful sting #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - From the flesh-eating venom of the executioner wasp to a microscopic jellyfish that induces a terrifying sense of "impending doom" - researchers are documenting the outer limits of human agony in order to crown the world's most painful sting. This investigation into the animal kingdom's most potent chemical defenses found that some survivors even liken their experiences to heavyweight boxing rounds and active volcanoes. Matthew finds out more in this week's Greenscene...
#PODCAST Department of Trade, Industry and Competition offer glimmer of hope for the embattled Tongaat Hulett sugar mill #sabcnews
Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Zuko Godlimpi, says there's still hope to save the embattled Tongaat Hulett, which faces a possible liquidation. Godlimpi was speaking during a visit to the re-launch of the Gledhow Mill in Stanger, in KwaZulu-Natal. He says government is working with various stakeholders, including AmaZulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini to try and rescue the company. This comes as uncertainty grows among farmers and communities who supply the company with sugarcane. These cane growers say they remain in the dark about the company's future. Celumusa Zulu reports...
#PODCAST The Shri Vishnu Temple recall the lasting legacy of magazine barracks icon John Kisten #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Taliesha Naidoo - Tributes continue to pour in for a doyen of history and culture - John Kisten. Kisten passed away on Tuesday evening, aged 91. Known affectionately as "Appa" in the Chatsworth community and his life story reflects the painful history of forced removals from the Magazine Barracks during apartheid. Vernon Gounden from the Chatsworth Magazine Barracks Shri Vishnu Temple says that Kisten was a towering figure in the community and a steadfast pillar of strength...
#PODCAST Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife issue a warning of elephant overpopulation at various provincial game reserves #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Taliesha Naidoo - Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife has issued an urgent warning of elephant overpopulation at some of KwaZulu-Natal's iconic game reserves. The organisation says Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, Tembe Elephant Park, Ithala and uMkhuze Game Reserves are all under severe pressure. It warns that elephant numbers are exceeding capacity and threatening vegetation, biodiversity and the elephants' own survival. Spokesperson Musa Mntambo says they are now calling for swift relocation plans...
#PODCAST ANALYSIS: US and Iran agree on conditional two-week ceasefire
By Newsbreak Producer, Tashlan Naidoo - Iran and the US have agreed to a conditional two-week ceasefire, during which shipping traffic will be allowed through the Strait of Hormuz. This comes more than a month after the US and Israel launched co-ordinated attacks on Iran. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who has been mediating negotiations, announced during the early hours of this morning that the ceasefire was effective immediately. As part of the agreement, Iran agreed to allow vessels through the Hormuz Strait for two weeks, with their passage co-ordinated by the Iranian military. Iran also issued a 10-point plan, which includes, among other things, the complete cessation of war in Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen, lifting sanctions on Iran, the release of Iranian funds and frozen assets held by the US, compensation for reconstruction costs and that Iran commits to not seeking possession of any nuclear weapons. Taliesha Naidoo unpacks the matter further is, Professor of International Law at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), Hennie Strydom....
#PODCAST Remembering John Kisten: A guardian of Chatsworth’s history and culture
By Newsbreak Producer, Taliesha Naidoo - The community of Chatsworth, south of Durban is mourning the loss of a towering figure - a cultural leader, mentor, and spiritual guide - John Kisten. Known affectionately as "Appa," Kisten passed away yesterday evening, aged 91. Kisten's life story mirrors the painful history of forced removals from the Magazine Barracks during apartheid, but also the resilience that followed. From the destruction of homes and sacred spaces, including the historic Shri Vishnu Temple, he emerged as a unifying force. For decades, he nurtured faith, preserved cultural traditions, and guided generations. Today, we reflect on a legacy that helped shape the identity of an entire community with author, historian and a dear friend - Kiru Naidoo
#PODCAST Former MKP Secretary-General, Dr Bongani Mncwango joins the IFP
By Newsbreak Producer, Tashlan Naidoo - Former MK Party Secretary-General, Dr Bongani Mncwango, has joined the IFP. Mncwango has just been unveiled during a media briefing held by the IFP in Durban. He was removed from his position in the MKP last month. SABC News reporter, Zanele Buthelezi has more details...
#PODCAST Iran and the United States agree to a conditional two-week ceasefire and the re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz #sabcnews
INTRO: U.S. President Donald Trump has agreed to a proposal from Pakistan's Prime Minister to hold off on a promised military escalation against Iran for a period of two weeks, contingent to Iran agreeing to completely open the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier, Pakistan's Prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif - in his role as mediator along with Egypt, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia - indicated on social media that diplomatic efforts for a peaceful settlement of the conflict were progressing steadily with the potential to lead to substantive results in the near future. Pakistan also requested Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz as a goodwill gesture and for all warring parties in the region to cease fire for two weeks to allow diplomacy to achieve a conclusive termination of the war. Sherwin Bryce-Pease reports that the oil price continues to drop on the news...
#PODCAST Organised by Parkinson's ZA - we preview the 4th Annual Walk for Parkinson's - set for Durban's Snake Park Beach #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - Durban's North Beach will host the 4th Annual Walk for Parkinson's later this month* - bringing together patients, families and supporters to mark World Parkinson's Awareness Month. This year's event features prominent neurologist Dr. Ferzana Amod as a guest speaker, offering her insights into living well with the condition. Organized by Parkinson's ZA, the morning walk remains a vital platform for raising awareness and promoting an active lifestyle within the local community. The founding director of Parkinsons ZA is Mr. Rakesh Harribhai... *The walk takes place on Saturday the 18th of April at the Snake Park Beach 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
#PODCAST Elderly beneficiaries in Phoenix forced to endure hours in long queues as they try to access their social grants #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Taliesha Naidoo - Elderly grant beneficiaries in Phoenix, north of Durban say they are being forced to endure hours in long queues as they try to access basic social support. Many say they arrive early in the morning at the SASSA offices in Phoenix, only to wait the entire day in difficult conditions, with little to no assistance. Yesterday, frustration mounted at the offices as residents waited in snaking queues under the scorching sun. Community members and leaders are now calling for urgent intervention. Local councilor, Dr. Jonathan Annipen says it's of grave concern that vulnerable individuals are being treated with a lack of dignity... UPDATE: Newsbreak contacted SASSA in KZN for a comment. However, no comment was received by the time of broadcast.
#PODCAST Calls for investigations intensify after a Brindhaven school was allegedly rented out for an Easter weekend gathering #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Residents and community leaders from Brindhaven in Verulam north of Durban are calling for an investigation into allegations that a local school was rented out for an Easter weekend gathering. It is alleged that around four-hundred people stayed on the Glenhaven Secondary School premises where they conducted traditional formalities including the slaughter of an animal. Local councillor, Johnson Chetty explains the state in which he found the school following complaints from residents....
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