Lotus FM News Break
Keeping the Diwali spirit alive at the SAHMS's Durban Diwali Festival #sabcnews
-by Newsbreak's Taresh Harreeparshad Is the Diwali spirit dimming? That's a question that has been asked as the Hindu Festival of Lights descends. This comes as urbanisation, modernisation and the high cost of living redefines the way traditional living finds expression in 2025. But a counter question being asked at the South African Hindu Maha Sabha's Durban Diwali Festival is: whose job is it to keep the Diwali alive? We spoke to various voices at the Festival and learnt that it all starts with You.
#PODCAST Newsbreak Live Broadcast from the Red Mango Arts Festival celebrating 165 Years of Indian-Arrival to SA in Theatre #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producers, Taliesha Naidoo and Tashlan Naidoo, Executive Producer, Salma Patel & Senior Producer, Taresh Harreeparshad - The Red Mango Arts Festival underway at Sastri College in Durban is a celebration of theater, the arts and good heritage food as a tribute to the 165th Anniversary of the Arrival of Indian Indentured Labourers to South Africa. Newsbreak interviewed several theater aficionados including historians, actors and actresses and festival-goers. This extended broadcast was live from the festival.
#PODCAST There's been concerning findings following the release of the 2025 State of Workforce Mental Health Report #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Concern is mounting after the 2025 State of Workforce Mental Health Report revealed that 84% of South African employees surveyed, say work-related mental health issues negatively impact their performance, a 24% increase from last year. The report compiled by employee wellness and consultancy firm, Lyra South Africa also stated that 90% of affected workers did not receive any support. Managing Director at Lyra South Africa, Navlika Ratangee says burnout amongst the younger generation is also a stark finding that needs to be addressed...
#PODCAST Focused Ultrasound Revolutionises Oncology: Histotripsy mechanically destroys tumors with microbubbles #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - High-frequency sound waves, traditionally used for imaging, are now revolutionizing oncology with a non-invasive technique known as "Histotripsy". This relatively new method mechanically destroys tumours with expanding micro bubbles. These sound-based methods are offering patients a promising alternative to traditional, more devastating treatments like surgery and high-dose chemotherapy. In this report I find out more about histotripsy and the ushering in of a new era in advanced cancer treatment...
#PODCAST Second witness Fannie Masemola says the Police Minister never informed him about the disbanding of the KZN PKTT #sabcnews
National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, says Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu, who has been placed on special leave, never informed him about the disbanding of the KwaZulu-Natal Political Killings Task Team. Masemola says Mchunu never expressed any reservations about its work. Abongwe Kobokana reports...
#PODCAST Newsbreak Fishing Report - 10 October 2025 #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - Cast away with this week's Newsbreak Fishing Report, brought to you by KZN angler Sanjay Ramsarup...
#PODCAST Media Under Fire: MMA slams Mkhwanazi's call for counterintelligence probe
By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Watchdog body, Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) has described as 'grossly irresponsible' the request by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, that state security must conduct a counterintelligence investigation against the South African news media. The comments were made by Mkhwanazi at the parliamentary ad-hoc committee - investigating allegations of threats to national security. Mkhwanazi also raised concerns of sensitive crime intelligence information being leaked to the media and how some journalists err in their reporting of it. Director of media Monitoring Africa (MMA) William Bird says this is ironic, because if it was not for the media and such information leaks, we would not have known about the Gupta leaks and other corruption related matters....
#PODCAST Uncertain Peace: PSC reacts to proposed Gaza ceasefire deal
By Newsbreak Producer, Tashlan Naidoo - Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) is uncertain about the plan to end the war between Israel and Hamas coming to fruition. Hamas announced today that it has reached an agreement to end the war in the Gaza Strip, ensure the withdrawal of Israeli forces, allow the entry of humanitarian aid, and carry out a prisoner exchange. The announcement came following three days of indirect talks between Hamas and Israel in Egypt's resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh, brokered by the United States, Qatar, Egypt and Türkiye to negotiate a peace plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. Co-ordinator of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) is Usuf Chikte....
#PODCAST Lt. Gen. Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi accuses DA MP Diane Kohler Barnard of breaking the law over classified info #sabcnews
KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, has insisted that DA MP, Diane Kohler Barnard, has broken the law by obtaining and sharing classified information. He was testifying for the second day (WEDNESDAY 8 October) before Parliament's Ad Hoc committee looking into concerns around national security. The committee was established to probe allegations of criminal infiltration, corruption, and political interference in the criminal justice system, that Mkhwanazi made in July. On Tuesday, Mkhwanazi's evidence was led by the evidence leader, advocate Norman Arendse, and yesterday he faced questions from members of the committee. Zalene Merrington reports...
#PODCAST Nathi Mthetwa to receive a Special Official Category 2 Funeral, that will include ceremonial honours by the police #sabcnews
South Africa's late ambassador to France Nathi Mthetwa will receive a special official category 2 funeral, that will include ceremonial honors by the police. This announcement was made by KwaZulu-Natal Premier -- Thami Ntuli -- during a visit to the Mthethwa homestead in the KwaMthethwa area at KwaMbonambi on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast. Ntuli was accompanied by MECs and mayors. Mthethwa died after falling from the 22nd floor of a hotel in Paris last week. He will be laid to rest this Sunday (12/10). Nonhlakanipho Magwaza reports...
#PODCAST Climate change to top the agenda at next week's final G20 Environment & Climate Sustainability Working Group #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - Climate change and green energy will be top of the agenda at the Final G20 Environment & Climate Sustainability Working Group next week. Various stakeholders from South Africa and across the globe will convene to adopt the final G20 Ministerial Declaration, which will reflect a consensus on global environmental governance. This is ahead of the G20 Summit taking place in Johannesburg this November. Deputy Director-General for Climate Change and Air Quality Management in the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), Maesela Kekana is hopeful that multi-nation collaborations will be formed during this meeting...
#PODCAST The 29th Poetry Africa Festival - underway in Durban - enters its thrilling Slam Jam competition phase #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - The 29th edition of the Poetry Africa Festival is currently electrifying Durban, running from October 6–11, featuring a world-class line-up: from home-grown talents to international stars. Curated by Siphindile Hlongwa, the festival blends spoken word, music and cultural conversations - living up to its theme of "building a better world with words." Hlongwa says the week will culminate in the highly anticipated Slam Jam finals, where the South African Slam Champion will be crowned to represent the nation at the World Championships... * For a complete program and ticket details, visit the Poetry Africa website - poetryafrica.ukzn.ac.za
#PODCAST Big local news stories garner over four million engagements and comments on social media platforms #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - The death of the late South African Ambassador to France, Nathi Mthethwa and KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi's testimony at the Madlanga Commission has garnered over four million engagements and comments on social media over the last week. 16-percent of the engagements expressed skepticism about the circumstances leading to Mthethwa's death, while 40-percent of people were concerned that the commission of inquiry over Mkhwanazi's allegations is a waste of taxpayers' money. Managing Director of Acumen Media Management, Tonya Khoury breaks down the sentiment expressed by online users about these two top stories...
#PODCAST ANC Youth League in KwaZulu-Natal call on the party to leave the Government of Provincial Unity #sabcnews
The ANC Youth League in KwaZulu-Natal has called on the party to leave the Government of Provincial Unity. The Youth League is accusing the IFP and DA of deliberately sabotaging and targeting all government departments and municipalities led by the ANC. The ANC joined the government of provincial unity with the IFP, DA and NFP after it dismally failed to get an outright majority in the 2024 elections. The ANC support base plunged from 54 percent to 17 percent in the polls. This, while the MK Party received the lion's share, obtaining 45 percent of the votes. Nonjabulo Mntungwa-Makamu reports...
#PODCAST Parliament's ad hoc committee set up to investigate national security allegations, gets off to a rocky start #sabcnews
Parliament's ad hoc committee set up to investigate allegations around national security, got off to a rocky start, after MPs were unhappy that they would receive a supplementary statement, in addition to the same statement deposed to the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry. The committee was established to assess the wide-ranging claims of criminal infiltration, corruption, and political interference within the criminal justice system, made by KwaZulu-Natal Police commissioner Lt-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. He is the committee's first witness. The unhappiness from MPs resulted in an initial break of an hour. The committee continued behind doors to discuss the matter of the statement. Zalene Merrington reports...
#PODCAST Pretoria's Iconic Jacarandas: How an invasive species became celebrated and adored in South Africa #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Matthew Veeran - Pretoria, also known as Jacaranda City, is famous for the beautiful jacaranda trees, which draw tourists from around the world when they burst into bloom from late September through October. These trees have become synonymous with the City of Tshwane's identity, but they face threats from urbanization, age-related ailments, and over-pruning, which prevents natural rainwater from reaching their roots and may allow diseases to penetrate. Despite being considered an invasive species from Brazil, jacarandas have an exclusion clause in South African legislation that allows for more to be planted, though only in urban areas. Matthew found out more about these brilliant purple wonders in this report...
#PODCAST UKZN plan to use its new state-of-the-art mobile clinic to deliver critical eye care to rural communities #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Tashlan Naidoo - The University of KwaZulu-Natal's Discipline of Optometry will be using its newly acquired state of the art mobile eye clinic to deliver critical eye care to rural communities and those who do not have access across the province. The clinic which was donated by the South African Muslim Charitable Trust (SAMCT), will also be used as training by optometry students. Head of the Discipline of Optometry at UKZN, Dr Naimah Ebrahim Khan, says during practical rotations, optometry students identified several undiagnosed eye-health issues within rural communities, affecting the young and aged alike...
#PODCAST Breast Cancer jumps five-fold among young SA women, prompting calls for early screening & self-exams #sabcnews
By Newsbreak Producer Taliesha Naidoo - Breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer among South African women, but alarming trends are emerging, especially among younger age groups. According to the Breast Imaging Society of South Africa (BISSA) around 20% of breast cancer cases occur in women under 40, a stark contrast to the 5–7% seen in high-income nations. BISSA Chair, Dr Peter Schoub says there is an urgent need for women to conduct routine self-examinations and regular screening, beginning as early as in their twenties...
#PODCAST The family of the late Nathi Mthethwa - who died in Paris last week - are hoping to bury him this Sunday #sabcnews
The family of the late Nathi Mthethwa - who died after falling from the 22nd floor of a hotel in Paris last week - are hoping to bury him this coming Sunday (12/10). Mthethwa - who was South Africa's ambassador to France - died at the age of 58. His family says the date for the funeral is subject to change, pending the finalization of the repatriation processes in France. Nonjabulo Mntungwa-Makamu reports...
#PODCAST Nathi Mthethwa's family prepares for repatriation amid mourning
By Newsbreak Producer, Taliesha Naidoo - Members of Nathi Mthethwa's family are expected to leave for France in preparation for the repatriation of his remains back to South Africa. Mthethwa died last week at the age of 58 after falling from the 22nd floor of a hotel in France. SABC News reporter, Nonjabulo Mntungwa Makamu has traveled to KwaMbonambi where mourners have been paying their respects ...
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