Table of contents for 2024-11-27 in Post

THE Underwear Factory Shop is a local gem in Durban central that offers high-quality underwear and lingerie at below-normal retail prices. They also cater to bigger sizes, offering delicate lace bras, comfortable everyday panties, and more. The store carries the @bbcollectionsa in-house brand, offering great quality and trendy items at low prices. The Underwear Factory Shop aims to make everyone feel confident and beautiful without spending a fortune. They offer daily in-store promotions and discounts, and their friendly, knowledgeable staff is always available to help customers find the perfect fit and style. Customers can visit them at 121 KE Masinga (Old Fort Road), Kingsmead Value Centre, or call 060 530 2735. They are also on social media @underwearshopssa (Facebook and Instagram) and @ bbcollectionsa (Facebook, Instagram and TikTok).…

Merewent Cheshire Homes turned 30, and a fund-raising gala dinner was hosted on Wednesday at the Imbizo Room at Sibaya. The event paid tribute to Professor Fatima Mayet Meer. The keynote speaker and guest of honour was businessman Vivian Reddy. At the event were:…

New Delhi: Babies born to mothers with exposure to everyday chemicals present in lotions and shampoos during pregnancy may be at high risk of developing allergic diseases such as asthma, according to a study. Researchers at Kumamoto University, Japan, analysed data from more than 3 500 mother-child pairs to find a potential link between exposure to certain everyday chemicals during pregnancy, and the development of asthma in children. The findings, published in the journal Environmental Pollution, showed that exposure to high levels of butylparaben – a chemical commonly used in personal care products like lotions and shampoos – during early pregnancy, was associated with a 1.54-fold increase in the risk of asthma in children. The study also showed that boys born to mothers exposed to 4-nonylphenol – a chemical found…

A CONVICTED killer testified in court last week that Hare Krishna devotee Vikash Brian Sewnath had paid him cash in a brown envelope for “getting the job done” – killing Sunil Brijmohan. He said he had to wait for his payment as Sewnath was busy with Brijmohan’s funeral arrangements. Brijmohan, a businessman, was shot and killed at a construction site in Cato Crest in Amanzimtoti, on October 21, 2022. In December 2022, Santure Kirwin Mkhize and Al-Barakh Jaleel Van Rooyen from Bayview in Chatsworth were convicted of Brijmohan’s murder and sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment. They have both turned State witness. Sewnath, 46, has been fingered as the alleged mastermind of Brijmohan’s murder. He, along with his three co-accused – Vernon Chetty, 26, Farah Moosa, 25, and Sibusiso Ngcobo, 26…

IN HIS recent address to the nation, President Cyril Ramaphosa said there had been a rise in the reported cases of food-borne illnesses and deaths across the country. He said a number of people had become ill, and some had even died after eating the contaminated food. Ramaphosa said it was found that some of the food items were purchased from spaza shops and street vendors. “Since the beginning of September 2024, there have been a total of 890 reported incidents of food-borne illnesses across all provinces.” He said Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal had been the most affected, with Limpopo, Free State and Mpumalanga also recording dozens of incidents. He said as soon as the deaths occurred, multidisciplinary teams in the government were activated to address these incidents, including SAPS detectives,…

A SERIES of drownings in KwaZulu-Natal has sparked concern about water safety. With summer approaching, the risk of drowning incidents escalates, said Daya Sewduth, the President of LifeSaving South Africa. “It is to be noted that within a period of five days, there were about seven reported cases of drowning. There were two separate drownings in Margate and Palm Beach on the KZN South Coast. "A youth drowned at Anstey’s Beach, another youth in Pennington and a child drowned at a pool in Merebank. There was also a report of a drowning at a remote beach south of the Mnini Resort in Umgababa, as well as a report of a child having drowned in the Johanna Estuary in Sea Cow Lake,” said Sewduth. He added that the search in Anstey’s…

KWADUKUZA residents are fed up with the ongoing water crisis and are calling on the Ilembe District Municipality for a speedy resolution. The affected areas include Stanger Manor, Warrenton, Stanger Heights, Highridge, GlenHills, Shakaville, KwaDukuza CBD and Blythedale, said DA caucus leader, councillor Krsna Sing. “Before the Lower Thukela Bulk Water Scheme, we received most of our water from the Amvoti Water Works, which was pumped to Stanger and then distributed to relevant reservoirs through an old main line. “However, this infrastructure was beyond its lifespan, breaking weekly and needed decommissioning.” He said in 2017, the Lower Thukela Bulk Water Scheme was commissioned to provide water. “By 2019, the main line from the Thukela Water Works to KwaDukuza was laid. “A new line from KwaDukuza to the Kearsney Reservoir and…

TWO women, who are accused of drugging and robbing an elderly man, will remain in police custody until the identity parade is completed. The women, aged 47 and 39, have been charged with theft. They appeared in the Verulam Magistrate’s Court last week. Prem Balram, the head of Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa), and his team had apprehended the women on November 11. He said it was alleged that the 75-year-old man was in his yard at his home in Riet River when the women struck up a conversation with him. They allegedly enquired about his late wife and mentioned her by name. The man invited the women into his home and offered them something to drink, said Balram. “The women insisted on preparing tea and proceeded into the kitchen…

WHAT IS to be believed? Statistics that show some decrease in certain categories of crime or first-hand experience of crime such as murder, rape, hijacking and house robbery? On Monday Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu released the quarterly crime statistics and reflection on his 100 days in office. He warned that South Africa needed to guard against “established criminals” who turned criminality into a norm and were intent on making it a way of life. The country faces a scourge of violent crimes with murder, attempted murder, assault with grievous bodily harm (GBH) and rape featuring at the top of the list. From the July 1 to September 30, 2024, the 17 most reported serious community crimes showed an overall decline of 5.1%. Specifically, contact crime decreased by 3.0%,…

NOT another senseless killing. I'm writing in memoriam of Aldane Reddy, the schoolboy victim of alleged bullies whose life was cut short - literally, for he was stabbed to death - in Phoenix. “School boy stabbed to death by bullies”, the POST, November 20-24 refers. It's not the what happened but rather the why did it happen? Blame must be apportioned not just at the doorsteps of those criminals but also at that of society, which condones crime and criminals from operating with impunity in their community. Don't blame the budget constraints. At the best of times, the dysfunctional SAPS, or our justice system, need all the help they can get. Our educational institutions, yes schools, themselves are severely ham-strung like Salih's camel. They are a hotbed of rebellion…

AN UMHLANGA father who went missing just over a week ago was found dead, wrapped inside blankets and hidden under his bed, at his rented home in Umhlanga, on Friday. Rakesh “Shane” Ganesh, 53, a former logistics manager, was reported missing on November 17. Prem Balram, from Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa), said he was last seen around 12pm. “He left his residence on Ridge Road in a bronze Mercedes Benz E-Class. His mobile phone has been switched off since. He did not make contact with his children or ex-wife.” Rusa circulated his picture on social media in the hope that he may be found. On Friday morning, Marshall Security was contacted by the Umhlanga UIP (Urban Improvement Precinct) after their inspector was flagged down by a resident on Ridge…

KWAZULU-NATAL business owners are increasingly arming themselves as they face threats from the construction mafia, revealing a troubling trend of violence and intimidation in the industry. A business owner, who has been in the industry for 30 years, said he had been having endless problems with the construction mafia. “It has become worse in the last three years. “They drive around in the communities looking for construction sites. I have had many experiences including where they have come to my sites armed with rifles. My workers were thrown to the floor and these men started intimidating and threatening them. They try to use gangster style tactics. “My workers notified me and when I got to the site the construction mafia started demanding a fee of up to 30%,” said the…

It’s that time of year again—BLACK FRIDAY is here! This year, we’re going all out with a massive sale at ALL of our branches, running Thursday through Sunday! Enjoy 20% off storewide, with a few exclusions: bait, items already on sale, and Shimano rods and reels, which are discounted at 15% (while stocks last). Head to your nearest Kingfisher branch to take advantage of these incredible deals! Find us in Durban (Hunter Street and Tackle Centre), Warner Beach, Kloof, Pietermaritzburg, Ballito, and Salt Rock. The dates and times are Thursday the 28rd 8-5pm, Friday the 29th 8-5pm, Saturday the 30th 8-1pm and Sunday the 01th 8-1pm of December 2024. The summer fish are here, and the fishing has been as hot as the heatwave over this past week. Shore angling…

FASHIONBLOG direct factory outlet offers the largest selection of children’s wear in Overport, Durban. They offer quality merchandise at unbeatable prices, have experienced and friendly staff, and offer safe and secure parking. Whether you are on a trip to the beach, invited to a character-themed party, buying presents for the grandchildren, or just chilling with friends, they have you sorted with the best range of the “raddest” print T-shirts, the cutest dresses, basics to throw on, and to sleep in. They have fresh, fun and fashionable must-have essentials that every toddler or preschooler would need; and as a stockist of character T-shirts, they have the coolest “tees” for your teens to wear after school and at weekends. Mums and dads are also catered for. New stock arrives daily and the…

“Having a strong family and friend support system can get you through the darkest of days if you have an autistic child or children.” This is what Nicollete Manmohan, a single mother to two autistic children, believes in. She said a lot of people questioned her ability to cope but she believed her children were a blessing. Growing up with attention deficithyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Manmohan said her “well-organised” personality helped her prepare for two autistic children. She has a 12-year-old son, Skyler, and a 9-year-old daughter, Cherise. Manmohan said her son was in Grade 3 at West Park Special School in Malvern. “Skyler was diagnosed at 10 years old. A psychologist said he was on the autism spectrum but had a learning disability,” she said. Manmohan said being a mother…

BRIGADIER Indera Chetty was honoured at an inaugural event to celebrate her legacy – her historic achievement of commanding the first group of women who joined the police in 1982. The event was held on Saturday at Jeera Restaurant. At the event were:…

New Delhi: Even as children are increasingly getting exposed to screens from a young age, a new study in rats showed that long-term exposure to blue light, emitting from smartphones or tablets, may lead to early puberty. The findings linked the early risk of puberty with accelerated bone growth and bone age caused because of exposure to blue light. The research, presented at the 62nd Annual European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology Meeting in Liverpool, is the first to explore the link between bone growth and pubertal development. “This is the first study to show how blue light could potentially influence physical growth and development, prompting further research into the effects of modern screen exposure on children’s growth,” said lead researcher Dr Aylin Kılınc Ugurlu from Gazi University in Turkey. As…

THREE Chatsworth siblings have been nabbed for allegedly running a scam on Facebook MarketPlace. They allegedly duped online sellers by producing fake proof of purchases (POP) for goods they had bought such as ceiling fans, lounge suites and T-shirts. Their arrest came after they cornered and assaulted a seller who had questioned them when the money did not reflect in his bank account. On Tuesday, Sershen Kyle Naicker, 27, applied for bail in the Chatsworth Magistrate’s Court. He is facing charges of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and damage to property. He also appeared on a second charge of theft alongside his brother, Salton Naidoo, 38. The matter was adjourned to today (Wednesday). In a separate matter, Naidoo, Naicker and their sister, Nicolene Govender made their first…

RESIDENTS of Trenance Park in Verulam have been left frustrated as their taps continue to run dry for weeks on end due to the ongoing water shortage on the North Coast. The Verulam Water Crisis Committee (VWCC) have now called on the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) to intervene. Roshan Lil-Ruthan, spokesperson for VWCC, said: “It is imperative that the SAHRC advances serious legal action directly against the eThekwini Municipality management for their gross negligence and failure to provide basic services. “For days, the residents in Trenance Park have been without water. “This dire situation was exacerbated by claims that water tankers could not be deployed due to a lack of diesel - a statement that is both absurd and criminal, considering the multibillion-rand budget of the metro.…

THE majority of ordinary South Africans, the ones typically forming long lines for Sassa grants, and receiving “free electricity”, do not busy themselves with academic or technical details of a constitutional democracy. This is why it is easy for incompetent politicians to influence them, for bad, and not for any good. In particular, ordinary folks hate the concept that "South Africa belongs to all who live in it", but only in as far as it can only exclude "extremely dark" Africans, and then those foreigners who are within their cramped spaces. But certainly not any white and blue eyed foreigners, Chinese and any light skinned stranger. It should then be expected that shrewd, but ineffective politicians (in reality, dull to what is most important for black Africa) would manipulate such…

BLACK Friday, the infamous shopping extravaganza, is here. While advertisers promise unbeatable deals and discounts, it is essential to remember the financial implications. It is considered the biggest shopping holiday of the year and always falls on the fourth Friday of November. With families facing an uncertain future and with a number of people losing their jobs, now comes Black Friday. And it’s not just one day but a whole week in November, with new deals every day. This will prove an absolutely successful marketing strategy for the retailer, but not for the man in the street. With the silly season approaching reckless and unnecessary spending is going to be the order of the day. I urge all shoppers to spend wisely and, most importantly, do not incur unwanted…

SELVAN Naidoo’s glib and shallow take on girmitiya life in the column, ‘‘Caste’ aside communal handcuffs”, the POST, November 20-24, deserves detailed analysis . “The most visible and public expression of ritual was the festival of Muharram, which played an important role in forging a pan-Indian identity within a white and African colonial society.” Really? Sorry, but some of us had our forefathers slave in coal mines, wattle plantations, sugar cane fields, etc, all over KwaZulu-Natal. They did not have any “festival of Muhurram”. They observed Diwali and other festivals in modest ways in rural areas because of poverty. This so-called “Coolie Christmas” thing did not happen in any other girmitiya diaspora. Why only in South Africa and just in Durban? Did the Banias also take part in Muharram? It…

Arne Slot can seemingly do no wrong as Liverpool manager but uncertainty over the futures of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold is casting a shadow over a spectacular season. Liverpool head into today's heavyweight Uefa Champions League clash against Real Madrid top of the table in Europe and eight points clear in the Premier League thanks to a near flawless start from Slot. The Dutchman has won 16 of his 18 matches to make light of a predicted hangover after Jurgen Klopp's emotional farewell at the end of last season. Salah, 32, has spearheaded the flying start with 12 goals and 10 assists in all competitions. Yet, the Egyptian further fuelled speculation over where he will be next season after scoring twice to beat Southampton 3-2 on…

TO PREPARE autistic children for life after school, pupils at Action in Autism in Durban North are gearing up to host an empowering fund-raising Summer Market on November 30. The pupils from the Shahumna Centre based at the school have been tasked with making business and operational decisions ahead of the market day, said Ashvir Dalu, the manager at the centre. Action in Autism’s Shahumna Centre houses youth between seven and 17-years-old, while the junior phase educates children between two and six years. Dalu said the Summer Market was meant to be a fun day and an awareness campaign. “The Summer Market is our fundraiser event and a lot of the decisions will be made by pupils from the centre. These include the marketing ideas and the themes we will…

YESTERDAY marked the 164th anniversary of the arrival of the second shipment of indentured workers aboard the Belvedere on November 26, 1860. Arriving 10 days after the Truro, the Belvedere left India on October 4, 1860, disembarking from the port city of Calcutta (now Kolkata), carrying 342 labourers destined for the port city of Natal (now KwaZulu-Natal). The Belvedere warrants a deeper gaze in highlighting human commodification, abuse and violence in the machinations that administered the colonial system of indenture. Records show that 14.2% of 29 of the 342 passengers perished in the Indian Ocean well before arriving in South Africa on November 26, 1860. Further misery followed when the passengers arrived in Natal, with 10 passengers dying even before being assigned to a plantation. The exhausted passengers, having spent…

½ box VitaV Strips 1 packet fresh julienne stir-fry vegetables 1 tsp onion powder 1 tsp garlic powder 1 level tsp Bragg’s Sea Kelp ½ level tsp white pepper salt to taste ¼ cup oil 1 packet rice paper Prepare the stir-fry: Heat the oil in a saucepan over high heat. Add the VitaV Strips and fry lightly. Mix in Bragg’s Sea Kelp seasoning. Add the julienne stir-fry vegetables and cook on high heat for about 5 minutes, stirring continuously. Add the white pepper, salt, onion powder and garlic powder. Fry for another 2 minutes, and then remove from the heat. Prepare the rice paper wraps: Fill a shallow dish with approximately 1cm of cold water. Dip one rice paper sheet at a time into the water, turning to wet…

POLICE in KwaZulu-Natal discovered two warehouses with expired and counterfeit goods, during an operation on the Bluff, south of Durban, last week. Colonel Robert Netshiunda, a provincial police spokesperson, said food items such as canned fish, fizzy drinks, soya beans, baby food and spices, mostly used on chips, were found stored with hazardous chemicals such as pesticides. “Counterfeit prescription medication, body lotion and expired alcoholic beverages were also found in the warehouses.” Netshiunda said police also discovered another two warehouses with counterfeit big-brand clothing items worth millions of rand. “Investigations are under way to locate the people responsible for the sale of expired food which is mostly sold at the township and village spaza shops, as well as the importers of fake clothing items. “Police have also intensified operations to…

THE family of the teenager who drowned after he was allegedly held underwater by “unruly boys” are calling for a full investigation into the incident. They also want the eThekwini Municipality to immediately deploy more lifeguards to the Merewent swimming pool or shut it down. Hayden Levi Lynx, a Grade 9 pupil at Wentworth Secondary and a member of the Park United Soccer Club, drowned at the pool last Wednesday. It has been alleged that the pool was packed beyond capacity with about 180 children at the time. His grandmother, Bronwyn Lynx, said Hayden had gone to the pool with her cousin's children. She said after a few hours, a neighbour arrived to her to tell her that her children had run back home crying, saying that something happened to…

FIVE teenagers, accused of killing a schoolboy and seriously injuring another, appeared in the Verulam Magistrate’s Court last Wednesday. The accused, aged between 15 and 19, are facing charges of murder and attempted murder. Last Monday, a gang of 15 teenagers allegedly armed with scissors and knives stabbed Aldane Reddy in Palmview, Phoenix. Aldane, 17, a former Grade 9 pupil at Lenarea Secondary School in Lenham, was going to a friend’s house when the group attacked him. He was stabbed in the back and then fell to the ground where he was stabbed multiple times. Aldane had left school due to bullying. Keaton Rasen, also 17, a Grade 11 pupil at Palmview Secondary School, was going to a nearby tuck shop with three friends to buy cooldrink when the group…

AS AN INDIAN born in beautiful South Africa and a die-hard Proteas fan ever since 1992, I have always become emotional when debating support for the Indian cricket team or the Proteas. I have never understood why so many South African-born Indians support the Indian cricket team in spite of living in Africa; most unable to speak Hindi and with different accents as well. We sound nothing like Sachin Tendulkar, for example, and have such unique slangs, etc. Yet we refuse to embrace these unique aspects among us, the two million located here, and for some reason yearn to be linked with two billion citizens in India. However, as I matured I have resigned myself to the “different strokes for different folks” philosophy and respect others choices. One tiny aspect…

OUR protest on May 27, in front of the city hall steps was against the ANC for our agonising 30 long years of non-Indian land claims restitution in the eThekwini Municipality. ANC speaker Thabani Nyawose did not welcome us, accept our petition or respond to it. Instead he sent one of his clerks, Mr Zungu, to collect it. What an insult to us. Finally on September 23, we met with the so-called Speakers Rapid Response head, Reggie Cele, who was rude and unhelpful, and with the real estate departments, Fathima Khan. We have had absolutely no feedback from either Cele, Khan or the speaker himself. After our claimed lands were stolen during the riots in Inanda, the Indians had to flee to Phoenix. Our claimed lands are being stolen in…

YOU may wonder what does the next generation have to do with me? Everything at all. However, bear with me. This column may resonate with you even deeper than you could imagine. The following was a conversation between my wife, Marsh, and her brother, Theo Moodley, on their way to work recently. The background to this was the recent death of their beloved father. I am going to paraphrase the conversation as I was not there personally, but heard of it after the fact. Theo said this and I am sure you have heard similar, “when a person is near death, they say, ‘I am ready to meet my maker’.” Then he elaborated that when the moment of truth does arrive, they would give anything for a little more time…

IN A STATEMENT, Nomzamo Zondi, a senior communications and media manager at the IR, said they issued the Department of Basic Education (DBE) with an enforcement notice. “The IR found that the department was not compliant with Section 11 of Popia and was in breach of the conditions for the lawful processing of personal information by failing to obtain consent for the publication of matric results from the learners or that of parents/guardians of learners that sat for the 2023 NSC examinations.” She said the IR found that no legal justification existed for the department to continue with the publication of the results in newspapers. Zondi added that the IR then directed that the results of the 2024 matriculants should not be published in newspapers, and they must make these…

THE government has announced plans to tackle the construction mafia, which has used tactics such as extortion, intimidation, violence, and sabotage to drain the country of billions of rand. At the National Construction Summit at the ICC in Durban last Tuesday, Ashor Surapen, the deputy finance minister, said the construction mafia had disrupted more than 180 projects worth R63 billion since 2019. “Their demands for up to 30% of the contract value undermines the integrity of our procurement systems and delays critical infrastructure delivery. These disruptions are not merely operational challenges. They represent a critical stress test for our economic governance. They expose the vulnerabilities in our institutional frameworks and the socio-economic fractures within our communities,” Surapen had said. He said the government had a three-pronged strategy to address…

As the summer months phase in, golfers around the world eagerly anticipate the longer days and warmer temperatures. However, summer golfing also presents its own unique set of challenges. Staying hydrated and protected from the sun are essential for summer golfing. Dehydration can impair your focus, judgment, and physical performance, while prolonged exposure to the sun can lead to heat exhaustion, sunburn, and even skin cancer. To stay hydrated, drink plenty of water throughout your round, aiming for at least 8-10 glasses per day. Avoid sugary drinks and caffeine, as those can worsen your dehydration. Consider investing in a hydration pack or water bottle with a built-in cooler to keep your drinks refreshing. Summer golfing often means playing in hot and humid conditions. To manage the heat, consider the following…