Inhoudsopgave van 2024-09-11 - Post

TWO remarkable documents define the nature of the South African society we are trying to bring about. The most recent is the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act No 1098 of 1996. The other is the Freedom Charter adopted at the Congress of the People held in Kliptown on June 25, 1955. A profound thread binds these two documents together. Both share the view that SA belongs to all who live in it. It is not possible to tell the story of South Africa’s struggle against colonialism and apartheid without including the significant contribution of the Natal Indian Congress (NIC) and the Transvaal Indian Congress (TIC). Any history that does not include their role will remain fatally flawed. As part of celebrating the NIC’s 130th anniversary, I shall…

The NIC was established 130 years ago under enormously different circumstances and for politically different ends from what some people envisage for it today. This became evident at the ‘NIC 130’ event held on Sunday variously referred to as the “130th anniversary tribute” and as “#NIC 130 celebrations”. The NIC was for the better part of its history an anti-colonial, anti-segregationist, anti-apartheid resistance organisation that evolved into one striving for non-racialism, universal franchise and social justice. In this quest for human dignity for all, it had a glorious 100-year history (1894 – 1994) in which the organisation was recognised as an important contributor to the struggle for liberation in South Africa. NIC leaders were acknowledged for their commitment and sacrifices and for being responsible for its progressive trajectory guided by…

CRIME syndicates are allegedly behind hijacked buildings in the Durban Central Business District (CBD) and operate “without any fear of the law”. This disclosure was made by building owners and property management companies this week. From residential housing to business properties, this crime syndicate is allegedly raking in millions of rand a year while building owners have to fork out exorbitant amounts in legal fees in a bid to get their hijacked properties back, Baraka Agency’s Zaid Omar told the POST. Omar’s company manages buildings in the city and was approached by an Ethiopian businessman who needed help to evict illegal occupants from his building in Maud Mafusi Street. The building has 50 rooms, two restaurants and a panel beating shop, all of which have been leased by the “new…

EThekwini Municipality has urged residents to vaccinate their pets against rabies following the recent death of a 3-year-old child in the Ngonyameni area. As part of its mass campaign, free rabies vaccinations will be provided in Chatsworth and Shallcross from September 23 to 25. Gugu Sisilana, the city’s spokesperson, said the child had been in contact with a dog that was suspected of being rabid. She said the child had shown symptoms of fatigue and a sore throat. “The city’s communicable diseases team discovered that the child had been in contact with a sick dog during their investigation. They also learnt that the dog had become aggressive and was put down by the owner. “Rabies in humans can present with symptoms such as headaches, fever, mental confusion, irritability, restlessness…

FOR many recovering addicts and their families, the KwaDukuza Halfway House has given them a new lease of life. Romano Govender, 27, of Chatsworth, said he had battled drug addiction for a decade. He said at the age of 17, he consumed alcohol and smoked cannabis. “As I got older, I started trying other drugs such as crystal meth and rock (crack cocaine). I could not stop even if I tried as I was living in a community riddled with drugs. There was also the pressure of wanting to fit in. “However, I decided to go to a rehabilitation centre in 2022 to get clean. It was also something my father had wanted me to do. He would always tell me that he wanted me to have a better life.…

A KEY witness in the trial of three men, who allegedly hijacked and kidnapped truck driver Kishore Lakraj and then shot and killed a metro police officer, testified about his role in the crime this week. In the Durban High Court on Monday, Vulowonuhle Jamjam said he was the man who had transported the three accused – Mlungisi Phakamani Mpanza, 37, Mzomuhle Lawrence Gamede, 34, and Sabelo Mncube, 42, – to hijack the Chester Meats truck carrying more than R730 000 worth of meat on July 20 last year. During the hijacking, the hijackers failed to drive the truck, which came to a standstill in the middle of the road facing oncoming traffic, along Hans Dettman Road in Queensburgh. The responding officer, Superintendent Errol George Ogle, stopped his car about…

THE 6th annual Durban Ganesh Utsav started at the Greyville Racecourse on Saturday. The festival is dedicated to the Hindu deity, Lord Ganesha. The highlight of the festival is the Visarjan programme on September 15, where the idol of Lord Ganesha is taken on a grand procession and immersed in water. At Saturday’s event were:…

PREVENTION is better than cure. The new focus of health care is less on responding to illnesses and more on anticipating them. The roadmap of the future, rooted in predictive health models and early preventive care, will see individuals working more closely than ever with doctors on holistic wellness and proactive disease prevention. The Economist Intelligence Unit recently surveyed 480 high-net-worth individuals across Asia and the Middle East to study how current healthcare habits might lead to breakthroughs for society as a whole. The data towards the healthcare future increasingly emphasised it to be preventive, personalised, participative and precise. It also pointed to far less focus on treatment and more on tailoring lifestyle intervention to manage one’s personal health risk and avoid diseases. In the face of increasing longevity and…

“TODAY is only one day in all the days that will ever be. But what will happen in all the other days that ever come can depend on what you do today.” The above is a quote from Ernest Hemingway’s novel, For Whom the Bell Tolls, and it speaks to a reality that confronts all of us at some point in our lives, especially when we have to make decisions. It is the end of one career and the beginning of yet another – but it also marks the starts of a journey of responsibility that you may never have experienced before. The world as we know it is a rapidly changing microcosm where demands, expectations and dreams come together to give us purpose and direction. Your preparation for…

A DURBAN businessman arrested for alleged tax fraud of more than R7 million, was denied bail in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Monday. Thoshan Panday, 52, who faces 27 counts of fraud, alternatively, contraventions of tax legislation which outlaw false returns in respect of VAT and annual income tax, made his first appearance in court last Thursday. Henry Mamothame, spokesperson for the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC), said Panday faced tax fraud charges due to the submission of tax returns in respect of the entities that he had controlled. He said it was alleged that Panday had received payments from the SAPS of about R47 million during the 2010 and 2011 tax years. In 2020, Panday, together with eight co-accused, including his mother and wife, were arrested and charged with…

SCHOOLS in Chatsworth and Phoenix are at a risk of having their electricity disconnected because their bills are in arrears. Muzi Mhlambi, spokesperson for the Department of Education in KwaZulu-Natal, said the high bills were due to illegal connections. “There are some schools in Chatsworth, Umlazi, Phoenix and KwaMashu that have illegal connections during weekends and school holidays. We have raised our concerns with the municipality and have gone into arrangements to pay on behalf of some schools.” Several principals, who declined to be named, said the problem began when the KZN Department of Education failed to pay the utilities on time. A principal at a primary school said they were sitting with a bill of R246 000. “The school and the department is expected to pay. But the department…

Duff is a psychic medium, past life specialist, spiritual coach, healer and animal communicator. She has been connecting with spirit for more than 20 years and runs her business, Quantum Soul, from Waterfall in KwaZulu-Natal. Duff can be contacted at 072 986 5514 or email sharron@quantsoul.com ARIES (March 21 – April 19) Watch your communication this week as you interact with others. Work pressure may feel like it is worse than ever. Delegate if you can and don’t be afraid to have an open discussion with your work colleagues. Personal relationships will suffer if you don’t find balance. Lucky colour: Orange. TAURUS (April 20 – May 20) Trust your intuition, especially where business concerns and legal issues are concerned. Read the small print in contracts to avoid issues later. You…

MANY singers grow up in households where music plays a significant role. They may be inspired by parents, siblings or relatives who sing or play instruments. They are also inspired by the music and performances of older musicians they admire. Older singers often gravitate toward specific genres like bhajans, golden oldies, etc. Pravesh Sunker, 58, of Merebank, is one of these singers. He started his singing career at the age of 5. Over the years, he has been inspired by giants like Kishore Kumar. Sunker’s style of singing bears testament to that. He has also been influenced by the late Vinesh Jagunandan of South Africa, and Mumbai musicians: Chitti Pillai, Girish Vishwar and Nitin Shankar. Sunker had been taught to play the keyboard by Jagunandan and Pillai. He also plays…

AN ONLY child has sought relief in court after her aunt allegedly forged her late mother’s will in a bid to swindle her out of her full inheritance. Nivasha Naicker, 32, of Chatsworth, approached the Durban High Court to interdict her aunt (her mother’s sister), Raeesa Yusoop, 54, of North Beach, and the Master of the KwaZulu-Natal High Court from making any dispositions and finalising the estate of her late mother, Devnee Ganesh. The other respondent in the matter is Legalwise. Ganesh died on November 17, 2020, after battling cancer. Naicker also called on the court to set aside a will, dated August 13, 2020, and that Yusoop be removed as the executor of the estate. According to the will – which Naicker alleged was forged – Yusoop would receive…

WHEN she isn’t mapping out distant parts of the galaxy for answers about the birth of the cosmos, she’s diving on the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal to get up close and personal with ragged-tooth sharks. But that’s all in a day’s work for Tasmiya Papiah from Broadlands, a 24-year-old astrophysics student from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. “Against the grain” is what best describes Papiah, as she enjoys playing on both sides of the spectrum; with academics on one end and adrenaline-inducing activities like ziplining on the other. She said being influenced by her dad pushed her towards enjoying these daring activities, all while pursuing a career in astrophysics. To add another skill to her CV, Papiah recently graduated from the Starlite Aviation Academy, where she qualified as a drone pilot.…

MUMBAI: Bollywood star couple Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh have announced that they have been blessed with a baby girl. Taking to Instagram on Sunday, the stars’ post read: “Welcome baby girl 8.9.2024… Deepika and Ranveer.” A day earlier, photographs and videos of Padukone going to the HN Reliance Hospital in Mumbai emerged and raised speculations about her giving birth to their first child. The couple married in November 2018 at Lake Como. In February, Padukone and Singh, fondly called “DeepVeer” by their fans, announced that they were to become parents. On the work front, they will be seen in the coming Rohit Shetty directorial, Singham Again.…

EBRAHIM Essa postulates, “It is a given … take sides in any religious or political conflict,” the POST, August 28 - September 1. What blatant hypocrisy from someone who has launched an all-out assault on Hindus, and others for not “taking sides” on especially Gaza. Many have tried unsuccessfully to nudge us towards Middle East/Islamic causes. Self-servingly, while validating support for religious, political causes, he (Essa) has repeatedly repudiated the right of Hindus to have their own voice in their own spiritual or political space in this country. Vis-à-vis his postulation, the converse also applies: Those who are targeted by a divine mandate to be exterminated from the planet because their exterminators would be forgiven, rewarded in the hereafter, can hardly be expected to support the causes of their chosen…

Dear Councillor Cyril Xaba On behalf of desperate, law-abiding residents of Durban, I write to you as the Mayor of eThekwini Municipality, responsible for overseeing the administration of local government and ensuring that affordable municipal services are provided to the public. eThekwini residents are at their wits’ end over exorbitant utility bills. A “flawed billing system”, estimated readings, and payments not being captured on time are being blamed for the high utility bills. While some residents are in the red for R5 000, others are sitting with utility bills of hundreds of thousands of rand. This week, a 77-year-old Chatsworth granny said she would “rather just die” than have to deal with paying the R7 000 arrears on her electricity bill. Paying this bill would mean she would have to…

I HAVE not had a peep into Parliament since the inception of the Government of National Unity but I presume that the injection of several new parliamentarians – fresh and aggressive thinkers with unparalleled powers of perception – are cultivating a culture of sensible and acceptable conduct. Proper political decorum oils the wheels of parliamentary functioning and mitigates the barbaric behaviour we have so often seen in the past. I agree that there are too many cheap seats in South Africa today. Unlike a past era, when the Goat (Greatest Of All Time) was around, the chambers of power turned into a menagerie of sorts. These days, former president Jacob Zuma lurks in the background, trying desperately to guide a confused herd. Bad behaviour aside, a greater problem persists and…

LAST Wednesday I drove from Benoni down to Durban. The N3 was relatively quiet. But in a short distance of 50km from the Benoni on-ramp to the De Hoek Toll Plaza, I came across traffic police six times – three roadblocks and three speed traps. There was also one in the Free State. The police officers manning the cameras were not easily visible as they blended in with the surrounding dry grass in their khaki uniforms. I was surprised but also happy that the police were keeping a vigilant eye on the motorists on South Africa’s most important national road. But still I was baffled at the number of times I saw traffic police on the road. Perhaps, I thought, it was to catch the errant motorist off his guard.…

THIS is not just another senior citizen’s old school thoughts on the future of the matric class of 2024 on the cusp of carving a niche for each and every one. You hold in your hands the power to unlock the prison bars of mediocrity. Wishing you all the best for your future endeavours. May your hard, industrious work, sacrifice and dedication pay off, and may you achieve your dreams. Remember to stay focused, persistent, and true to yourself. You have the potential to achieve greatness. Go out there and make it happen. Believe in yourself. This 71-year-old did just that in 1971. It is fitting that you read my congratulations on reaching this milestone, and may it be just the beginning of an exciting and successful journey ahead. You…

BIRTHDAY celebrations ended in terror for a couple, when they were attacked by armed men outside their rented Verulam home last week. They were assaulted, robbed of their Sassa grants, their mouths, hands and feet were bound with cellophane tape and rope during the home invasion. Pensioners Balan and Mona Chetty had gone out to spend the day with relatives. It was Mona’s birthday. “We had lunch before going to a local supermarket where we withdrew our pension before doing some grocery shopping. Our relatives took us home at around 4pm. We said our goodbyes and they drove off,” said Chetty. He said their home was below road level and the property was secured with an alarm and security beams. “We had a fence on the side of the house,…

This year, Chatsworth, one of the most distinctive and vibrant townships in the country, celebrates 60 years since it was founded in the 1960s. In commemoration of this anniversary, the POST will publish a series of articles from Kiru Naidoo’s book, Made in Chatsworth. THERE are some among us who will deny their bathing rituals. As kids, we took a “head bath” on a Saturday. That meant washing one’s hair as well. The rest of the week involved an odd assortment of personal hygiene. There was the “body bath” that kept the hair dry. One of its options was a splash with soap and a full scrub. A variation was a face cloth wipe from eyebrows to toes. A third option was the face cloth applied to eyes, ears,…

MONDAY marked the 60th year of the death in detention of Suliman “Babla” Saloojee, a leading activist in the Transvaal Indian Congress (TIC) and the broader Congress movement in South Africa. On September 9, 1964, Saloojee met his death after allegedly “falling” from the 7th floor window of Gray’s Building, then headquarters of the Special Branch of the South African Police. Most activists in the liberation movement do not believe the official version of the apartheid government that Saloojee jumped to his death during his interrogation. Rather, it is our firm belief that he was tortured to death in detention by the security police, and his body was flung out of the building in central Johannesburg. The 33-year-old Saloojee, an attorney’s clerk, was detained on July 6, 1964, two years…

SIYA Kolisi was homesick and missed many things in South Africa, like the braai as his recovery meal after a tough rugby battle the previous day. Then, there was the other big ambition of still being available for the Springboks and leading this side for as long as he can still perform at the top level. That made deciding to return to South Africa a bit easier for the Bok skipper, who says he enjoyed his time in France, but ultimately home is where the heart is. “I miss waking up after a tough game. You know when I played here in Cape Town, I would go and get some meat with Scarra (Ntubeni, Springbok hooker), that was our recovery thing,” said Kolisi after being unveiled as one of petrol…

MARTIN Odegaard suffered what appeared to be a serious ankle injury as Norway beat Austria 2-1 in the Nations League on Monday, with goals from Felix Horn Myhre and a late winner from Erling Haaland. The Arsenal skipper left the pitch after receiving treatment for several minutes in the second half following a collision with Austria’s Christoph Baumgartner, and Norway boss Stale Solbakken said it looked bad. “Martin Odegaard’s injury looked bad in the dressing room as well I saw he was sitting with the physiotherapists around him but he had no chance to continue and we know it was an ankle sprain,” the coach told Norwegian channel TV 2. “Yes it’s a sprain, and as those of us who had played football know, with luck it can turn out…

1½ cups dried red beans or three cans of red beans 2 tbs oil or ghee 1 large onion, finely diced 4 jam tomatoes, or 1 can tomatoes liquidised 2 tsp ginger/garlic paste 1 tsp lasan chutney (garlic paste mixed with chilli powder) 1 stem curry leaves 2 dried chillies, snapped in half ½ tsp turmeric powder 3 tsp dhania/jeera powder 2 tsp chilli powder 1 tsp sugar salt to taste a handful of dhania Soak the dried beans overnight or at least two hours prior to boiling or rinse, and boil in a pressure cooker. If you are using canned beans, decant with the liquid from the can into large pot, and add half a cup of water, 1 dried chilli halved, a few curry leaves and the turmeric…

2 litres milk elachi cinnamon sticks sugar honey condensed milk lemon juice (from one lemon) star anise saffron Boil the milk with the elachi and cinnamon sticks. Add the sugar, honey and condensed milk to your liking. As it comes to the boil, add lemon juice for the mixture to curdle. Strain with a muslin cloth and allow to cool. Knead the mixture a few times and roll into discs. Place the discs in syrup. I added star anise, elachi and cinnamon to boil in water. Sauce for the rasmalai Boil one-litre full cream milk. Add honey, condensed milk, powdered elachi and saffron. Allow to thicken naturally. When the milk mixture is cool, pour over the cooled rasmalai. Add toasted almonds. I added jaggery. Place in the fridge to cool.…

WE CELEBRATE honour and remember the supreme sacrifices made by some of our comrades so that today we are able to enjoy certain basic freedoms which we were not able to enjoy under apartheid’s repressive regime. Our celebrations come at a time when the international scene is one of despair. Right-wing governments are winning support internationally which spells further misery for the poor and marginalised, further violent repression, so that a few can accumulate wealth and exploit the resources of the world. We are also witnessing a growing divisive tendency with tensions on the basis of religion, ethnicity, race, class and gender and these divisions are shaking the foundations of democracy. We are horrified at the carnage and war that continues in certain parts of the world such as Israel…

WHETHER it is her performance on screen or her style, Alia Bhatt always manages to sweep everyone off their feet. Bhatt said: “Fashion is another form of storytelling for me, a reflection of one’s self. I have always tried to keep as true as I can to me – ever-evolving but forever comfortable and easy. “I stick to a consistent skincare routine that includes cleansing, moisturising and protecting my skin from the sun. Staying hydrated is also a key part of my regimen. When I’m not working, I like to go make-up-free to let my skin breathe. I give my hair a break from styling tools and products to keep it healthy.” Bhatt, who will next be seen in Jigra, added: “It’s really a mix of a balanced diet, workout,…

GOAT is a slick Hollywood type ultra-high octane action comedy thriller that stars Vijay in a dual role. It’s his 68th film to date and was directed by Venkat Prabhu. Goat was filmed in several Indian and international locations like Thailand, Russia, USA and Sri Lanka and Indian locations in Chennai, Pondicherry and Hyderabad. Vijay plays Gandhi, the former leader of a special anti-terrorist squad based in Chennai. He lives with his wife Anu (Sneha) and young son Jeevan (Akhil). They are expecting a second baby. Vijay lives a clandestine life and his wife does not suspect he is a professional agent hunting down terrorists worldwide. He leads a double-life and this all comes to a grinding halt when, while on holiday in Thailand with his heavily pregnant wife and…

IN the early 1970s, Indian ex-servicemen’s organisations and the South African Indian Council made representations to the government to establish a military unit for South African Indians. On May 2, 1972, the chief of the South African Defence Force (SADF) instructed that an “Indian Training Battalion” be formed in accordance with a decision made by the Cabinet on April 20, 1970. A committee was established under the chairmanship of Rear-Admiral S C Biermann to investigate and implement this decision. This committee recommended that a training battalion for volunteers be established with Permanent Force South African Indian personnel. The initial aim of South African Indian Corps Training Battalion (SAICTB) was to equip volunteers from the South African Indian community for employment, not just with the South African Navy, but also for…

THE algae build-up, which disrupted the water supply to various parts of the eThekwini Municipality in the past two weeks, has been cleared and normal treatment volumes have resumed, uMngeni-uThukela Water spokesperson, Siya Maphumulo, said yesterday. However, questions have been raised about the safety of drinking tap water. Professor Faizal Bux, of the Institute for Water and Waste- water Technology (IWWT), at the Durban University of Technology, said the water was safe for human consumption. “It would be difficult to comment precisely because I did not physically test the water myself. But people should know that the water, which comes out of our tap, must subscribe to the South African National Standards (SANS), so I think it's fairly safe to drink. “I drink the Durban tap water myself,” Bux said.…

THE Bayview Christian Fellowship (BCF) in Chatsworth is bringing comfort to elderly chronic patients in the community by offering a medicine pick-up service from the RK Khan Hospital. Project leader, Pastor Paul Chetty, 69, said medication was typically dispensed to about 100 patients on a Thursday between 8am and 10am from the church premises in Umhlatuzana. “The pharmacy staff from the RK Khan Hospital send the pre-packed medication to the church. This helps make the pick-up process easier for elderly patients. They do not have to make their way to the hospital and wait for hours to pick up their chronic medication,” said Chetty. “Our team has between four to five volunteers to dispense medication. We used to serve around 300 people but since the hospital started delivering medication to…

THE anger and frustration concerning the billing fiasco impacting a large proportion of households in areas of eThekwini Municipality has less to do with the fact that people must pay for what they use, but instead a deeper systemic issue within the city council. Too, what really gets under everyone’s skin is the perception that those who abide by the law, who pay their dues and “do right” when there has been a mistake, are constantly made to feel like suckers, while communities that do not pay due to them being politically important constituencies or connected individuals, get away with it. Earlier this year many households in the metro received shock water bills, some of more than R6 000 on water alone. The city claimed these households had erroneously received…

THE news coming out of Gaza and the occupied territories is like a filthy black river. Every single day, there is a new piece of news that supersedes the previous day’s dreadfulness. Only suspending belief will make it possible to even read the headlines from publications which dare to print the truth about what is happening in Gaza these days. The latest one from Quds News reads: “Israeli forces kill Palestinian teen”, “Drag body using bulldozer in Tubas raid”. Yes. You have to read that one with your eyes closed and a fist stuffed inside your mouth to stifle the screams. Another article details the death of a young girl who was rollerblading in Gaza when she was killed by an airstrike. Most cruel is perhaps the airstrike near a…

WITH heavy hearts, the community of Mombasa and the people of Kenya had to bear the loss of a distinguished and dedicated community member, Hasu Patel. An outstanding humanitarian left our earthly shores, in transit to a heavenly abode. It is hard to eulogise any man to capture in words not just the facts and the immense care he gave to the poor people of his country. He gave a potent voice to the claims of the neglected, the poor, the sick and those whom he assisted in every facet of human life. The scope of his accomplishments defy description, and the adoration that he so rightly earned will endeavour us to remember him as an individual whose supreme aim in life was to serve humanity. In the apex of…

“THE alarming rise in murder and hijacking in our communities”, as reported in the POST, September 4-8, is a stark reminder of the grip of crime in our communities. This disturbing trend has left me feeling ashamed and concerned about our future. With crime rates escalating, anyone can become a victim. Consider this: Somewhere there is a knife or bullet with your name in it. Murder rates have increased by 20%, resulting in five daily deaths, while hijackings have risen by 30%, with 10 incidents occurring daily. Innocent civilians, including women, children, and the elderly, bear the brunt. The freedom to walk safely, day or night, is now a luxury of the past. We urgently need effective solutions, including community policing and engagement. Collaboration is key to creating…

BE WARNED! Criminals are now preying on women hanging their clothes on the washing line, working in the garden or praying outside. Rita Singh, 65, a retired caregiver for special needs children, was removing her washing from the line at her Brindhaven, Verulam home, when she was accosted by a suspect on Sunday afternoon. “I live with my brother. We have two separate properties on the yard but an interleading door into our homes. I went outside to take off my washing from the line. As I walked back into my house, a man grabbed me. “He covered my mouth with his hand and held my right hand behind my back,” said Singh. Singh said she was taken to the lounge by the suspect. “He threw me on to my…

THE Durban and Coastal Mental Health Facility has not had electricity for the past two years because it owes the eThekwini Municipality R6 million. The facility, in Clayfield, Phoenix, houses 68 patients with mental health challenges and those in need of psychiatric care. In addition it has a day centre, which caters to 20 children with chronic illnesses. Mbonisi Sibisi, the CEO of the organisation, said they had looked at their electricity bill for the past 10 years and found that the bill had doubled despite the number of patients being the same. “We could not afford to pay the bill and the accumulated interest. Our electricity was cut off two years ago. The bill is now R6 million. I went to the municipality for assistance and I was told…

Abigail Nadar Nepaul MY HERITAGE is so much more than a unique and endearing appreciation of my proudly South African Indian roots and ancestry… I was at a function a few weeks ago. A lady I had never met before came up to me and after complimenting me on my role in the Mommy Club Sugar and Spice show, introduced herself to me. She told me that we shared the same maiden surname and that immediately attracted my attention, as I lost my dad two years ago and love meeting members of his extended family that I never met while he was alive. My maiden surname is Nadar, which originates from the Tamil caste in Kanyakumari. I love knowing my ancestry, so a deep and meaningful conversation ensued between my…

MEMORY against forgetting is a vital ingredient in the preservation of who we are as a people. As the years rapidly gather momentum, I tend to look back on those early days of my life and reminisce on how things were and how life has changed for the Indian community in general and Indian women in particular. Throughout South African history, we find remarkable women who, regardless of social constraints, taboos and conventions, dedicated themselves to the cause of social justice. The history of women social reformers in South Africa across the religious and colour spectrum cannot be complete without the mention of these early stalwarts. Fatima Meer was one such stalwart and a recent biography on her life written by a Pakistani BBC correspondent Arjumand Wajid has been well…

SATURDAY marked the 20th year of the death of Dr Beyers Naudé , an Afrikaner revolutionary in the Struggle for freedom and democracy in South Africa. In 1960, in the wake of the Sharpeville Massacre under the apartheid government, Naudé was confronted with a stark choice in life – either he continued to support an illegitimate and oppressive white minority government or embrace the non-racial Struggle for freedom and democracy. “Oom Bey” as he was affectionately known, chose the road less travelled by his contemporaries. Dr Christiaan Frederick Beyers Naudé was born in Roodepoort on May 10, 1915. He studied at Stellenbosch University, met his wife, Ilse, there and served since 1940 as a minister in the Dutch Reformed Church. He faithfully served his volk and was a trusted member…

GIVEN the expensive nature of cricket among many other limiting factors, it is always a pleasant surprise to see township-based cricket clubs produce professional cricketers. Against all odds, a handful of township and village-based cricket clubs play an important role in unearthing talent for the national cricket teams year in, year out. One such township is the Lindelani township in KwaZulu- Natal, where Nonkululeko Mlaba, Nondumiso Shangase and Ayanda Hlubi – all Proteas Women’s players – started their journey. Hlubi, a 20-year-old fast bowler, is the most recent player from Lindelani to break into the national team when she made her international debut against Bangladesh last summer. Now the youngster is in the Proteas squad that is set to compete in the 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in the…

PLEASE remember to leave the areas that you fish in better condition than when you got there. Take a few moments to pick up some litter and take it to the nearest bin. Tight lines and screaming reels. The rock and surf fishing has been a real mix this past week. The North Coast is starting to show some summer action, but the conditions are not playing the game most days. The North Coast has been blowing hot and cold with the varied conditions we are having. The north-east wind has not been cooling the water down as much as usual, so an extra day of proper NE wind has been needed to get the fish feeding. Mackerel and redeye have been the most productive baits for most of the…

GOLFING in the rain can be challenging, but with the right mindset and techniques, you can adapt and even thrive in wet conditions. Here are some tips to help you navigate the course on a rainy day: Firstly, gripping the club is of all importance. Use lighter grip pressure to prevent slipping, and consider using clubs with more loft to combat the increased resistance. Play your ball position slightly back in your stance to reduce spin and prevent skidding. It will also allow you to make ball first contact instead of too much of the wet ground. Slow down your swing to maintain control and balance. Swinging too hard will cause a loss of stability through the shot. User a wider stance for set up. Wearing waterproof clothing, gloves, and…