Table of contents for Wednesday, February 17, 2021 in Post

UKZN’S R42 MILLION SPLURGE ON OPERATION CLEVER Millions for house, fancy cars and bodyguards CHARLENE SOMDUTH charlene.somduth@inl.co.za AVRIL Sahadew lived a life of luxury while investigating allegations of corruption at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). Sahadew joined the university in 2012 after having worked as a forensic investigator for two large auditing firms in South Africa. In 2016, UKZN began investigations into what is now known as Operation Clever. The aim of the investigation was, among other things, to look into allegations that seats at the university’s medical school were being sold. Within a few months she took over the investigation. According to the university, shortly after this Sahadew received threats to her life. The university has not provided details of the threats except to say that they were found…

LETTER TO THE UNITED NATIONS Long-term trauma of farm attacks CHARLENE SOMDUTH charlene.somduth@inl.co.za CIVIL rights organisation AfriForum has written to the UN about the impact of farm attacks on minors and their families. The letter, which was submitted to the UN this month, said depression, learning and concentration problems and self-harm were some of the challenges experienced by children following an attack. AfriForum issued the letter on behalf of the Wilmien Potgieter Fund. The fund is in memory of Wilmien, aged 2, who was killed together with her parents in December 2010 on their farm in the Lindley district in the Free State. Her father, Attie Potgieter, 40, was attacked with a panga and a garden fork and stabbed with a knife while the child and her mother, Wilna, 36,…

FAMILY BELIEVES KILLING WAS A HIT Grandfather shot in the mouth CHARLENE SOMDUTH charlene.somduth@inl.co.za Supplied THE family of Dayalan Vadivello Pillay, who was found with a gunshot wound to his mouth last Tuesday, believes his killing was planned. Pillay, 52, who was self-employed, died under a tree near his home in Canelands, Verulam. Lucy Naidoo, his sister, said she saw him last Tuesday morning. “I was in the kitchen when he ran into my home. He was gasping for breath and kept looking over his shoulder. I asked him what had happened and he said nothing. He drank some water and had a few bites of a sandwich, before he left for his home to bath.” She said he lived a few doors away and his wife Radhamoney Pillay was…

RESERVOIR HILLS RESIDENTS UPSET AS GRADING STARTS Concerns about transit camp on vacant land NADIA KHAN nadia.khan@inl.co.za THE construction of an alleged transit camp in Reservoir Hills has raised concerns among formal and informal residents. Last week, both formal and informal residents were upset after grading began on municipal-owned vacant land on New Germany Road. The formal residents claimed they were not notified about the development, while those living in the New Germany Road Informal Settlement, located next to the alleged transit camp, said they needed service delivery first. Ron Naidoo, a community activist, said she wrote to the eThekwini Municipality and the premier and mayor’s offices to highlight the concerns of ratepayers. She said the road was already congested. It also had two schools, a golf course, a temple…

HUMILIATED IN FRONT OF FAMILY Farmer kills himself ‘over electricity bill’ a 50-YEaR-OLD farmer from Uttar Pradesh in India committed suicide allegedly after he was handed an inflated electricity bill of Rs1.5 lakh (more than R29 800), and slapped by officials because he did not have the money to pay it. according to the family of the victim, Ramji Lal, the incident took place in sunaira village in atrauli Tehsil. They said the officials turned up at Lal’s house and handed him the power bill. The power officials allegedly slapped the victim in front of his family after he told them he did not have the money to pay the inflated bill. Lal tried in vain to convince them to rectify the bill, his family said. The victim’s nephew, Ram…

PICTURES OF BURNT HEATER SHOWN IN COURT Inquest into mom and children’s deaths resumes CHANELLE LUTCHMAN chanelle.lutchman@inl.co.za IOL IOL THE inquest into the deaths of a Johannesburg mother and her four children resumed in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court last Wednesday. In 2011, a fire started at the Deedat household in Ormonde, south of Johannesburg. Suraya Deedat, 31, and her children, aged between six-months-old and four, died. Deedat’s husband Naeem was the sole survivor. Naeem was in the bathroom during the fire, while Deedat and the children were found on their backs in another room. The inquest aims to determine if he was involved in the fire which resulted in the deaths. Gary Kemp, a fire expert from Phoenix Fire Investigation, testified on behalf of Deedat’s legal team. He said, to…

2 000 SONGS ON A FLASH DRIVE THE SIZE OF A BEAN A musical drive down memory lane YOGIN DEVAN imdb Aaja Aja Mein Hun Pyar Tera, Allah Par Inkaar Tera. Ooo oo Aaja Aah of Aaja... WITH eyes blinking as they emerged from cinemas into the bright sunshine, many movie fans would have had the above opening lines of a ’60s hit song still playing in their heads. The duet by Mohammed Rafi and Asha Bhosle was recorded for the Hindi movie Teesri Manzil, which starred Shammi Kapoor and Asha Parekh. Also, Tamil movie buffs in the ’60s would have been humming tunes from the movie Anbe Vaa, which had MGR and Saroja Devi in the lead roles. What was also popular at the time was the song Anbulla…

OBITUARY Pundit an authority on Hindu scriptures JANINE MOODLEY janine.moodley@inl.co.za PUNDIT Baijnath Panday, a retired priest and teacher, died at his Reservoir Hills home on Friday. He was 93. His granddaughter-in-law, Niyanta Singh-Maharaj, said Panday was the youngest son of Munoo Panday, a second-generation Indian in South Africa, who was a Sirdar (land overseer) on the Springfield Estate. She said Panday married Jasodha Sadhanand Dubey, from Cato Ridge, in 1956, and after graduating with a teaching degree, he completed a certificate in Special Hindi and Sanskrit from the University College in Durban in 1964. He taught at several schools, but mostly at Kenville Primary and the Springfield Hindu School. “After serving his priest tutorage with his father-in-law, pundit Sadhanand Dubey, my grandfather became an officiating priest. He was well-known for…

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Writer’s views misinterpreted, criticism uncalled for MAYBE it is the impetuosity of youth or the bravado of a new graduate wanting to challenge authority, but the musing rantings of JG (the POST, February 10 – 14) refuting Yogin Devan regarding Kamala Harris (the POST, February 3 – 7) are ample proof that humans can exhibit failings when dictated to by emotions during intellectual discourse. As a member of the brigade that gobbles up everything that Devan dispenses, I can with certainty tell you that his views have been misinterpreted and the criticism is uncalled for. In order for a person to claim to be Indian, Indian bi-racial or any other race, at least one aspect of that race has to be embraced. Devan is not cobbling…

Salute to educators, pupils THANK you to the principals, educators, school governing bodies and role players within the structures of the education system for brightening the pathways for learners, despite the challenging environment. Despite the pandemic, lockdown and disruptions in schools, teachers have emerged triumphant. Your unwavering diligence to mould the minds of learners is commendable. We acknowledge that the teaching landscape has eroded – with politics, corruption, theft, poor management and the lack of foresight impacting the sector. It now requires radical transformation. To our children and the 2020 matric pupils, you are the pride and joy of your parents. They made many sacrifices, often due to financial constraints, to build and brighten your horizon. You must build on this foundation of knowledge even in the darkest days. Do…

How to pay for the Covid vaccine PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa’s claim that money for vaccines “will be there” does not reassure the taxpayer. With the initial vaccine cost estimated at R20 billion, and aimed at only 67% of the population, the true costs of the vaccination could rocket into the hundreds of billions. “Will be there” confirms that the R500bn Covid Emergency Fund, R63bn IMF loan, and R15bn Covid Emergency Programme Loan from the New Development Bank, have been completely exhausted. One possible route to finding the money would be accessing the plush funds of the Road Accident Fund (RAF) and the National Lotteries Commission (NLC). However, after years of mismanagement and a lack of accountability and oversight, this option is unrealistic. Though the RAF collects on average R43bn per…

Congratulations to the Ombud CONGRATULATIONS to seasoned journalist and the former editor of The Mercury, Yogas Nair, who has been appointed internal press ombudsman, and to the adjudication panel. This group is made up of seasoned professionals and through hard work and perseverance are now given the task of ensuring fair play. Independent Media titles have played an important and significant role in the communities they serve and are the epitome of top-class papers. What makes the Independent papers so unique, is that every important aspect within the publication is done to the highest standard. On this happy occasion, and on behalf of Independent readers, I wish the team everything of the best and greater heights in the coming years. DHAYALAN MOODLDY Mobeni Heights…

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS LEADING WOMEN, TRENDS ‘Real Housewives’ star on motherhood, woman power LATOYA NEWMAN latoya.newman@inl.co.za SUPPLIED THE most recent local edition to the popular Real Housewives TV franchise – The Real Housewives of Durban (RHOD) – has launched, topping the streaming charts and trending on social media within hours of broadcasting. The RHOD started on Showmax on January 29. The company said a review of the launch day statistics on the streaming platform revealed that the show broke all previous first-day viewing records, claiming the top spot. The series features six successful and Durban socialites: Annie Ludick, Ayanda Ncwane, Kgomotso Ndungane, Nonkanyiso Conco, Nonku Williams and Sorisha Naidoo. Naidoo is a former Miss India South Africa, imports around 25 beauty products through her company SSBO, and is the wife of…

Comrades blow for runners, but they’d rather wait and be safe FOR the second successive year, the Comrades Marathon has been cancelled. Again, this year, the race organisers have been forced to take a decision by the uncertainty around the Covid-19 pandemic. The 95th edition of the marathon was scheduled for June 13. In a statement, oganisers, the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA), said the decision followed engagements with KZN Athletics, Athletics South Africa, the National Coronavirus Command Council, members of the medical fraternity and government departments. It was a blow for many runners who spend months, even years, to prepare for the biggest event in the calendar of road-running in South Africa. NADIA KHAN spoke to some runners for their thoughts on the cancellation: - Barlan Govender, 62, of Chatsworth,…

THE KINGFISHER Some weighty catches in the offing on the Durban coast THE fishing has been amazing for all facets. The offshore guys are having a great time for the gamefish while the shore-based anglers are doing their best to keep up. It is close! There have been more small marlin caught in the last two weeks than is believable. The offshore angling has been phenomenal on all fronts with plenty of gamefish to keep the reels screaming. The Durban coast has seen some giant tuna landed over the last week or so. There have been multiple fish around the 40kg mark. This is insane! Previously, a tuna of 30kg was a rare and extremely impressive catch. Now it won’t be too long until we see fish over 50kg being…

Ashwin on track to outshine Kumble, Harbhajan IF India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin ends up playing 100 Test matches – the current Test is his 76th – he might end up with over 500 wickets and become India's second highest wicket-taker in Test cricket behind leg-spinner Anil Kumble. And if the 34-year-old plays as many as 132 Tests that Anil Kumble played, there is every likelihood that he would end up as the highest wicket-taker for India. At the moment, he is fourth in the list of top wicket-takers behind Kumble (619), Kapil Dev (434) and Harbhajan Singh (417). Ashwin picks wickets at over five a Test match which is much higher than Kumble's 4.68 and Harbhajan Singh's 3.95. Both Kumble (619) and Harbhajan (417) are India's two top wicket-takers but…

VACCINE WILL NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE DURING THIS TIME Third Covid wave could strike by June CHANELLE LUTCHMAN chanelle.lutchman@inl.co.za EXPERTS believe that South Africa could have at least two more Covid-19 waves during the year. Professor Salim Abdool Karim, co-chairperson of the Covid-19 ministerial advisory committee, told the POST this week that he believed the third wave would happen in June and the fourth in December. Karim, the director of the Centre for the Aids Programme of Research in South Africa, said it took between three and three-and-a-half months after the first wave ended for the second wave to begin. “If we look at the second wave and calculate, we could see the third wave by June or July. The severity of the third wave will be hard to predict…

FARMER STABBED AND STRANGLED Two arrested for killing CHARLENE SOMDUTH charlene.somduth@inl.co.za SWIFT work by the police has resulted in the arrest of two men accused of killing and robbing, Dan Shadew. Shadew, 74, a retired farmer and tuck shop owner, was stabbed twice and strangled to death during a robbery at his home in Holmbosch, Nonoti, a rural area outside KwaDukuza on February 6. On Thursday, the KwaDukuza SAPS arrested two men – aged 22 and 25. Colonel Thembeka Mbhele, a provincial police spokesperson, said the suspects were arrested and charged with murder and robbery. The pair appeared in the KwaDukuza Magistrate’s Court on Monday and the case was adjourned to Tuesday. Shadew’s family could not be reached for comment.…

KILLER APPEALING AGAINST LIFE SENTENCE GETS BAIL ‘Justice system failed my daughter’ NADIA KHAN nadia.khan@inl.co.za AN oThongati (Tongaat) father has questioned the justice system after the man convicted and sentenced to life for the murder of his daughter was released on bail three months ago. Krishna Pillay, 76, of Burbreeze, said his family found out about Loganathan Naicker’s release from prison two weeks ago after he was spotted by family friends in Phoenix. Naicker, 45, formerly of oThongathi, was convicted of conspiring to kill Pillay’s daughter Jennifer, 29, who was also Naicker’s girlfriend at the time. He was also convicted of kidnapping and robbing her and sentenced to life imprisonment in the Durban High Court in July 2015. During the trial, it emerged that Naicker, a former security company supervisor,…

INDIA FARMERS’ PROTESTS No incentive to plant climate-resilient crops INDIa is witnessing a historic mass mobilisation of farmers against three new farm laws. The country’s government maintains that these laws are the cure for a long-standing agrarian crisis. While this claim has been analysed from several angles, the environmental angle has often been overlooked. This is no small oversight since the agrarian crisis in India is underpinned by strong environmental vulnerabilities, including those associated with climate change. The three laws at the centre of the storm are focused primarily on prices of agricultural produce, marketing channels, and the role of middlemen. Unfortunately, environmental aspects – cropping patterns, irrigation and other agricultural practices – that are fundamental to the sustainability of agricultural systems are not being addressed. agriculture is highly susceptible…

ENGINEER WINS TITLE; TAXI DRIVER’S DAUGHTER IS RUNNER-UP Miss India success celebrated by family, friends Manya’s achievement is inspiring to the youth – showing that anybody can be successful even in adverse conditions.ANIL SINGH Manager, Lohia Inter College PEOPLE in Vikrampur village in Kushinagar have not stopped celebrating even though the celebrity family is 1 700km away in mumbai. The celebrity is manya singh, who was adjudged VLCC Femina miss India 2020 runner-up. singh was raised in Vikrampur village and went to school there before her family moved to mumbai. Her father, Om Prakash singh, is an auto-rickshaw driver and her mother a fashion designer. “she has brought glory to the village. People were talking about Vikrampur, and the people here cannot stop talking about her achievement,” said Gopal Pandey,…

DISAPPOINTMENT OVER PUBLIC PROTECTOR’S REPORT Guptas ‘have a right to have their passports renewed’ JANINE MOODLEY janine.moodley@inl.co.za African News Agency (ANA) Archives HANIFF Hoosen, a DA MP, is disappointed by the public protector’s report on the citizenship of the Gupta family. He said while it was found the process to grant the Guptas citizenship was questionable in several respects, no corrective measures were implemented. Hoosen and Floyd Shivambu, an EFF MP, lodged complaints in November 2017 and March 2018, respectively, against Malusi Gigaba, the former minister of home affairs, in connection with the early naturalisation of the Guptas. This prompted a three-year investigation by the public protector’s office. The 58-page report, signed off by advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane, was released last week. She found Gigaba did not abuse his power at…

CELEBRATING… 60 years of love NADIA KHAN nadia.khan@inl.co.za WHEN you work hand-in-hand with each other, nothing is impossible. For the past six decades, this has been the motto for Inderpal Fattey and his wife, Ramdulary, who celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on January 7. In early 1959, Fattey, 80, formerly of Pietermaritzburg, met Ramdulary, 80, of Mispah Farm, near Greytown, when he visited the area over a weekend. “I was a footballer and went to Mispah Farm to play against their local club. I met Ramdulary’s brother at the sports ground and he invited me for supper at their home that evening,” said Fattey. Ramdulary said it was love at first sight. “On the day we first met, I was very shy and nervous but after awhile I felt comfortable…

Editor’s View Support the right side of the law THE names AF Badenhorst, GJ Koen and JD Conradie are unlikely to be remembered by anyone except their loved ones. The men died in August 1991 in an incident that was dubbed the Battle of Ventersdorp. Back then, South Africa was still an apartheid state and FW de Klerk was the state president. About 18 months before the incident, De Klerk had unbanned the ANC and released Nelson Mandela, all with a view to ending apartheid. The rightwingers were not happy. They decided to confront De Klerk at a speech he was due to deliver in Ventersdorp as the leader of the National Party. Some 2 000 rightwingers gathered under the banner of the Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging (AWB), led by Eugene Terre’Blanche.…

COMPETITIVENESS THE NORM Success, expectations and benchmarks within the Indian South African community DR SHEETAL BHOOLA WE ARE all striving to be successful within various facets of our lives within a society, which is riddled with conflicting values, double standards and materialism. Success, put simply, can be explained as the completion of a task or a professional or personal accomplishment. The concept of success can relate to a broad spectrum of aspects of our life. The goals we choose to have are primarily based on individual aspirations. The process and duration of achieving success are different for each of us, and despite us knowing this, we still, at the worst of times, tend to succumb to unrealistic pressures of society’s comprehension of success and their ideologies of representation. There has…

The solution to the Zuma issue JACOB Zuma presents a prickly political conundrum to the ANC. Faced with prosecution, he constitutes, simultaneously, a polarising factor within the movement and a wrecking ball in terms of who he might implicate in past corrupt practices. In view of those risks for the ANC and in order to dispose of their dilemma, there is an easy solution: send Zuma into exile with his Gupta connections. Then, as a pilot case for the ANC’s intended policy of EWC (expropriation without compensation), seize Zuma’s Nkandla complex and recoup some of the taxpayers’ millions that he dishonestly appropriated for its construction. It’s a win-win solution. DUNCAN DU BOIS Bluff…

Bigger issues than price of ginger and garlic THE inflated price of garlic and ginger is being investigated by the price controller. It’s amazing how a skill – not taught at school and not included in the syllabus – is self-taught by governments almost automatically. It’s called diversion from more hectic issues. Nearly every price of every commodity has increased since Covid. Normal over-the-counter pharmaceuticals, as well as prescribed drugs, have risen in price without anyone but the consumer batting an eyelid. Bread, biscuits, vegetables, fruit, etc, have not been spared. Now, to attend the birth of your child you need R2000 first to undergo a Covid-19 test before you step into the theatre. Which lab charges that much for this test? Diversion tactics are used nationally and internationally. Let’s…

HOPING HOME IS WHERE TO FIND IT Searching for love LATOYA NEWMAN latoya.newman@inl.co.za THE season debut of The Bachelorette South Africa started on M-Net channel 101 last Thursday. According to the show’s producers, suspense, romance, big reveals and bigger decisions will drive what they promise will be a riveting season debut of the global reality TV show. On Thursday, M-Net’s first Bachelorette, Qiniso van Damme, began her journey to find love. A host of eligible young men were lined up to compete for the affections of the model, actress and Master’s student. Among them is Durban’s Ten Naidu. The 36-year-old was born and raised in Reservoir Hills. He spent nine years travelling to 90 countries. Naidu left South Africa in his early teens and returned to find love where he…

Your Stars SHARRON DUFF ARIES (March 21 – April 19) Things are looking up for you as your energy is coming full circle this week. Luck seems to be on your side in relationships and partnerships. Business opportunities look good. It is a great time to brainstorm for new ideas. Lucky colour: orange TAURUS (April 20 – May 20) It’s a balancing act as you balance your money and time. You may find that your patience is tested this week and that you feel more stretched than usual. This is also a time to be budget conscious. Spend carefully. Lucky colour: yellow GEMINI (May 21 – June 20) You have been carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders and you are being asked to put something down. This…

Promising youngster Naidoo included in SA U19 squad ESHLIN VEDAN YOUNG Cape Town pace bowler Darian Naidoo has been included in the SA Under 19 cricket team which will feature as the 16th team in the CSA 3-Day Provincial Cup and Provincial One-Day Challenge, competing in two three-day matches and three 50-over encounters. Naidoo told Post that it had always been his dream to play for a national team. “Cricket has always been my passion and it’s always been my dream to play for the Proteas one day,” he said. “Coming from a small sporting school in Parklands College, I was never exposed to the level of cricket and opportunities that other boys were exposed to every week. I had to work and prove to not only everyone around me,…

We showed grit, determination; toss didn't matter: Kohli INDIA captain Virat Kohli credited his teammates for the application they showed with the bat – and also praised the crowd at the MA Chidambaram Stadium – during the second Test against England that the host won by 317 runs yesterday and levelled the four-match series 1-1. "We were on the money this game in terms of body language and what we wanted to do on the field. The crowd makes a massive difference and you push more as a team when the fans are behind you. This game is an example of the grit and determination we've shown as a side and we continue to do that – and the fans' support is a big part of that," said Kohli at…

ROYAL RECOVERY RELIGIOUS leaders gathered this week for a joint prayer for King Goodwill Zwelithini. The King, 73, was hospitalised last week. Doctors wanted to monitor him after his glucose levels increased unexpectedly. During his State of the Nation Address, President Cyril Ramaphosa said: ‘Our thoughts and prayers are with the Royal Household and the Zulu nation at this time. It is our collective wish that Isilo Samabandla Wonke is soon restored to good health.’ SIBONELO NGCOBO African News Agency (ANA)…

‘I JUST WANTED TO PROTECT MY FAMILY’ Dad injured by rock-throwing robber CHARLENE SOMDUTH charlene.somduth@inl.co.za WHEN Stephen Naidoo heard that intruders were trying to get into his property, he grabbed a baseball bat to confront the suspects. Upon seeing him, one of them threw a baseball-sized rock at Naidoo. The rock struck the customer service agent at Eskom in the throat and neck. Naidoo, 53, of KwaDukuza, who lives with his wife and three children, suffered open lacerations and a fractured hyoid bone. He also sustained soft-tissue injuries to the throat and his vocal cords, on the left side of his throat, were damaged. Last Monday, Naidoo was working from home when his wife saw three men on the CCTV camera cutting the razor wire off their back boundary wall.…

ENGEN REFINERY AFTERMATH ‘I cannot hear in my left ear since explosion’ CHANELLE LUTCHMAN chanelle.lutchman@inl.co.za THE homes of residents in the South Durban Basin have still not been repaired, two months after an explosion at the Engen refinery. Six people were reportedly injured in the incident on December 4. At the time, Engen said it would take responsibility for the damage to properties in the surrounding areas, but some residents have claimed that nothing has been done. “I have an outbuilding on my property where I store my stuff. On the day, I was in the outbuilding when I heard a loud sound. Parts of the ceiling broke and all I could hear was ringing. I was frightened. I ran outside and saw my wife and neighbours staring at the…

‘WON’T ENDANGER SAFETY OF PUBLIC’ Drive-by shooting accused out on bail NADIA KHAN nadia.khan@inl.co.za African News Agency (ANA) Archives BRANDON Kalicharan, who was recently arrested and charged with killing an alleged gang member in a drive-by shooting, has been released on bail. Kalicharan, of Crossmoor, Chatsworth, was granted R15000 bail in the Durban Regional Court on Friday, for the 2008 killing of Gerald Arumugam. He was arrested during a raid conducted by a multi-disciplinary police task team, at his home on January 28. Kalicharan, 40, one of two accused, is alleged to have killed Arumugam, 31. The deceased was allegedly part of the Dre Boyz gang. The second accused, Delon Govender, was arrested last November and was granted bail. Following Kalicharan’s arrest, he became ill while en-route to the police…

NEW TO THE COUNTRY Drawn to South Africa by his love of shoes JANINE MOODLEY janine.moodley@inl.co.za THE love of shoes has drawn an Indian accountant to South Africa. Saket Mohta moved to Durban two months ago with his wife and children to take up a position as the new finance director of Bata South Africa. So far, the country has made an impression on him and he loves the diversity that it has to offer. Mohta has settled in uMhlanga and travels to and from Pinetown for work. He is a qualified chartered accountant with 18 years of experience. He said his passion for shoes led him into the footwear industry, where he has been for the past 10 years – first at Adidas and now at Bata. “I was…

COVID-19 Cardiologist, Struggle activist dies JANINE MOODLEY janine.moodley@inl.co.za DR SOMALINGUM Leslie Ponnusamy, a specialist cardiologist and Struggle activist, died from Covid-19 last Wednesday. Ponnusamy, 62, was the head of the clinical unit at UKZN’s cardiology department at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital (IALCH). He was also part of the ANC underground movement during apartheid, and has been described as an unsung hero, who dedicated his life to the betterment of the country and its people. Ponnusamy grew up in Sea Cow Lake and later relocated to Durban North. According to a radio documentary posted on journalist Subry Govender’s blog last week, Ponnusamy moved to India in 1978 to further his studies. He said he linked up with the ANC and gained a scholarship from the government of India. Ponnusamy spent…

WRITER WAS CAUTIONING AGAINST EUPHORIA HINGED ON NEW US VICE-PRESIDENT’S ‘INDIANNESS’ No sign of racism, hate speech in column about Kamala Harris Yogin Devan’s column, ‘Kamala Harris, far from being Indian’, published in our edition of February 3 – 7, was scrutinised by the office of Independent Media’s Group Ombud following online allegations that the article was racist. After applying her mind, Yogas Nair, our Group Ombud, found the allegations to be devoid of truth. This is her judgment. LAST week, a Twitter storm erupted over a column by regular POST contributor Yogin Devan, headlined “Kamala Harris, far from being Indian”. It appeared in the February 3 – 7 edition of the newspaper and was published online on February 6. Soon after it appeared online, Twitter followers labelled the column…

Lack of Hindu education in SA MY INTEREST in Hinduism began when I was in my first year at high school in Johannesburg. I have spent all the years of my life since then studying Hinduism at the highest levels of its expression. I regard myself as being in a position to say that Hinduism has produced the most intelligent scriptures the world has ever been blessed with. Scriptures that were produced by the world’s greatest religious thinkers. After lecturing in the Department of Science of Religion at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, I spend every day of my retirement in extensive studies of Hindu philosophy. This, out of deep appreciation of what our Rishis (sages) taught very early in our history, and supported by the thinking of Hinduism’s modern teachers.…

POST’s content, a celebration of free thought, speech THE Editor’s View (“There shouldn’t be any holy cows”), the column by Edwin Naidu (“Let national interests supplant parochial ones”) and the letter by JG (“How can one person decide the criteria for being Indian?”) – were sensible, thought-provoking and a celebration of free thought and speech. Most free-thinking people, unfettered by dogma and prejudice, would have agreed with the sentiments expressed therein. I shall refrain from making any cultural or religious pronouncements, lest members of the thought-police conclude that I am not qualified to do so, having based their judgement solely on my name. RAJ ISAAC Newlands West…

HIGHER RISK OF DEVELOPING PSYCHIATRIC DISORDER, STUDIES SUGGEST Covid-19 and your brain: new research DR MARSHINEE NAIDOO MANY South Africans will be aware that the stress of the Covid-19 pandemic, the earlier lockdown and ongoing restrictions associated with it, can potentially have an impact on mental wellness and may have been advised on what they could do to mitigate it. But what of those who are actually infected by the virus: can the infection have an impact on the brain and result in mental conditions such as depression? Mental health practitioners have for some time suspected that there may be a link between the novel coronavirus and the development of mental health problems in individuals, but the latest medical studies now appear to be confirming it. There is much about…

FLASHBACK Butler answers call from home A NEW online series, JazzFix, will start on February 27 with one of South Africa’s favourite jazz artists, Jonathan Butler. The show, brought by the producers of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF), will feature Butler’s Homecoming performance on the Kippies stage at the 2019 festival, as well as a conversation between him and JazzFix host, Unathi. In an interview with former arts writer Luke Folb before Butler’s 2019 Homecoming performance, the Grammy-nominated artist said the organisers came up with the concept of a “homecoming” for him to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the festival. “I started out hosting the Cape Town Jazz Festival years ago and I brought a lot of friends, from Dave Koz to Patti Austen, who used to come…

SPORT TV GUIDE WEDNESDAY Cricket: Paytm Test Series: India v England, Second Test, Day 5, 5.45am, CRI Soccer: DStv Premiership: Kaizer Chiefs v AmaZulu, 2.30pm, PSL; Mamelodi Sundowns v Baroka FC, 4.55pm, PSL; DStv Premiership Wrap, 7pm, PSL; Premier League: Burnley v Fulham, 7.30pm, EPL, SSM (7.45pm), GSD (8pm); Everton v Manchester City, 10pm, EPL; UEFA Champions League, Round of 16, First Leg: Sevilla v Borussia Dortmund, 9.55pm, VR1, GSD (10pm); FC Porto v Juventus, 9.55pm,, SSM, PSL; La Liga Santander: Levante v Atletico Madrid, 7.30pm, LIG Tennis: Australian Open, Day 10: Day Session, 2am, GSD, TEN; Australian Open, Second Feed, Day 10, 2am, ACT; Australian Open, Day 10: Night Session, 10am, TEN, GSD THURSDAY Golf: PGA Tour: The Genesis Invitational, Day 1, 9pm, GOL, GSD Soccer: Fan Base, 6pm,…

Dolphins raring to go in T20 challenge ESHLIN VEDAN DINUKA LIYANAWATTE Reuters DUE to the cancellation of the Mzansi Super League (MSL) because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the six domestic franchises will take part in a CSA T20 challenge at the Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium from February 19-28. The tournament will see Proteas stars such as Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, David Miller, Tabraiz Shamsi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Chris Morris, Lungi Ngidi and Heinrich Klaasen all return to the domestic circuit. It will present an opportunity for players to stake a claim for the rescheduled T20 World Cup. The Dolphins recently shared the Momentum One Day Cup title with the Lions. Imraan Khan’s side have a a good balance of experience and youth and is set to be further strengthened by the additions…

Tuchel: It’s a strong start but we must keep fighting NEW Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel's strong start in London has drawn comparisons with some of Stamford Bridge's most successful managers but the German says the Blues still have a long way to go to make this season a success. Since he replaced Frank Lampard last month, Chelsea have racked up 13 points from five Premier League games, the same as in Jose Mourinho's first five matches in charge before he made the Londoners champions of England three times over two spells. Tuchel's start has only been bettered by Carlo Ancelotti, who led Chelsea to a league and FA Cup double, and Maurizio Sarri under whom the Blues won the Europa League in 2019. The former Paris St Germain coach said…

ESHLIN On SPORT Liverpool’s hopes of a second league title probably over IT’S safe to say that Liverpool’s hopes of a second successive Premier League title are, in all probability, over. Jurgen Klopp’s side was completely outplayed by Leicester City, a result which meant that they are 13 points adrift of log leaders Manchester City, who have a game in hand. Thiago Alcantara, who joined the Reds from Bayern Munich at the end of last season, appears to be taking a lot of the blame for losing the ball and giving away vital free kicks. However Thiago is not a midfield workhorse like N’Golo Kante or Jordan Henderson but a deep lying playmaker. To thrive, he needs the players around him to be running but that is not happening. The…