Table of contents for 2024-02-14 in Post

EMRAAN Hashmi, who was last seen as a menacing antagonist in Tiger 3, has been signed by the makers of Goodachari 2 to play the parallel lead alongside Adivi Sesh. A source said: “Emraan Hashmi will share screen space with Adivi Sesh. “The film’s producers are optimistic about the collaboration and are confident that Hashmi’s potential inclusion will add star power and appeal to Goodachari 2.” The 2018 Telugu film, Goodachari, starred Sesh and it carved its path to success. Now as the sequel unfolds, the collaboration of a prominent Bollywood actor and a south star adds a unique dimension to the project. The sequel aims to build on the success of the first part, and take the Goodachari franchise to new heights.…

Tamil superstar Rajinikanth is making an extended cameo in his daughter Aishwarya’s third film, Lal Salaam, which is being hailed for its message of communal amity. Kapil Dev, Team India’s 1983 World Cup-winning captain, also has a substantial role in this cricket-centric movie. Aishwarya, who is helming a movie after a seven-year hiatus, is being lauded for her excellent direction, but the screenplay at times moves too slowly. Nonetheless, the 150-minute movie has opened to a huge response with the mega star entering in style as Moideen bhai. Rajanikanth’s 2023 film, Jailer, is rated by IMDb as the third highest-grossing Tamil movie of all time, the first being Shankar’s film 2.0, featuring the mega star in the lead. Made by Subhaskaran Alirajah for Lyca Productions, the film manages to touch…

PREITY Zinta, left, recalled how film-maker Mani Ratnam, on the first day on the set of her 1998 film Dil Se, asked her to go make-up free. Zinta took to Instagram where she shared a still from the film. She wrote: “This picture was taken on the first day on the set of Dil Se. I was so excited to be working with Mani Ratnam sir and Shah Rukh Khan. When Mani sir saw me, he smiled and politely asked me to wash my face.” Zinta thought Ratnam was joking. “Then I realised he was not. So thanks to Santosh Sivan (our director of photography), I filmed with a freshly washed face and got away with it.…

THIS movie hit cinemas on Friday to mixed reviews. While opening day box-office earnings were not exceptional, there seems to be a positive trend. This romantic comedy explores a contemporary dilemma about the extent to which AI (artificial intelligence) could replace human connections. The story revolves around robotics engineer Aryan, who falls in love with Sifra (super intelligent female robot automation), a super smart and drop dead gorgeous robot. In a world where people marry everything from trees to ghosts, the idea is not as far-fetched as it seems. Kriti Sanon shines in her role as Sifra, portraying the essence of a robot. The movie’s musical numbers are catchy and sure to get stuck in your head, possibly becoming wedding jol numbers. It’s a charming and enjoyable tale if you…

2 large eggs, lightly beaten 125ml sugar (½ cup) 250ml milk (1 cup) 2ml salt 30ml butter, melted (2½ tbs) 500ml cake flour (2 cups) 20ml baking powder (4 tsp) Beat the eggs and sugar until light. Add 125ml milk and the melted butter. Stir well. Sift the flour, baking powder and 2ml salt into a bowl. Stir the dry ingredients into the egg mixture then stir in the remaining milk to make a smooth batter. Grease a non-stick frying pan with a little butter. Drop spoonfuls of the batter into the pan and turn over once bubbles form on the surface of the crumpets. Cook until golden on both sides. Serve hot with maple syrup, honey, berry compote, fresh fruit, etc.…

¾ cup warm water 10g instant yeast 2 tbs sugar plus ½ cup sugar ¼ cup maas 1 egg 2 tbs vegetable oil 1 tsp salt 3½ cups cake flour Filling: ½ cup soft butter 1 cup brown sugar ¼ cup Muscavado sugar (optional) 4 tsp cinnamon powder Frosting: 3 tbs cream cheese, room temperature ¼ cup melted butter 4 tbs Klim, Nido or Nespray 1 tsp vanilla essence 1½ cups icing sugar ¼ cup full cream milk ¼ cup chopped pecan nuts Mix the warm water with the instant yeast and 2 tablespoons sugar. Leave aside for 5 minutes. Add the ½ cup sugar, maas, egg and oil, and mix. Add the cake flour and salt. Mix until combined and it cleans the side of the bowl. Knead for…

ISLAMIC institutions and religious leaders have slammed a video claiming that Muslims have “captured” the food and beverage industry and are using halaal-certification fees to fund terrorism, at the expense of Christians. The South African National Halaal Authority (Sanha) dismissed the video, saying “nefarious anti-Islam and Islamophobic elements” were behind it. The South African Muslim Network (Samnet) said the video was “spurious, bigoted and factually incorrect”. In the six-minute video clip, which includes pictures of various halaal authorities’ logos, and halaal-certified companies, a male voice-over claimed that while 85% of the South African population was Christian, the 2% which are Muslim have captured the economy. The video was first shared on social media in 2018 and resurfaced earlier this month. In the video, the narrator claims that almost all food…

THE plight of young, qualified medical doctors struggling to secure employment in the “overstressed” public health sector, could lead to a brain drain, the South African Medical Association (Sama) and the Islamic Medical Association of South Africa (Imasa) warned this week. They are urging the Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla, and the Minister of Finance, Enoch Gondongwana, to team up to address the challenges, before these doctors emigrate, leaving a gap in the country’s health-care services. Last week, Phaahla said they were working to find ways to shield the health-care service and the front-line workforce amid job shortages and budget constraints. Phaahla said they had conducted several engagements with the National Treasury to make budgets available for more doctors to be employed in the public health sector. The need…

DEVI Rajab’s opinion piece, “A household name”, the POST, January 7-11, has definitely brought an era to close – that of Zuleikha Mayat. “Death leaves a heartache no one can ever heal, but love leaves a memory that no one can ever steal.” Today, the community of KwaZulu- Natal sits quietly and emotionally devastated at having to say goodbye to such a rare and unique mother and social activist as Mayat. While we have always accepted the inevitability of death, we can never come to terms with the often illogicality of its timing and eventuality. Mayat became a household name and possessed an incredible affinity with her book Indian Delights, which is internationally recognised. Her death drew wide public tributes and respect for her work. To Zuleikha Mayat: it was…

IN TIMES gone by, letters were one of the main means of communication with friends and relatives. We used to wait anxiously for the postman in the mornings. As soon as we saw him at the post box we ran out, opened the letters and read them eagerly. But the days of love letters are long over. Technology has taken over. Lovers now communicate via their cell phones. But last week, I saw a rare sight: A postman. He delivered a bill from the metro. When I opened it, I was surprised. It was dated May 26, 2023. Whose fault is it, the Post Office or the municipality? Your guess is good as mine. What we do know, however, is that the municipality does not send bills by post anymore.…

LOOK carefully at your co-workers and neighbours today (Wednesday) and you might notice a dark smudge on the foreheads of some of them. This is not some strange Valentine’s Day ritual but rather a reminder that February 14, 2024, is also Ash Wednesday. This is the traditional first day of Lent, the period of 40 days that for Christians leads up to the celebration of Easter (this year it will be on March 31). By coincidence, part of Lent will also overlap with Ramadaan (which will start around March 9). It is interesting how much the themes of the two periods have in common. First, there is a commitment to fasting. This is very specific and visible for Muslims in Ramadaan. For Christians, it is up to each…

THIS year’s election is said to be the most significant since 1994. Much is up for grabs as the political landscape continues to fracture amidst growing disillusionment with the ANC. And once again, the Indian vote will remain the subject of much debate and focus. As we know, and as Adam Habib’s work showed in the 1990s, the Indian vote has always been something of a myth. At the time wealthy Indians were voting differently than poor and working class Indians, who were losing jobs in clothing and shoe factories as the new democracy made their lives more difficult. It was clear that people vote in accordance with their material interests. The fortunes of the working class have undoubtedly deteriorated under ANC rule. This will likely lead many to abandon…

WE ARE deeply disturbed by the media statement from the Office of the Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS: KwaZulu-Natal regarding the relative of the alleged “kidnapped” 14-year-old girl, who was arrested for human trafficking and perjury. This is an outrageous and appalling crime that requires the strongest possible action. We commend the police for their efforts in uncovering this case and we hope that justice will be served swiftly and decisively. It is unimaginable for a relative to exploit a child in this way, and deceive the authorities with false claims of kidnapping. We stand in solidarity with the victim and all victims of human trafficking. We urge the authorities to continue their tireless efforts in combating this heinous crime. We hope that this case serves as a reminder for…

WHILE the family of slain farmer, Sagadava “Manna” Naidoo, searched for him, his alleged killers were apparently “enjoying” themselves at a tavern, indulging in braaied meat and alcohol. They then sold his cellphone for R300, the Durban High Court, heard yesterday. Naidoo, 74, a former mayor, had been shot in the head and dumped in a sugar cane field, next to a railway track about 1.5 kilometres away from his homestead in Canelands, Verulam on May 24, 2022. He was found on May 26, following a two-day search by members of Reaction Unit South Africa, police, family members and friends. Nzuzo Sabelo Khumalo, of Empangeni, was leading evidence for the State during the trial of three men, Sibongiseni Langa, 29, Clement Nkwanyana, 27, and Ignatius Chihoho, 46, all of Verulam,…

AN ENERGY expert says more customers are switching to prepaid electricity meters so that they can control their consumption and spend. Professor Sampson Mamphweli, the head of energy for the South African National Energy Department, said the electricity price increase by Nersa was determined on an annual basis using the Multi-Year Price Determination Methodology. “In this process, Eskom applies for the tariffs increase from the national energy regulator. They use projections for how much it will cost them to produce and distribute electricity. They are also allowed by law to make a minimum profit, which is termed the minimum allowable profit.” He said if they do projections for three years that was adjusted on an annual basis. “At the end of each financial year, they do financial reconciliation and submit…

The Shri Mariammen Temple Society in Mount Edgecombe will host a Valentine’s Day dinner and dance on Saturday at its arts and culture hall. The temple society has embarked on a rebuilding and refurbishing programme. Over the past 14 years, the temple trust has built the Mother’s Temple, including Lord Ganesha, Navagraha and Lord Shiva murthies. They are now refurbishing Mother Durga’s Temple. There will also be a new bell tower. At the dinner and dance, there will be a live band, Retro Vibes and a DJ. Tickets cost R150 per person. The event starts at 7pm. Parking is available at the Sipho Sethu Grounds. For information, call Allen Soobramoney at 082 778 1440 or email: admin@ammenkovil.co.za…

THERE is not much legal recourse when you willingly give your money to someone who has hoodwinked you in the name of love, say legal experts. Noven Naidoo, from Noven Naidoo and Attorneys, said cons could last for weeks and months until the victim realised that the scammer had no intention to meet or repay the money. “A few colleagues and I have had discussions about the rights and recourse available to our clients. First, one would have to prove an intention to defraud and permanently deprive the victim of his or her money. “Second, the courts may be reluctant to prosecute such a matter as the victim technically voluntarily lent or gave the money to the scammer. You would first have to show that there was some wrongdoing or…

CHELSEA coach Mauricio Pochettino described midfielder Conor Gallagher as “priceless” after he helped the club rally from a goal down to beat Crystal Palace 3-1 in the Premier League on Monday. The England international scored twice after Chelsea had fallen behind to Jefferson Lerma’s opener, before Enzo Fernandez’s 94th-minute goal sealed the victory. Gallagher, who has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge in the past two transfer windows, has missed only one of Chelsea’s 24 league games this season when he was sidelined due to suspension. He has made more than 30 appearances in all competitions and Pochettino said he was a player with “great commitment” to the team. “Always trying to compensate every situation in an offensive and defensive situation and that is priceless to have…

PRABHAS’S Salaar Part 1 – Ceasefire is set to release digitally in Hindi on February 16. The actor described the journey of putting the film together as a roller- coaster ride. Prabhas, who plays the title role of Deva, said: “I am absolutely thrilled to kick-off the year celebrating the success of Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire. “The journey of putting this film together has been incredible and an emotional roller-coaster for us. My fans in north and central India have been storming social media to know when Salaar will come in Hindi on streaming, and this one is for all of them. Here you go. Watch the film on Disney+ Hotstar!” Director and writer Prashanth Neel said: “I’ve always been a fan of rebellion stories filled with power-packed…

Duff is a psychic medium, soul coach, spiritual mentor, healer and animal communicator. She has been connecting with spirit for more than 20 years and runs her business, Quantum Soul, from Waterfall, KZN. She can be contacted at 072 986 5514 or sharron@quantsoul.com ARIES (March 21 – April 19) It is time to move on from the past because this only holds you back. Live and let live and make peace with decisions that are outside of your control. Forgive someone coming forward within the next seven to eight days, who has hurt you. Make space for new relationships and friendships. Lucky colour: red. TAURUS (April 20 – May 20) Good things are coming up and you are being asked to be patient. There is a material harvest on its…

3¼ cups flour 4 tsp baking powder pinch of salt 100g butter (not margarine) ½ cup sugar Mix the above and then add 1 cup buttermilk and 1 egg mixed together. If you have no buttermilk, mix 1 cup milk and 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice. Let it sit for 5 minutes. Mix all of the above roughly. Flour a surface and roll out lightly or press out by hand. Cut with a round cutter that is about 8cm in size. I prefer smaller bite-size scones. Brush with milk or beaten egg. Bake in a preheated oven at 200ºC for 12 to 15 minutes. Oven temperatures may vary.…

MELISHA David has fond memories of grinding mint chutney with her grandmother in the kitchen when she was about 6 years old. “We had an ‘Indian grinding stone’. I used to stand in front of my gran (Basmath Singh), while she placed her hand over mine and we made pudina (mint) chutney. I’ve always loved the kitchen. My granny passed on when I was about 8,” recalled David, the owner of Mels Kitchen 247, a home-based business she started six years ago. “Another memory is of when I was around 12. My mom (Shamila Singh) used to teach me to braise curries. My parents worked until late and I used to take care of my siblings after school, making simple meals like egg chutney and yellow potato. While other kids…

WITH the rising cost of living, the increase in the national minimum wage (NMW) brings some relief for workers. However, employers struggling to keep their business doors open, may be forced to cut costs – which may include retrenchments – leading to more unemployment in the country. Lasanthan Pillay, an attorney specialising in labour law, said the NMW was a double-edged sword, with positive and negative impact. “Employers have been affected due to load-shedding, a weaker rand value and increased fuel prices, among other external factors. This could be a reason why the employer may not be able to afford the increase, and may resort to other options to cut costs. “The employer has a right to apply for an exemption of the NMW. However, the employer must consult…

IN South Africa, the tracing of Indian indentured ancestry has been made easier to find because of the exhaustive work of the late Professor Joy Brain in cataloguing and analysing the details of all indentured ship passengers who came to colonial Natal. Brain and her colleagues at the then-University of Durban-Westville, now the University of KwaZulu-Natal, completed the final compilation of the ships’ list in 2003, publishing it in a digital format as a CD-Rom after photographing each page of the physical archival pages of the 384 ships’ list volumes. This data was later posted on the Gandhi-Luthuli Documentation Centre’s website on Microsoft Excel spreadsheets, downloadable in PDF format. Today, anyone with internet access can search for their ancestral roots if they know the ancestry ship number by clicking on…

LET us assume that God exists. It must be known that for God to be God, God must be God to all the people of the world. Hindu India was the first country to make every effort possible to determine whether there was a God or not. So the obvious question to ask is, what precisely was the contribution that Islam made to India’s religious culture? The controversy regarding the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya arises from the fact that Muslims destroyed a Hindu temple and replaced it with a mosque out of disrespect for Hinduism. The consequences were inevitable. Precisely what contribution has Islam made to India’s religious culture? The truth is that the Ram Temple was built many hundreds of years before the presence of Islam in India. The…

JASKARAN Moopanar Rajaruthnum must be a dejected and crestfallen young man. The Westville Boys’ High prodigy was placed second in the province and third in the country during last year’s matric exams after scooping a full house of eight distinctions. But the avid violinist’s celebrations were marred by false notes at a recent ceremony hosted by the KwaZulu- Natal Department of Education. At the Durban function, the MC had announced that the first- and second-placed candidates would be awarded Sasol bursaries of R10 000 each, but when it came to execution of the bursary award, it went to the first- and third-placed candidates. Where’s the logic here? This is naked and blatant racial prejudice. It must have left the youngster bare in thought. It’s not that the matriculant is “hard-up”…

There was a buzzing energy in Durban during voter registration as political parties went all out to get their supporters to register for the imminent election. In Albert Park the EFF and MK had large side-by-side operations running. In uMlazi the ANC and MK were going head to toe across the township, with no visible presence on my route of the EFF, IFP or DA. MK might be a new party but it has an impressively well-oiled machine, and clearly has a lot of money too. Rise Mzansi, another new party, had many posters – which indicates that they have donor money – but no registration tables. The white capital project fronted by Roger Jardine to the rumoured tune of R1 billion didn’t even have a single poster up. That…

ASHWIN Trikamjee and Ravi Pillay are absolutely correct. The findings of the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Rights Commission) and the South African Human Rights Commission regarding the July 2021 unrest, are false. The Amaoti-Phoenix conflict is a case in point. The Amaoti residents have always been welcome in Phoenix. There has always been a harmonious relationship between the two communities. Amaoti residents attend schools and churches in Phoenix. There have been no racial tensions. If there had been, why did the leaders not call up a meeting to resolve this issue? And how does the alleged racism lead to looting? And with such shocking nonchalance and impunity. One cannot deny that the incarceration of Jacob Zuma was the…

THE clock is ticking as the deadline looms for water to be restored in Phoenix, Verulam and oThongathi (Tongaat) by tomorrow (Thursday). On Sunday the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu, met with Phoenix residents at the Shastri Park Community Hall to update them on the water crisis interventions. While some welcomed Mchunu, others booed him – to show frustration at the ongoing water outages since the April 2022 floods. Mchunu was accompanied by advocate Vusi Khuzwayo, chairperson of the uMngeni-uThukela Water Board. He said work was being done day and night to ensure they met the deadline to have the water supply restored in the northern suburbs. Mchunu apologised for not meeting the previous deadline of restoring water by January 28. He said that date had been given…

IN THE age of the Metaverse, online dating has become an acceptable part of modern romance, offering individuals a platform to meet potential partners beyond geographical constraints. However, alongside its convenience and accessibility, online dating is often entangled with the looming threat of scams and stigmas, not limited only to the Indian community in South Africa but to most of the world in general. For many individuals, especially within traditional communities, the notion of finding love online can be met with scepticism and apprehension. In the context of the Indian community in South Africa, where cultural norms and family expectations historically played a significant role in marriage and relationships, online dating may be met with a mixture of curiosity, caution, and even scorn. One of the stigmas attached to online…

Director Aditya Dhar of Uri fame and his actress wife, Yami Gautam Dhar, who are gearing up for Article 370, are expecting their first child. The couple confirmed the pregnancy at the film’s trailer event in Mumbai. Article 370 drew its name from the now-abrogated constitutional provision that gave Jammu & Kashmir a special status. Yami arrived at the event with her husband and Priyamani, her co-star in the film. She played the role of a RAW agent in Aditya’s directorial debut film, Uri: The Surgical Strike. The film, with Vicky Kaushal in the lead role, presented a dramatised account of India’s surgical strike in response to Pakistan’s 2016 Uri attack. The couple kept their romance under wraps until finally taking their wedding vows on June 4, 2021, in Himachal…

Mira Rajput has reviewed her husband Shahid Kapoor’s latest release, Teri Baaton Main Aisa Uljha Jiya, and called the actor the “OG loverboy” (original gangster). Rajput took to her Instagram where she shared a snap shot from the film. She wrote: “Complete laughter, riot entertainment overload after ages. Love, laughter, masti, dancing and heart-touching message at the end. “Kriti Sanon you were pitch perfect. Shahid Kapoor the OG loverboy, there’s no one like you. You made my heart melt.” The film is based on a love story between a human and a robot. It’s about the character Aryan, who is not able to find a perfect life partner. But he meets a perfect girl, Sifra, during an official assignment in the US and falls in love with her, only to…

Sriya Reddy will star in OG with Pawan Kalyan and Emraan Hashmi. She said the film was intense, heartfelt, and took her back to her childhood. “As someone who appreciates quality cinema, I couldn’t be more thrilled about this upcoming project,” said Reddy. “I would summarise the movie by stating that it’s intense, heartfelt, and brings me back to my childhood … My character is strong and invincible. You will be surprised by the character, so different from Radha Rama.” The gangster drama is helmed by Sujeeth, who made his directorial debut in 2014 with the Telugu film Run Raja Run, at the age of 23. With major portions of the film shot in Mumbai and Hyderabad, the film is said to have great action drama, including high-octane sequences. In…

2 cups all-purpose flour 2 cups sugar 220g butter 1 cup water 5 tbs cocoa powder 2 eggs ½ cup buttermilk 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp vanilla essence Mix the flour and sugar in a large bowl. In a medium saucepan, combine the butter, water and cocoa over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a boil and pour over the flour/sugar mixture. Mix well. Add the eggs, buttermilk, baking soda and vanilla essence. Pour into a well-greased pan and bake at 180ºC for 30 minutes. fudge icing: 110g butter 4 tbs milk 4 tsb cocoa powder +/- 400g powdered sugar 1 tsp vanilla essence In a medium saucepan, combine the butter, milk and cocoa and bring the mixture to a boil. Remove from the heat and add the powdered…

Step 1 1 slab chocolate 200g choc chips 1 tbs coffee 1 cup melted butter Put this over a boiler and let it melt. Leave the ganache aside. Step 2 2 cups white sugar ½ cup dark brown or brown sugar 2 tsp vanilla essence 1 tsp salt Beat in 6 eggs, one at a time, for 5 minutes until you get a smooth, creamy mixture. Pour the chocolate ganache (from step 1) in and continue to beat on low for a further 5 minutes. Make sure it is 10 minutes in total. Step 3 Fold in… 1 cup cake flour 1 cup cocoa powder Don’t over mix. Add the chopped pecan nuts. Step 4 Pour the mixture into a greased 35cm x 25cm lined tin and bake at 180ºC…

A “HEARTBROKEN” woman, who sought help from a psychic to “connect” with her mother to find closure after her death, is claiming millions after the latter allegedly blackmailed her by threatening to divulge certain intimate details if she was not paid. The woman, a beauty therapist known as “KA”, turned to the Pietermaritzburg High Court to retrieve almost R5 million that she paid to the psychic, Deborah Govender, over months. Her father also instituted a claim for R540 000. This is money that he paid over to his daughter in the belief that she was setting up a beauty shop and needed the money. His daughter did not tell him at the time that the money was part of the blackmail money to pay the psychic. Govender represented herself in…

CLAIMS of a “red tide” forming on the North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal from Westbrook Beach in oThongathi (Tongaat) to the uThugela River have sparked concern among fisherfolk and bathers. Recent images and videos circulating on social media show dark patches of sea water with a reddish hue, as well as shellfish and other dead marine life washed ashore. Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife issued a statement last week saying it was still investigating and checking samples to see if it was a red tide. Communications manager Musa Mntambo said: “We are doing this in collaboration with research institutes. At this stage, it extends from Westbrook to the mouth of the uThukela estuary. “Once we have confirmation of the algal species, we will notify the relevant authorities, who will be responsible…

MORE than 45% of employers fail to comply with the national minimum wage (NMW). This emerged amid the recent increase of 8.5% in the NMW. Cosatu warned that “callous” employers who treated their employees like “glorified slaves” and did not adhere to the NMW, would be “called-out”. There has been mixed reaction to the increase. While some stakeholders have welcomed the increase, others don’t believe it will make a substantial difference in the livelihood of families, especially the working class. Thulas Nxesi, the Minister of Employment and Labour, recently announced that the NMW would increase from R25.42 to R27.58 an hour. The minimum rate for farm and domestic workers remains on par with the NMW. Workers employed on an expanded public works programme are entitled to a minimum wage of…

THE rand/dollar exchange rate, Brent crude oil and international petroleum prices are some of the factors that contribute to the increase in petrol and diesel prices. Last week, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy announced that the prices of petrol and diesel increased to 75 cents and 73 cents per litre, respectively. The Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe, said the adjustment of the fuel prices was based on current local and international factors. Willie Naicker, the chairperson of the Umdloti Farmers’ Association, said the petrol and diesel price increase would result in food prices climbing. “In addition to the petrol and diesel prices, there is also an 8.5% minimum wage increase farmers have to factor in. “These increases are going to put a dent in the…

THE ancestral flame danced on the wick of our Kamachi Vilakku, while my Amma sang the Namasivaya Maalai as my grandmother, Amrutham Varden, took her last breath. Goddess Kamatchi Amman of Kanchipuram is the central feature of the Kamachi Villakku (god lamp) symbolising light over darkness. Like the Kamachi Vilakku, the Namasivaya Maalai, a song sung during bereavement or prayer, holds an emotive connection to generations of Indian South Africans. For my beloved Amma, just saying the name ‘Kamachi’ rendered her emotional – for it connected her to her great-grandmother, 29-year-old indentured worker Camachee, no 3297, who arrived in South Africa from Madras, India, on board the Saxon in 1864. Worshipping Kamachi Amman connected us to our ancestral indentured labour catchment villages, that of Kanchipuram, Vellore, Chittoor, North and…

AS IS THE norm, the so-called South African experts on India are at it again. Their “expert knowledge and opinions” on the rebuilding of the Ram Mandir in India sadly reflects poorly on their numerous letters to the editor in various press publications. I find it strange that none of these writers mention the attacks on citizens, for example, in Spain and Greece, where architectural masterpieces in the form of world-renowned churches were destroyed and the respective citizens forcibly converted by Muslim invaders to Islam. Furthermore, their eerie silence when these very same mosques were rebuilt into churches in the above-mentioned countries reflect poorly on their biased views and their dislike of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Unfortunately, the same behavioural patterns were at the forefront when architectural masterpieces in the…

For the first time since the dawn of democracy in 1994, the governing ANC faces the prospect of no longer winning an outright majority in the national and some provincial elections. It is within this context that President Cyril Ramaphosa appeared to wilfully neglect his constitutional duty to deliver the annual State of the Nation Address (Sona) and used the occasion to launch the ANC’s 2024 election campaign. In typical ANC fashion, Ramaphosa’s speech continued with the tradition of apportioning blame for the ANC government’s failure to deliver on its promises. The president cited excuses that include the legacy of apartheid rule, Covid-19, and “the events beyond our borders”, such as the global financial crisis of 2007 and 2008, the Russia-Ukraine war, as well as the attacks on container ships…

A COMMON struggle of those in pursuit of a meaningful long-term relationship is not knowing where to meet a potential partner. Online dating has become a popular option but it is not without its pitfalls. While there are certainly success stories, many fall prey to scammers. Society continues to place a lot of importance on getting married: so much so that I see many successful adults who feel pressured to just settle. There is often the fear of never meeting someone, and the pressure mounts with the years. Online dating has become an accessible option, since there are few opportunities to meet potential partners in real-life settings. Safety tips on online dating: Be clear on what you want: Before even looking for a partner, think about the qualities that…

DON’T let the promise of love cost you dearly, warns the SA Banking Risk Information Centre (Sabric). As online dating in South Africa experiences a surge in popularity, an influx of scammers has also emerged. According to Sabric, romance scammers often go as far as creating profiles that match the requirements of the persons targeted, to quickly build trust between themselves and the unsuspecting victims. Sabric CEO Nischal Mewalall said: “The online dating market in South Africa is predicted to witness a substantial growth in the number of users and revenue. “Statista, a German online platform that specialises in data gathering and visualisation, reported that online dating revenue would reach more than R450 million in 2024 and online dating sites would have about 6.7 million users by 2028,”…

Please remember to leave the areas where you fish, in a better condition than when you got there. Take a few moments to pick up litter and take it to the nearest bin. Tight lines and screaming reels. The offshore fishing has been phenomenal/ The only issue or hurdle has been the big surf, making launching a nerve wracking affair. The North Coast has seen a lot of couta. The areas around Vidal have been full up of shoal couta and these greedy speedsters rarely say no to a bait. With the mackerel shortage at the moment, you might need to rely on the old faithful sardine. Don’t stress though, they work extremely well. The lower North Coast has had a good mix of gamefish with tuna, couta and snoek…