Table of contents for Wednesday, October 7, 2020 in Post

Reservoir Hills residents say no to land use amendment JANINE MOODLEY CLOSE to 7 000 residents, primarily from Reservoir Hills and surrounding areas, have objected to the proposed amendment to eThekwini’s Land Use Schemes which they believe, if finalised, would allow the city to use vacant public land for temporary housing. The amendment to the central, north, south, Reservoir Hills, inner west and outer west land use schemes was publicised in the media in July and the public had until this week to object. In terms of the proposal, the number of days for the temporary use of any facility, property or infrastructure would be increased from 28 days to 52 days. There is also provision for this period to be extended beyond that with the permission of the head…

Dad fatally shot in robbery NADIA KHAN A GAUTENG businessman was killed during an an alleged armed robbery last Monday. Suresh Parsot, 68, of Bronkhorstspruit, was shot in the lower back soon after he and his two sons, Meetesh and Dinesh, had left their family-owned supermarket. Meetesh said: “We closed the business at around 6pm and we got into Dinesh’s bakkie … Dad and Dinesh were going to drop me off at home about five minutes from the supermarket. “Dinesh stopped on the roadside and as I got out of the car and closed the door, I heard a gunshot. I turned and saw a white Audi A4 ram into the back of the bakkie.” He said two armed men jumped out. “One guy ran towards me and the other…

Indenture: more research is needed IN THE trail of Britain’s abolition of slavery in 1834, the colonial government of India oversaw the migration of close to two million Indians signing contracts of indenture up to the end of World War I. The new system of labour provision saw the “migration” of the Indian diaspora to British colonies that included the Mascerene Islands of Mauritius and Reunion, South Africa, the West Indies and Fiji. Traditionally, the historical literature on indenture has been split into two narratives that speak of coercion or voluntary migration. Hugh Tinker’s A New System of Slavery and Shashi Tharoor’s Inglorious Empire speak of coerced indenture that resulted from the British destruction of a flourishing rural economy of India. The destruction resulted in the audacious looting of India,…

Ellaurie loses case lodged against two media houses CHANELLE LUTCHMAN CHANDRA Ellaurie, who took a madrassa to the Durban High Court, lost his case against two media houses this month. In August, Ellaurie submitted an application asking that the call to prayer at the Madrasah Taleemuddeen Islamic Institute in Isipingo not be heard beyond the boundaries of its property. Judge J Mngadi ordered that the institute ensure that the Azaan was not audible within the building on Ellaurie’s property. In a subsequent complaint to the Press Council, Ellaurie said the Sunday Times and a webpage that introduced an eNCA report described him as a “self-confessed Islamophobe” and “self-proclaimed Islamophobe”, respectively. Ellaurie’s complaints first went to the acting public advocate for the Press Council. In his report, the acting public advocate…

Amnesty shuts India operations THANDEKA MGQIBI AMNESTY International, a global human rights agency, announced last Tuesday that it was shutting down its operations in India. On its webpage, Amnesty said this was due to the government freezing all of its funds through an order last month. In a statement, the advocacy group accused India’s government of “an incessant witch-hunt” against human rights organisations that have revealed wrongdoing by Indian authorities in recent years. “For a movement that has done nothing but raise its voices against injustice, this latest attack is akin to freezing dissent,” Avinash Kumar, executive director of Amnesty International India, said in the statement. Amnesty’s latest investigations in India were claimed to have focused on alleged human rights abuses in India’s only Muslim-majority region, Kashmir, as well as…

What is cerebral palsy Cerebral palsy is a condition that affects movement, posture and co-ordination. These problems may be seen at, or around, the time of birth. If a child has cerebral palsy, it means that part of their brain is either not working properly or it has not developed normally. It may be the result of a problem occurring during the first weeks of the baby’s development in the womb (such as an infection), or in a number of cases it can be the result of a difficult or premature birth. Sometimes there is no obvious cause. Children with cerebral palsy cannot control their muscles very well. This means that their muscles are stiff or go into spasm, which means they move in a jerky and uncoordinated way. Some…

OPINION Post-Covid challenges for SA universities NONTOBEKO MTSHALI ACROSS the world, the higher education sector is changing because of the pandemic. Vice-chancellors from three South African universities share their insights What long-lasting changes to South Africa’s higher education sector has the pandemic brought? And how will these affect the way universities deliver teaching and research? • Mamokgethi Phakeng, UCT: University teaching will draw from various methods that range between fully face-to-face and fully online. Long before Covid-19, the University of Cape Town recognised the need to prepare students for a digitally mediated world. For example, by the beginning of this year, about 60% of UCT lecturers had chosen to record their lectures. Covid-19 fast-tracked the process as we launched emergency remote teaching. Many of our academics say they will never…

A powerful symbiotic relationship of trust PETE LABURN DURING the past 30 years, I have worked with organisations and leaders to assist them to understand their purpose, see possibilities, craft bold, forward-thinking strategies and enhance their leadership effectiveness. And I am convinced of the conclusion that: followers change things – leaders don’t. So, if you think you are a leader but nobody is following you, you are really just talking a walk. As the 21st century chalks up another new decade, it is still entrenched in history and permeates in modern leadership theory that the notion that people holding positions of authority are extremely important – and followers matter far less. In a whole repertoire of academic literature on the world’s most topical subject, attention is only really given to…

Legal letter that opened a Pandora’s box I ACKNOWLEDGE your attorney’s letter where you demanded that I pay the sum of R51 239.60 into their bank account or face a warrant of execution instructing the sheriff to attach and remove my movable assets. My initial response was disbelief that you would take such action considering your current and previous arrears on the children’s maintenance which you still owe. This is despite several court appearances where you claimed to be unemployed and financially compromised, and when you have failed to pay any school fees for 2020 based on the costs of your newborn baby. One would assume that your claim for legal costs could easily be offset against what you owe in children’s maintenance or even against your future monthly maintenance…

We’ve become numb to the violence IT is heartbreaking to watch as our country is torn apart by mindless violence. The killing of 10 people near Mariannhill and other areas in KwaZulu-Natal shows that our rainbow nation has become a killing zone. Respect and fear for the law is non-existent. While we remain a democracy, we seem intent on striking out at the democratic values that have enabled us to survive against the odds. The violence has been overwhelming. No democracy can allow such violence. No civilised society can tolerate such wanton disregard for human lives and no state can accept such mindless discord. The hymn God Bless Africa composed for the founding conference of the ANC in 1912 became the hymn of freedom for many nations in southern Africa.…

Let’s try to end prejudice MY wife has been a teacher for many years. I often ask her about the interesting interactions that take place at school. She would tell me about a child that asked her an interesting question. The first thing I would ask was whether the child was white, Indian or African. The schools she taught at were either government or private schools. Her reaction was standard: “What difference does it make?” Even with some nasty clash or a nice encounter with a staff colleague, her reply about the person’s race would be either ignored or deflected. I eventually learnt the hard way … by repeatedly trying to verify the race, I was in fact being a racist. I was seeking a stereotyped link to the good,…

Your Stars SHARRON DUFF Aries (March 21 – April 19) You may find yourself needing to call on outside expertise to help with a project. This could be at home or at work. This may be something that you can do on your own but you could benefit from the assistance of a specialist. Don’t be too proud to learn something new this week. It will hold you in good stead at a later date. Lucky colour: purple. Taurus (April 20 – May 20) If you have been waiting for good news or news that will seal a business deal or opportunity, then know that the universe is working in your favour. This week is all about new opportunities. Be open to a surprise in the form of a visit…

Bafana warm up for Afcon ESHLIN VEDAN BAFANA Bafana are due to play two friendlies this week – the first against Namibia tomorrow and the second against Zambia on Sunday. The game against Namibia will be the national team’s first action of 2020 and first game in nearly a year. They were last in action last November in a 1-0 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier victory over Sudan. While the results from the games won’t matter in the grand scheme of things, the games will serve as vital preparation for crucial home and away qualifiers against Sao Tome and Principe next month. There were some surprise inclusions in the squad. Lesser known names included are the 26-year-old defender Thibang Phete who plays for Belenenses SAD in Portugal and Kurt…

Kajol makes all the right moves THANDEKA MGQIBI A GRADE 3 pupil won two awards at the recent Johannesburg Women in Sports Awards virtual ceremony on Friday. Kajol Naidoo, nine, of Fourways, was awarded the School Sports Athlete of the Year and the Sports Achiever of the Year accolades in chess. She is a pupil at Radford House in Fairlands. Kajol is already a multi award winner and her parents could not be more proud of her. “We are grateful and blessed that she has found a talent that is able to take her to places,” said Gerard Naidoo, her father. He said Kajol had a few accolades, including being the youngest South African chess champion. “Last year, she earned a gold medal at the African Youth Chess Championship in…

Moyes gets ‘Hammered’ by fans ESHLIN VEDAN THE past matchday was arguably one of the most surprising in Premier League history. In a rare coincidence, arch rivals Manchester United and Liverpool both experienced thrashings by five-goal margins in their respective games on Sunday. United’s defence was again exposed as they were punished 6-1 by Tottenham Hotspur. The only thing which the Red Devils had to celebrate in the game was the fact that they took the lead through a Bruno Fernandes penalty. With the score 4-1 at half-time, United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer already conceded defeat as he had substituted Bruno with the more defensive Fred. Had Aston Villa and particularly Ross Barkley had more luck on the day, the Villains could have scored more than 10 goals against Liverpool.…

Dad is a ‘master manipulator’ JORDAN Pillay, the 18-year-old daughter of Neville and Karol Pillay, has labelled her father a “master manipulator”. She said she was disappointed by what he had done. “After all that we have done for him and how much we have loved and cared for him, he is going around saying that I’m part of his alleged abuse? It’s shocking because it’s not true. If my mom really beat up my dad, I would stand up for him. No child would want to see her parent hurt,” said Jordan. “When he said that I do nothing for him in that clip, it really hurt me because I have been constantly at his side since his health scare last year. We are with him. We help him…

Four suspects in court for man’s fatal stabbing CHANELLE LUTCHMAN FOUR suspects were arrested in connection with the killing of Isipingo resident Shaun Govender, who was stabbed while returning home from work last week. The 35-year-old father of one was robbed of his lunch bag and shoes. He was stabbed multiple times. On Tuesday, the suspects, aged between 22 and 64, were arrested and charged with murder. They appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Friday. Sinethemba Selani, Phethuxala Nxosani and Ntando Chiliza were denied bail. According to a police source, they were found with the murder weapon and with Govender’s shoes. Govender’s brother Noel said: “My brother was a gem of a guy. We are still heartsore and trying to come to terms with his loss. These men need…

MPP pushes for widows’ grant CHANELLE LUTCHMAN SHAMEEN Thakur Rajbansi, an MPP and leader of the Minority Front, could be a few steps closer to having a widows’ grant included in the Social Assistance Amendment Act. The Act provides payments for old age, foster and child support grants among others. Thakur Rajbansi, who is a widow, said the grant would benefit thousands if legislated. “The National Assembly is working to amend the Act and we have been asked to contribute suggestions of what should be included. “I have been fighting for a widows’ support grant since early 2001. Many housewives rely on their husbands’ incomes. When the spouse dies, the widow may not have financial assistance. I feel that widows fall through the cracks.” She said that when her husband,…

Love spawns generations from India to South Africa and beyond TICKO AYER GOPAUL Iyer and Muthaki Gounder were both born in 1868 in Coimbatore, south India. Although there is not much historical record of the years preceding their departure to South Africa, it is reasonable to assume that there was a binding love that they shared. Gopaul attended a cultural festival in 1886 where he laid eyes on Muthaki. She travelled from her village (Cotoor) to visit family in Gopaul’s village. Muthaki was accompanied by her cousin, Karuppannen Gounder, who was two years younger than her and Gopaul’s friend. He was the agent provocateur and was to remain a link between the couple, who were smitten with each other. However, there was one snag. Muthaki’s parents promised her hand in…

Anti-corruption webinar by Sabha THANDEKA MGQIBI IN its effort to contribute to the fight against corruption, the South African Hindu Maha Sabha will host an anti-corruption webinar on Saturday. Ashwin Trikamjee, the Sabha’s president, said the objective was to support and escalate mobilisation against corruption by increasing public awareness. “Everyday lurid details of corrupt practices by custodians of the state and their allies in business and society at large make headlines. Amid this depressing narrative, is also a ray of hope as the people of this country fight back,” said Trikamjee. “We need to join the struggle to take our country in the direction that was promised on that amazing day in 1994 when Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as the first democratically elected president of South Africa.” Trikamjee added that…

Thaciana refuses to be defined by her wheelchair World Cerebral Palsy Day was commemorated on October 6. A Durban youth celebrates successes despite living with the condition and studies show that video game technology can help with therapy CHANELLE LUTCHMAN Supplied NAIL technician Thaciana Pillay encourages others to reach for their dreams, no matter how impossible they may seem. Pillay, 20, of Merebank, has cerebral palsy. The disorder affects movement, posture and co-ordination. “I was 2 years old when I was diagnosed with spastic diplegia. It is a form of cerebral palsy that is caused by brain damage,” said Pillay. “It usually appears in early childhood, and it permanently affects muscle control and coordination. Regardless of the early diagnosis, I have never felt as though I were different from anybody…

It’s all about getting the balance right This has been a testing year for many matric pupils. The South African College of Applied Psychology recently held a webinar on study hacks to get through the end-of-year exams. Experts shared tips on how to keep calm and plan holistically. The finals start on October 19 LATOYA NEWMAN pexels. com EXPERTS agree that balancing mental toughness and emotional resilience with caring for physically well-being is equally important. Getting sufficient sleep, proper nutrition and being physically active should also be on your radar as you prepare. Eat right Nathalie Mat, a clinical dietitian with a special interest in child and adolescent nutrition, said: “How we eat affects our energy levels and concentration. Eating balanced meals and snacks with a variety of foods results…

EDITOR’S VIEW A month of unusual happenings THE PHRASE “once in a blue moon” refers to something that does not happen often. The term was coined by our ancestors, based on how often they saw the full moon in a single month. If the moon was sighted twice in a month, the second sighting was referred to as a blue moon. And since it did not happen all that frequently, the term “once in a blue moon” came about. This October we will see a full moon twice. We saw it on the first of the month and, if the skies are clear, we will see it again on the 31st. It is not something that happens frequently, but October 2020 is proving to be a month of unusual happenings.…

Funerals are only a family’s business THE column by Ashwin Trikamjee “Bagpipes and Bentleys … Hindu funeral have become circuses” (the POST, September 30-October 4) requires a response. It is amazing how many self-appointed individuals are now engaging with undertakers as to how to conduct funerals. The funeral industry for far too long has taken abuse. Nobody understands the dynamics of a funeral and the hard work put in. I must confess to a somewhat cynical view of the many comments on various social media. Just to remind Mr Trikamjee that he conveniently fails to address that the funeral parlours are, first, a service to grieving families at any time and, second, a business. It is ultimately the family’s choice of what they want for a funeral for their loved…

Reviving Cape Town Spurs FC AFTER failing to regain football professional status in South Africa, the 51% stake that Ajax Amsterdam held in Ajax Cape Town has been sold to Cape Town Stars (CTS). The latter, up until now, has been a minority shareholder of Ajax Cape Town. The great news is that the franchise will be rebranded and revived, as Cape Town Spurs FC. The recollections and history of Cape Town Spurs have vanished from the memory banks of the current football fraternity. You will have to be of my generation to remember that this dynamic club birthed such stars as Shaun Bartlett, Andre Arendse and David Kannemeyer. Cape Town Spurs is a product of the now-defunct Federation Professional League (FPL) that was formed in 1969 to promote football…

Rapper uses music to tell his stories Chatsworth-born teacher proud of Indian heritage LATOYA NEWMAN Supplied FOR Taragan Moodley, a rap artist, the response to his music often comes in the form of what he describes as a culture shock. “Hip hop is not usually associated with someone of South African/Indian heritage,” said Moodley, aka Tiger. “But it’s my hope to bridge that gap and use music as a platform to tell my stories.” Moodley recently released his latest track video, My Turn. The song is something of a lyrical assertion of his rise in hip hop and the video is a visual celebration of his culture. A teacher by profession, Moodley was born in Chatsworth and is the grandson of a coal miner. On the heels of Heritage Month…

Purtassi inspiration Food blogger Denisiya Hemraj offers recipes for Purtassi mealtime inspiration. Follow her at eatmeerecipes.co.za or www.youtube.com/denisiyahemraj Dhal Pita THE DHAL salt to taste 2 cups yellow pea dhal 1 small onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic 3 dried chillies 2 tsp turmeric powder 1 tsp mustard seeds fresh dhania (coriander) for garnishing 1 sprig curry leaves 1 small jam/rosa tomato 2 tbs cooking oil + 1 additional tsp 1 sprig thyme (optional) 1 tsp jeera seeds (cumin seeds) THE PITA (dough) 1 cup flour 1 tbs butter pinch of salt ± 2 cups boiling water THE DHAL Add pea dhal to a bowl and sift through to remove stones or blemished pieces. Rinse dhal, then fill the bowl with water and allow to soak for 10 minutes. Discard the…

TURKISH GRAND PRIX UNDER FAN LOCKOUT THE Formula One Turkish Grand Prix on November 15 will take place without fans after Istabul authorities decided on Monday the public will not be allowed in as the country tries to control the spread of the coronavirus. “Within the scope of efforts to fight the coronavirus pandemic, and in accordance with the recommendation of the Istanbul Provincial Pandemic Committee, the F1 Turkish Grand Prix will be held without spectators,” a statement said. Race organisers were hoping to host up to 100 000 fans, with more than 40 000 tickets sold within the first hours of sales. Formula One recently started to allow spectators back to tracks with around 3 000 fans at the Tuscany Grand Prix in Mugello on September 13 and 30…

getting HOOKED THE shad season has come to a close but the other fish have made up for the loss. Congratulations to our biggest shad competition winners and to all those who weighed fish in. The offshore seasons are changing and the summer fish are starting to make an appearance. The dorado and sailfish are making it on to the catch reports from both charters and recreational anglers. The sea conditions have, however, been far from ideal with plenty of very bumpy days. Luckily we are almost out of the windy months so we should be able to predict the conditions a bit further in advance. The rock and surf fishing is starting to heat up with more summer fish being landed in the past week. Well done to our…

Man Utd splash cash SIMON JONES Reuters MANCHESTER United made four signings on transfer deadline day, including Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani while European champions Bayern Munich strengthened with two new arrivals. But the biggest single move of the day was midfielder Thomas Partey, pictured, making a $58.46 million (about R972.597 million) switch from Atletico Madrid to Arsenal. United signed Cavani on a free transfer, Brazilian left back Alex Telles from Porto, Uruguayan 18-year-old winger Facundo Pellistri and reached an agreement to sign Atalanta’s teenage winger Amad Diallo. European champions Bayern signed right back Bouna Sarr from Olympique de Marseille and brought back Brazilian winger Douglas Costa on loan from Juventus. Arsenal met the $58.40 million (R972.257 million) release clause for the 27-year-old Ghana international Partey who should add some steel…

IPL captaincy: not a task one envies YAJURVINDRA SINGH THE Indian Premier League (IPL) has brought cricket once again into the lives of millions of Indian cricket enthusiasts. Most of the matches have been exciting and to have two of them as tied encounters have given it the extra boost, especially to the absorbed and thrilled T20 viewers. The Super Over tie-breaker concept that comes into play when teams are tied is a very interesting one, better than the previous law of a bowling shootout. This is a very important area which many of the IPL team management have not given much thought to. The teams seem uncertain as to who from their side should be the ones to play in the Super Over. The bowler and the three batsmen…

It is really sad what he has put us through, says ex-wife CHANELLE LUTCHMAN FOR Karol Pillay, her husband Neville’s video came as a surprise. The 47-year-old said three days earlier, she had found out that he had smoked dagga with a friend. “He said he was going to a pharmacy for medication because he had a script,” said Karol. “A few hours went by and he didn’t return. I then found out that he had been smoking weed somewhere. When he got home, I confronted him.” She said she told him that he smelt of cannabis and that she would not allow him into the home. Karol said he told her that it was his business and no one could stop him. “Weed is a trigger of the past…

Mother angry after son’s killer ‘walks free’ NADIA KHAN Supplied A KWADUKUZA mother does not believe justice was served, after one of three men accused of assaulting and killing her son received a suspeded sentence. Dillon Puckree, 24, of Glenhills, was allegedly punched and repeatedly kicked by a group of men, outside a pub, on September 9, 2017. Puckree, a taxi-conductor, later died in hospital. Ruvaal Mudali, 22, Preston Naidoo, 24, and a third accused, then 17, were arrested and charged with the killing. The teenager cannot be named, as he was a minor at the time of the incident. In January this year, Naidoo, who was previously charged with murder, pleaded guilty to assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm. He said he learnt of Puckree’s death the…

Sisters’ sons killed in collision Tragedy on Old North Coast Road CHANELLE LUTCHMAN Supplied TWO sisters lost their sons in a car accident on Sunday on the Old North Coast Road. Brothers Mynolin Chetty, 29, and Kamlin, 24, and their cousin, Sivesh Pillay, 25, were involved in a collision with another vehicle near the R102 in Phoenix. Leon Fourie, of Life Response, said the three relatives were trapped in their car and died at the scene. He said the occupants of the other vehicle sustained moderate injuries and were treated at the scene before being taken to hospital. Pillay’s mother, Simla, of Johannesburg, said: “I cannot accept what has happened. My family and I arrived in Durban on Thursday to attend my brother’s one-year death ceremony in Chatsworth. On Sunday…

Report ‘hints’ at star’s suicide IANS REPORTERS THE forensic department of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), in its report to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), has “hinted” that the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput was suicide and not murder. The forensic panel was formed at the request of the CBI in August, to assist in giving a medical-legal opinion regarding Rajput’s death. These findings would reject claims of poisoning and strangling made by the actor’s family and their lawyer. Rajput was found dead in his Bandra apartment on June 14, in Mumbai. While the Mumbai police concluded the actor had committed suicide, the actor’s family and fans cast doubt in their ability to properly investigate the matter. The case was subsequently taken up by…

Serious gaming designed to improve health in patients Technology offers chance at a better quality of life DR DAVID HOBBS The Conversation and The South Australian Department of State Development CEREBRAL palsy (CP) is the most common childhood physical disability, affecting more than 17 million people worldwide. The condition results when there is an injury to the developing brain that goes on to affect a child’s movement and posture, but it can also include the senses (vision, hearing, touch) and cognition (thinking). On average, the incidence of CP means that a new case occurs every 500 live births, or about once every 18 hours. There is no cure for CP and it is a life-long condition. Most children with CP require ongoing therapy and exercise to maintain or improve their…

Why we continue to ignore the elephant in the room IAN FUHR IN 1994, I wrote an article in which I stated that “the ‘eggshell issues’ of racial discrimination, bias, prejudice and stereotyping – until now far too sensitive to discuss openly – needed to become the subject of continuous debate at all levels of the organisation”. Recent events have made it clear that those eggshell issues are just as sensitive today as they were 26 years ago. As a nation (and as businesses) we still skirt around the issues of systemic racism. This means that individuals and organisations alike are trying to pretend that racism does not exist, and the result is internal business issues that spill out into communities through poorly conceived advertising, job descriptions, messaging and even…

Huge task ahead for Visvin Reddy VISVIN Reddy was elected president of African Democratic Change (ADeC) at a challenging time in our history. Our country is in turmoil as our entire political system has collapsed. The political parties that were elected to represent us have all forgotten the voters. They are in it for themselves. Take a look at the various corruption scandals involving senior politicians. At the centre of most of these are ANC members and this party has a track record of failing South Africans in every area. It’s a complete mess and a disaster. Reddy has a mammoth task ahead of him. First, he has to convince the growing number of disillusioned voters who are opting to stay away from the polls that they must exercise their…

eThekwini out of touch with tourists AMBITIOUS new plans by eThekwini Municipality to build a giant Ferris wheel at the Point Waterfront are sure to be relegated to the growing pile of other unobtainable dreams in KwaZulu-Natal. Our province has for years been awash with revolutionary plans and ideas which have failed to materialise, and the question must be asked – what makes this one different? The massive Nelson Mandela statue envisaged to stand at the Durban Port entrance, a statue donated by the Chinese government, and a Drakensberg cable car, are among the many elaborate and costly plans that will supposedly boost tourism and economic development in our province. These initiatives seem to show that KZN’s provincial and municipal tourism authorities don’t really know their customers. International tourists do…

Prudent financial changes pay off THE lead story “Hunger stalks communities” (the POST, September 30-October 4) reflects the hardships that communities are experiencing due to the coronavirus. This is especially so for the unemployed and pensioners. As a pensioner myself, I have made some significant decisions regarding my financial portfolio that has helped me to survive these trying times. First, I reviewed my medical aid cover that I was a member of for over 50 years and changed to a new provider that saved me R1 200 a month – with even better benefits. My “out of hospital” benefits that are not used during the year are carried forward as savings to the following year, unlike my previous provider. I also reviewed my medical GAP cover when I realised I…

Fillies crop stamp themselves special DAVID THISELTON THE three-year-old fillies crop stamped itself as potentially special over the weekend with a number of outstanding performances. In Johannesburg the crop's flag was flown by Anything Goes, War Of Athena and Ecstatic Green and in Cape Town by Captain's Ransom. Anything Goes, who was named Equus Champion Two-year-old filly of last season, put up the performance of the weekend as she carried a 2kg Grade 1 penalty and yet that did not stop her beating two useful four-year-olds, Grade 1-placed Magic School and Grade 3 winner Mount Laurel, by three lengths and 5,25 lengths respectively on terms 2kg worse than weight for age. The Stuart Pettigrewtrained Varsfontein Stud-bred Var filly is now unbeaten in five starts. She had the advantage of a…

KVITOVA FOCUSES ON ‘HAPPY MEMORIES’ THE French Open holds special memories for Petra Kvitova, not because she has won the title but because it is where she resumed her career after a knife attack that almost ended it. Kvitova was sidelined for six months after an attack by a burglar at her home in the Czech Republic just before Christmas in 2016 that left her with severe damage to the nerves and tendons in her left hand. She returned, ahead of schedule, at the 2017 French Open and lost in the second round, but it was a crucial moment in a return to some sort of normality for the twice Wimbledon winner. So she admitted her 6-2 6-4 victory over China’s Zhang Shuai on Monday to put her within reach of the…