Table of contents for 2021-06-09 in Post

Charlene Somduth charlene.somduth@inl.co.za SHAMITHA Naidoo grew up in Motala Heights in Pinetown. She lived in a wood-and-iron home with her parents, George and Angie Naidoo, and her six siblings. They had no water, no electricity and no ablution facilities. Month after month, Naidoo watched politicians hold meetings with the community, promising them a better life. However, according to Naidoo, who still lives in the area, nothing changed. “My parents settled in the area 50 years ago. They were living in Pinetown and had to move out because of some developments. “They and others found a home in Motala Heights which is also known as Motala Farm.” Naidoo, a mother of two, said when she did research on the area she found that the land was given to Indian settlers for…

Latoya Newman latoya.newman@inl.co.za Trippin’ with the Kandasamys, the third part of the popular film franchise, scored record watches on Netflix at the weekend. It released on June 2 on Netflix, the world's leading streaming entertainment service, and on the Netflix app, up until Tuesday (June 8) the film still dominated the #1 slot of Top Ten in South Africa. “We’ve been inundated with messages and calls of support,” said Jayan Moodley, the film’s director. “South Africans have come out once again in numbers and showed their love and support, for which we’re grateful. “We were so excited to go onto this new platform. The content Netflix offers is really the best of the best and to have South Africa support us in this way means so much. We also…

Killer abused trust to commit heinous crime against pensioner Janine Moodley janine.moodley@inl.co.za A gardener who used his position of trust to attack and kill Newlands West pensioner Shirley James in her home, will spend the rest of his life behind bars. Mzwakhe France Mbulawa, 45, was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder and 15 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances. In passing sentence in the Durban High Court on Tuesday, acting Judge Faith Mlaba said the case was one of femicide and, as a result, the minimum prescribed sentence must be adhered to. Mlaba said Mbulawa took advantage of a pensioner who lived alone and planned her murder. “Femicide is a grave deal in society. The accused killed a vulnerable, helpless old woman. This type of crime is prominent…

Charlene Somduth charlene.somduth@inl.co.za FATHIMA Munir’s death has left a void in the lives of teachers and pupils at the Phoenix Muslim School. Munir, 49, an Islamic Studies teacher, was killed in a collision with another vehicle in Eastbury, Phoenix, on Thursday. She was driving home, also in Eastbury, with her daughters Sabeeha, 17, and Thaskiyya, 14. The teenagers survived the accident with injuries. They are still in hospital. Sabeeha, a matric pupil, suffered a fractured left lower limb and dislocated wrist. Thaskiyya, a Grade 7 pupil, had a damaged pelvis and hip. They are also pupils at the Phoenix Muslim School. Rehana Buckus, the deputy principal of the school, said Munir’s death had left a void in their lives. “It was just so sudden. Teachers and pupils received counselling…

Nadia Khan nadia.khan@inl.co.za FOR over two years, Carolyn Moonsamy has struggled to secure employment despite sending out hundreds of applications. Moonsamy, 28, of Port Shepstone, obtained a BSc degree in geography and environmental management at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in 2017. She has been battling to get a job since graduating. “As a child, I never had a dream job. But my love for nature and the environment, together with the opportunity I was given to pursue a degree in this field of study, taught me about the relationship between society and the environment. It helped me realise the role that we play as custodians over the resources of the earth.” Moonsamy, formerly of Merebank, received a bursary from the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (Wessa), to cover…

Janine Moodley janine.moodley@inl.co.za Reza Haffajee, 22, from Reservoir Hills buys and sells various items to be able to get by. He is unemployed, but looking for a job to assist him with his daily expenses. Haffajee, who is also studying information technology part-time at Damelin, said a job had been hard to come by. “It’s actually quite a sad feeling knowing that it’s difficult to get a job. It’s affecting my life to a great extent. In this day and age money is needed for almost everything. Having a good job that secures your everyday needs is all I want.” To make ends meet, he buys and sells items on online sites such as alloy wheels, car accessories and everyday-use items. He then sells them privately for a small profit.…

IT IS THE height of irony, the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) tries to invoke the rights of Jewish people to dignity and freedom of speech, and yet canvasses, supports and protects the actions of Zionist Israel to ethnically cleanse Palestinians. Distorted media coverage of Israel has left the majority of Americans and many Europeans largely ignorant of Israel’s rights-abusive policies, helping to cast Israeli Jews as the eternal victims and Palestinians as aggressors. In his book, Beyond Chutzpah, Norman Finkelstein comments that: “The memories of the Holocaust are exploited to deflect criticism of Israel.” Finkelstein further cautions that we must be wary of ideologies of uniqueness, for they inevitably lead to ideologies of unique moral dispensation or immunity. It is not appropriate to respond to widespread and…

CONTROVERSY has beset the handling of the Covid virus from the outset and with the suggestion that a “third wave” is apparent in Durban (the POST, June 2-6), it is time some aspects of Covid were cleared up. If Covid constituted a “pandemic”, we would be seeing people dying in the streets and the morgues overflowing. That is what happened during the Black Death in parts of Europe in the 14th century. Instead, despite the draconian measures against the spread of Covid, statistics show there has not been a drastic increase in the average death rate. While the scientists at DUT may well detect a spike in viral loads in wastewater, which they claim indicates the onset of a new bout of Covid, the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test, which…

I AM on record, and I reiterate, that I find the POST Newspaper’s all-inclusiveness of opinions, most invigorating as well as a stimulating read. This is what our Bill of Rights prescribes. On letters dated June 2-9, you published letters from both sides of the Palestinian imbroglio. As an avid reader of daily, weekly and weekend newspapers, this is the first time a paper dared to be balanced and to publish without taking sides or as I would describe it “without fear or favour”. I don’t agree with the writers on that page pertaining to Israel. It is their opinion that must find expression in the public domain. Our Constitution demands that. Even Islamophobes like Sanu Singh in her letter “Indians have good reason for supporting Israel” in the POST…

Nadia Khan nadia.khan@inl.co.za DESPITE tertiary qualifications and experience, Rushendran Naidoo is struggling to break into the job market. Naidoo, 28, of Merebank, obtained a diploma in mechanical engineering at the Durban University of Technology in 2016. He applied for a marine engineering programme with the SA Maritime Training Academy and was accepted in 2017. Naidoo went on to study marine theory at Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) in 2018. He then completed his workshop courses at De Beers Kimberley in 2019 and his practical training on Maersk vessels for a year. But it has been seven months and, despite various applications, he still has not landed a job. “It was an awesome opportunity to work with machinery and systems you rarely see on land as well as travelling around…

Nokuthula Mabuza nokuthula.mabuza@inl.co.za PAMELA Sibiya, an unemployed journalism graduate from Inanda, west of Durban, says she feels that job hunting has become a job on its own. Sibiya, 26, matriculated in 2012 at Inanda Newtown Comprehensive High School. She graduated in 2016 with a diploma in journalism at the Durban University of Technology. She said what affected her most was that since she graduated up until 2019, she didn’t have her qualification certificate due to the debt she owed to the institution. Sibiya hopes to secure a job to better her family’s life. “I couldn’t apply properly. I needed a certificate, which I didn’t have. It got worse when I just decided to stop applying because I was not even getting calls for interviews, it was just silence.” In 2018,…

Charlene Somduth charlene.somduth@inl.co.za KIMERA Naicker has applied for 100 jobs since graduating as an architect from the Durban University of Technology in 2019. Naicker, 23, from Woodview in Phoenix, has only received three invitations for interviews. She remains unemployed. Naicker is now working at her sister's ophthalmology practice as a volunteer. “I graduated cum laude with a BTech in architectural technology. I remembered feeling so accomplished and proud of myself. Back then, I envisioned myself having a good-paying job and having my own home. I never expected to be unemployed for such a long time." Naicker said the challenge was Covid-19. “I approached companies for internships or vacancies for junior positions and most of the responses were that they were closed due to Covid-19 or there were no vacancies due…

| Gameplan ONE of South African cricket’s rising stars Thando Ntini is looking forward to calling Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium home when he joins the Dolphins hoping to feature heavily for the trophy winning team. The 20-year-old East London-born bowler joins the Dolphins after a season on the Highveld with the Momentum Multiply Titans and says that moving back to the sea is a homecoming of sorts. “Coming to Durban is returning to familiar conditions for me,” Ntini said. “I’m a coastal boy, so I didn’t really enjoy the Highveld too much but I learnt a lot in my time there and I think I can bring a lot of those lessons with me to Durban.” A common thread for players moving is game time and getting more opportunities. For…

Chanelle Lutchman chanelle.lutchman@inl.co.za IT’S not just the sardines that excite Durbanites, but the game fish that trail along behind them. While scores of people flock to the beach to be a part of the annual sardine run each year, some fishermen head off to land game fish – even sharks. Last week the sardine run began, with hundreds of crates being filled and sold. But Durban fishermen said it was also about the thrill of landing big game fish, like sharks. Kenan David, 18, of Amanzimtoti, fishes with his grandfather and father. He said it was competition to see who landed the biggest fish. “My grandfather, Benjamin David, taught my father and I to fish, and we still fish together. Every year, during the sardine run, we get competitive to…

Duff is a psychic medium, soul coach, spiritual mentor, healer and animal communicator. She has been connecting with spirit for over 20 years and runs her business, Quantum Soul, from Waterfall in KwaZulu-Natal. Listen to her on Lotus FM, live at 1.30pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays, as she connects with loved ones in spirit, and on GlowTV on Sundays after 8pm. Contact her at 072 986 5514 or email sharron@quantsoul.com Sharron Duff ARIES (March 21 – April 19) There is movement around you this week. This could be in your relationships or physical. Go with the flow and allow for the changes to take place. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. You may have to make a decision that you are not comfortable with. Lucky colour:…

Nokuthula Mabuza nokuthula.mabuza@inl.co.za A Phoenix mother whose 21-year-old son was hit by a truck on the R102 on May 4, said the incident had broken the family emotionally. Sharon Veeran said her son’s death had left them with many questions and they were searching for witnesses. According to Veeran, her son Jeremiah Kalib Joseph left their home on Trenance Manor Road after he received a call just after 6.30pm. Speaking to the Post, Veeran said Joseph told them that he was going to a nearby shop and would be back soon, but according to the people who last saw him in the neighbourhood, a vehicle picked him up and drove away. It is alleged that Joseph’s body was discovered five minutes after he left home, on the R102 towards Palmview…

nikita.chiniah@inl.co.za A TEENAGE boy is in a stable condition in hospital after he was shot multiple times outside his home in Mobeni Heights, Chatsworth, on Monday evening. Dillon Maistry, 16, a Grade 10 pupil at Southlands Secondary School in Chatsworth sustained a gunshot wound to his back, his leg, and on both his hands.He was taken to hospital by his family. Police spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbele said: “It is alleged that the victim was with his friends when an unknown man who was driving a red vehicle opened fire on him, wounding the victim. The motive for the attack is unknown.” Mbele said a case of attempted murder was opened at Bayview police station for investigation. Devan Pillay, the chairperson of the Mobeni Heights Civic Association, said that they…

nadia khan nadia khan@inl.co.za AN attempt by four men to have murder charges against them dropped failed earlier this week in the Durban High Court. Anben “Fat Cat” Chinsamy, 48, of Ravenstone Place in Phoenix, his brother, Sugendran “Shoes”, 32, of Treehaven Place, and two police officers, Warrant Officer Theagasen Naidoo, 47, of Stoneham Drive and Constable Tristan Pillay, 33, of Eastbury, were arrested and charged with the murder of Seelan Pillay, 46. Pillay, a father of three, was allegedly kidnapped, doused with petrol and set alight on May 10 in 2019. He sustained second and third-degree burns and succumbed to his injuries two days later in hospital. According to the post-mortem results, Pillay’s cause of death was “burns over 80% of total body surface area with inhalation burns”. Anben,…

NIKITA CHINIAH nikita.chiniah@inl.co.za TYPING assignments to make a small income is what 24-year-old Michaela Tia Naidoo – who studied information technology (IT) – has resorted to. The Isipingo Hills resident, who studied IT at Commerce and Computer College, has been unemployed for the past two years. Naidoo said: “After graduating, I had a job which I worked at for six months until my contract expired. I’m finding it difficult to find employment, as many companies have closed due to the economy doing badly and Covid-19. “As a child, I always wanted to study for a career involving technology. This field of work fascinated me. I’ve always been interested in learning about technical theory, networking, programming and computer hardware.” Naidoo studied for three years and worked for six months after college.…

YOGIN Devan, as usual, wrote a compelling read on the intricacies of divorce in the POST, May 12-16. It is the type of content that we have come to expect from him, his advocacy on certain issues stimulating robust and constructive debate. In the Indian context, the taboo, stigma and incongruity of divorce lie in the nebulous notion of tradition, some would say hidebound; of the way things have been for generations; of the overweeningly important idea of what the outside world thinks. For many, the ultimate act of separation becomes sad and filled with regret rather than acrimony. In most instances, the contracting parties try to explain the complexities of their emotions but the exercise soon becomes exhausting and Sisyphean. They soon realise that they have drifted to a…

REGARDING the letters and opinion section of almost all newspapers on the Palestine versus Israel debacle, have any of the commentators taken the time to clean their backyards before commenting on others? Many have the opinion that Palestine is racially oppressed. What about Indians in South Africa? Are we not oppressed? I do not see these commentators’ comments on this. Many care about Al Jazeera, Hamas and Narendra Modi. Have these hypocrites not seen how Indian people of South Africa are treated by the ANC-led government. Many forget we have our challenges in this country yet they poke their Pinocchio noses in other countries’ affairs. It makes me wonder if they clean their homes as it seems they care more about other countries’ affairs than their own. Indian people in…

TECHNICAL and vocational education and training is widely regarded as one of the key dimensions needed to address South Africa’s unemployment. Employment opportunities are scarce; a situation which is exacerbated by a population that is under-skilled in basic trades such as mechanical, electrical, electronics, and civil engineering. There are no more than 200 technical schools and colleges in all provinces in South Africa that can be redeveloped with training educators and equipment that can provide for our future leaders. Pupils applying to tertiary institutions often face challenges of high costs and high numbers. As a result, young people from poor families miss opportunities at tertiary education. Only 60% of children entering South African schools go on to write the Grade 12 exams and only a third enrol in post-secondary schooling.…

Chanelle Lutchman chanelle.lutchman@inl.co.za FRIENDS of Durban-born Vinod Hari say they will miss seeing him when they walk into the Spice Emporium store. Hari, 70, died on Monday morning at the Ethekwini Heart Hospital after contracting Covid-19. He was the co-owner of the Spice Emporium on Durban’s Monty Naicker Road Rajesh Choudree, a customer and friend, said he had a warm personality and always put his customers first. “He loved to make people feel like they were appreciated and made it his duty to give everyone individual attention. “My wife and I enjoy reading magazines and papers from India. He knew that, so he would often order a few for us at his own expense. His generosity is unparalleled and there will definitely be an emptiness at the store now.” Kosie…

Chanelle Lutchman chanelle.lutchman@inl.co.za FOR Kevin Naidoo of Montford in Chatsworth, being unemployed is difficult. Naidoo, 27, who is qualified in pastels and debt collecting, was training to become a junior manager at his job when he was retrenched because of Covid-19. “I was employed for seven years and things were looking good for me. But due to the pandemic, I was retrenched. It was not easy. My mother, who also worked, was also retrenched, and at that time, I was living with her so I had to care for myself as well as my mom.” He said soon after he learnt that his partner was pregnant. “With a baby on the way, my partner and I had to get married and I had to find a place for us to…

NIKITA CHINIAH nikita chiniah@inl.co.za After choosing to study civil engineering due to the overflow of jobs in this field, Anees Ally from Isipingo Beach said that he was still finding it difficult to believe that he had been unemployed since February last year. Ally, 27, from Isipingo Beach, graduated cum laude and with the Dean’s Merit with his Bachelor of Technology in Civil Engineering (Transportation) at the Durban University of Technology and holds a National Diploma in Civil Engineering. He said: “When choosing my career, I chose civil engineering based on this field always having employment available. “Recently, there has been a downfall in this industry. Due to Covid-19, companies liquidated and employees were retrenched. Most of my friends who have studied in this field are either sitting at…

IT is that time of year again. The sardines are in KwaZulu-Natal waters so get ready for what could be another bumper year. If you are going after the big fish, please make sure that you and your tackle are ready for long fights and reel-emptying runs. These are giant sharks that need to be fought hard and landed safely. Get yourself a good de-hooker and a good pair of side-cutters. These two will help you release the fish quicker. The de-hooker is to get the hook out quicker and safer. The side-cutter is to cut the cable if you can’t get to the hook. Let’s hold thumbs the weather settles and gives us a gap to get in on the sardine action. The rock and surf scene had a…

Chanelle Lutchman chanelle.lutchman@inl.co.za A REWARD of R100 000 has been offered for information leading to the arrest of Strini Chetty. Chetty, 34, is wanted by Durban North detectives for the alleged killing of Bilquees Hussain and Bradley Hiralal. In December 2019, Hussain, 29, and Hiralal, 34, were travelling in a black BMW convertible on uMhlanga Rocks Drive, near the Douglas Saunders Circle, when Chetty, the driver of another black BMW, allegedly fired at them and sped off. The convertible crashed into a barrier at the traffic circle. Hussain, from Newlands West, sustained multiple gunshot wounds and died at the scene. She was buried on December 29 at a cemetery in Durban North. Hiralal, of Phoenix, also sustained multiple gunshot wounds and later died in hospital. His funeral was also…

Chanelle Lutchman chanelle.lutchman@inl.co.za SEVERAL temples in Durban have been hit by criminals looking for items to steal and sell. Six temples, from areas including Isipingo, Phoenix, and some on the north coast, were targeted last week. Brass items like chumbus, trays and lamps, murthies, and speakers and amplifiers have been taken. The break-ins have prompted the South African Hindu Maha Sabha (Sahms) – the body that speaks for Hindus in SA – to offer a R10 000 reward for any information relating to the crimes. Ashwin Trikamjee, the Sahms president, said it was sad that places of worship were being targeted. He said they had noticed there was a market for brass. Trikamjee called on temples to beef up their security. The Maha Sabha also made a call on social…

Charlene Somduth charlene.somduth@inl.co.za A PORT Shepstone teenager is facing charges of assault after he allegedly punched, kicked and body-slammed a younger boy at a local mosque. The boy, Muhammad Khalid Khan, 14, from Albersville, injured his spine in the incident. He now suffers from a partial loss of movement in his left leg and, as a result, is unable to walk. Muhammad is a Grade 8 pupil at the Port Shepstone Islamic School, also in Albersville. The incident occurred on May 28. Muhammad was discharged from the hospital five days later. A video of the assault was posted on social media. In the video clip, a third boy is seen sitting at the door. The two boys appear to be preparing to fight. Muhammad is tripped by the older boy…

post reporter A POLICE constable who solicited R400 for lunch was charged with corruption by the Hawks Serious Corruption Investigation team. Constable Lieukazi Lilly Ndzendze, 39, of the Durban North SAPS, allegedly solicited money from Jaychand Seerpath, 51, who was accused of drunk-driving. Ndzendze appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court last week and was granted R500 bail. Captain Simphiwe Mhlongo, spokesperson for the Hawks, said the incident happened in 2018. “Ndzendze called the accused to the station under the guise that she wanted to serve a court summons on him for the same case. When Seerpath arrived, Ndzendze allegedly informed him that the matter could be solved if he paid her R4 000 and a further R2 000 that she stated was meant for the prosecutor in the case.”…

Nadia Khan nadia.khan@inl.co.za THE recent unemployment statistics paint a bleak picture for the youth of South Africa. Last Tuesday, Statistics SA published its Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QFLS) for the first quarter of 2021. The statistics showed that the unemployment rate was at 32.6% in the first quarter of 2021, a 0.1% increase from 32.5% in the fourth quarter of 2020. The number of unemployed people increased by 8 000 to 7.2 million. However, the official unemployment rate among youth, aged 15-34 years, was 46.3% in the first quarter of 2021 and 9.3% among university graduates. These figures have left many concerned. Sham Maharaj, the secretary of the Phoenix Community Centre, said unemployment was increasingly high in the community. “This is because our economy is not growing fast enough to…

Nokuthula Mabuza nokuthula.mabuza@inl.co.za Nivesh Chofu’s passion for physical science in school and achieving two cum laudes and a Dean’s Merit Award in university have not opened employment doors for him. The 23-year-old, from Verulam, north of Durban, matriculated in 2015 from Mountview High School. Two years later, and at the top of his class, Chofu pursued his studies in electrical engineering: instrumentation and process at Durban University of Technology. He achieved cum laude and the Dean’s Merit Award for his diploma and another cum laude for his bachelor’s degree. Chofu lives in Terrance Park with his mother, father and two brothers, He said the toughest part in finding a job was the years of experience required. “Graduate programmes are limited and I haven’t found much online compared to regular job…

Why special treatment for Parliament? THE leaders in eThekwini recently adopted a budget of just over R52 billion for the city. Those who earn money from the city are guaranteed attractive increases in their salaries. But those who pay rates and taxes will see their bills go up sharply. In the coming financial year, rates will rise by just under 5%, water by 8.5%, electricity by 15%, sanitation by 8.5% and refuse by 5%. That’s not all. The city has indicated that tariffs will go up further in the next two financial years – 2022/23 and 2023/24. Rates will go up by about 5%, water by 8.5%, electricity by 7.5 %, sanitation by about 8.5% and refuse by almost 10% for each of these two years. Despite the increases, ratepayers…

GLOBAL military expenditure in 2020 was about $2 trillion. With this astronomical sum man assembled and deployed weaponry on land, at sea, in the air, and in outer space to prevent any attack on his soil by friend or foe. The immense destructive power of these 21st century weapons has the capacity to kill every living being on this planet four times over, yet this entire arsenal was rendered impotent and obsolete by a biological intruder measuring (65 –125nm in diameter). Man ruled and exploited the earth for 200 000 years. During this time he destroyed the web of life, billions of years in the making, upon which human society depends for clean air, water, and everything else. We are killing and eating 300 mammal species into extinction. Since the…

THE full-page stories on graduations in the POST of June 2-6 were heart-warming. Many people had graduated and even more pleasing was the fact that a number of those who graduated achieved a cum laude pass in spite of the Covid-19 pandemic. The graduation ceremony is a culmination of blood, sweat, and tears over the past few years for the graduates and now is their moment of glory. Let’s celebrate the success of all those who achieved these encouraging results as their sacrifices have paid dividends. The grim reality is that many of them who have graduated, now enter the critical stage of their lives in the job market. With the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic, they are likely to feel the impact as both the employment and economic situation…

Chanelle Lutchman chanelle.lutchman@inl.co.za RESIDENTS in Ilembe have been left without water for close to a week. On Wednesday last week, water levels in the Stanger Manor, Shakaville, Kearsney and Warrenton areas were low due to a suspected cable fault at the Umvoti Reservoir. This resulted in these areas being without water. By Tuesday morning, some parts of Stanger Manor began receiving water. A 65-year-old resident, who asked to remain anonymous, said it had been difficult without water. “For the past 10 years, we have been hit without water. It became harder for me over the years to fill heavy buckets and walk to my home. I installed a 5 000 litre jojo tank at my property but due to the week-long water interruptions my tank ran low.” He said at…

Janine Moodley janine.moodley@inl.co.za SARAS Naidu, the wife of Durban property mogul and Coastlands hotelier Saantha Naidu, has died at the age of 66 after a 11-year battle with cancer. Naidu died in the presence of close family members at Capital Hospital last Thursday . Dharashan Naidu, her eldest son, spoke of her last moments. “Her entire family was around her. It was an extremely touching send-off. I remember how she looked at me, smiled and said, ‘Everything is going to be okay’.” He described his mother as a pillar in the family, who was a kind and generous person and who had a passion for people. “If someone needed help she was there, no expenses spared.” Dharashan said his mother lived for many years in the UK and adopted much…

Chanelle Lutchman chanelle.lutchman@inl.co.za AFTER losing his job during the pandemic, a Chatsworth man decided to open his own home-based business, while still applying for jobs in his field. The 26-year-old, who asked not to be named, is a Woodhurst resident and a qualified chemical operator, who was dismissed last year. “I thought since I was qualified if I applied for jobs in the same field, I would easily get a job but, unfortunately, it has been difficult. The pandemic has been scary. A lot of people lost loved ones and some also lost their jobs. Without an income, it's been difficult to ensure all bills are sorted out at home. The unemployment rate has increased due to the number of businesses that had to close down due to the impact…

Janine Moodley janine.moodley@inl.co.za DESPITE having an Honours degree in urban and regional planning, and graduating at the top of her class, 24-year-old Nadine Ponnusamy of Clare Estate is struggling to secure a job. “I have applied for over 10 jobs throughout 2020, which was the year I was studying towards my Honours degree. I managed to get one interview but never heard anything after that.” She said she ventured into the field because of her passion to make a difference in society. It took her four years to complete her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, also known as town planning. Ponnusamy hoped that after achieving her academic qualifications, she would be able to fulfil her dream of creating and promoting health, convenience and beauty in South Africa’s cities. “Planning has always…

Eshlin Vedan eshlin.vedan@inl.co.za AMAZULU youth defender Rijul Pillay was hardly surprised that his side won the MultiChoice Diski Challenge (MDC) this season. The MDC is the DStv Premiership reserve league. “I believe that our MDC team is the only one that was training since we were allowed to come back in August/September last year. Even when the league was suspended after the first three games, we continued to train and find friendlies week in and week out. It was no surprise that we did extremely well because we know how much work it took us,” said the young defender from Westville. Pillay credited AmaZulu MDC coach Siboniso Vilakazi for bringing in a new style of play, based on keeping possession with purpose, that he enjoyed. On a personal note, the…