Table of contents for 2021-08-18 in Post

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) It’s time to make a move on a pending decision. Use logic over emotion and carry through on your plans. There may be an unexpected visitor in your personal space or a new association in your workspace. Be open to change. Lucky colour: blue. TAURUS (April 20 – May 20)…

THE UK government recently announced that it would offer coronavirus vaccinations to all 16- and 17-year-olds, but not to younger healthy teenagers as in many other Western countries. The move follows guidance from British health regulators that the vaccine drive should be extended to those aged 16 and 17 without underlying health issues after a review of the latest data. However, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) made no change to its current advice to the government that only 12- to 15-year-olds deemed vulnerable should be jabbed. This contrasts with the US, which announced in May that younger teens would be vaccinated, and the EU's medicines regulator, which has approved two shots for all over-12s. Sajid Javid, Britain's health secretary, confirmed that he had accepted the UK experts’…

90ml warm water 2 x 10g sachets instant yeast 4 tbs olive oil, to drizzle a pinch of salt 2 tsp sugar 450g flour 200g soft butter 4 cloves garlic, crushed 6 tbs fresh parsley, finely chopped Combine the water and yeast in a bowl and allow to stand for 5 minutes. Add the olive oil, salt and sugar. Mix well, then add the flour. Stir until the mixture comes together. Turn out on to a floured surface and knead for 5 minutes until it is a soft, smooth dough. Place in an oiled bowl and cover with cling film. Allow to rise for 1 hour. Roll out the dough once risen and cut into long strips. Knot the strips of dough and place on a non-stick baking sheet.…

1½ cup coconut milk ¼ cup almond milk 70g dark chocolate ¼ cup smooth peanut butter 4 tbs sugar 1 tbs unsweetened cocoa powder 1 tbsp vanilla essence pinch of salt whipping cream Heat the coconut milk, almond milk, chocolate, peanut butter and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk constantly until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth. Add the cocoa powder, vanilla and salt. Whisk until combined and warm. Cover and remove from the heat. For a very thick hot cocoa, let it sit (covered) for 5 minutes before serving. Top with whipped cream. Serves: 4 Preparation time: 5 minutes…

POST REPORTERS A SNAP survey of several areas in eThekwini has revealed that some schools with high Covid-19 infection reports are in Chatsworth and Phoenix. As more infections were reported among pupils recently, some parents have decided to temporarily stop sending their children to school. They have also held protests outside schools to get the Department of Education to acknowledge and act on their concerns. The POST approached some primary and high schools in eThekwini regarding Covid-19 infections. They said the following cases were confirmed since last Monday: Phoenix: 8 schools from the 10 approached had 42 infections. The highest rate of infections at one school was 25. There was 1 death. Verulam: 2 schools from the 8 approached had 2 infections. Tongaat: 1 school from the 7 schools…

NINE recently arrested suspects, allegedly linked to the unrest in Phoenix, were unable to apply for bail in the Verulam Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday. The suspects, charged with murder and attempted murder, could not apply for bail because their identity parade was delayed at the Chatsworth police station. Their bail application was adjourned to Monday next week. Natasha Kara, the spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority, said some of the suspects who appeared in court earlier, brothers Ned and Dylan Govender and their neighbour, Jeetendra Jaikissoon, abandoned their bail application on Thursday. “They have been charged with murder and attempted murder. The matter has been adjourned to September 15,” said Kara. She said other suspects were granted bail. They are Justin Hira, 32, charged with possession of a prohibited firearm…

IT IS no secret that South Africa, like the rest of the world, has its share of socio-economic challenges. On that and against the backdrop of Nelson Mandela International Day, we should be encouraged by the words of Madiba: “Everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success if they are dedicated to and passionate about what they do”. While it is a known fact that the country comes from a colonial and apartheid past, the resilience and ubuntu of its people cannot be overemphasised. The 1994 democratic elections and the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa in 1996 ushered in what should have been a turning point towards harmonious relations among South Africans of all races. It is an open secret that more needs to…

Nadia Khan nadia.khan@inl.co.za SOUTH Africans are eager to travel as more countries open to international tourists. Irshad Malek, the owner of Sure World of Travel, said clients were asking about travel to the Maldives, Egypt, Jordan and other destinations. “Some families are planning their October school vacations, and they are booking for this year and early next year. There is a demand for island holidays as well as Egypt and Jordan. Both countries have adventure and relaxation aspects.” He said Egypt, Jordan, the Maldives and Zanzibar required only a negative PCR Covid test upon arrival. “However, Europe and some other destinations require the passenger to be fully vaccinated and still have a negative PCR Covid test upon arrival.” Malek said that although travel prices had not increased, the pandemic had…

THE wave of Covid-19 sweeping through KwaZulu-Natal schools, leaving clusters of infectious cases, is cause for concern. More than 120 schools had reported clusters of infections in their communities recently as the third wave peaks in the province. The numbers of new cases, admissions to hospitals and deaths are on the rise. And these are not just numbers but members of our families, workplaces and communities. The shock waves were reverberating throughout the province following the death of Shanika Balsarang from Ladysmith in the past couple of weeks when there was a report of another schoolchild succumbing to the disease. Parents, school staff and members of affected communities, especially those in which comorbidies such as diabetes are rife, are justified in being extremely worried. The protests and calls for the…

THERE was once unity between Indians in this country in spite of religious differences. Unfortunately, a number of factors have intruded and spoilt this bond. The division between so-called Sunni and Shia Muslims is one of them. It is an unnecessary dislike for one another when the basic beliefs are the same. And who is to judge who’s better? Another factor is that Muslims, who once proudly proclaimed themselves to be Indians, have now deviated to refer to themselves as only Muslims. They forget that these are completely different concepts. Islam is a religion and the other is a country of origin. They also like to refer to non-Muslim Indians as Indians. This mainly refers to Hindus and Christians. Sweeping events in India between Muslims and Hindus have also produced…

THERE is evidence that suggests that the arrest of former president Jacob Zuma was the cause of the recent mayhem. Analysts, politicians and Facebook activists can theorise all they want, but more than 300 lives were lost and damage amounting to billions was caused. If the root is not treated, the fruit will remain rotten. Zuma is an elderly man. He was not arrested for corruption but contempt charges. Contempt does not necessarily have to carry such a harsh sentence. Like him or not, he enjoys massive support in the ANC and among Africans in South Africa. Ramaphosa was given prior warnings of the attempted coup but he failed to act timeously. He should have managed the issue of Zuma differently. Zuma is in hospital after recently falling ill. We…

IN THE wake of the looting and arson that cost billions, destroyed livelihoods and put thousands out of work, one would expect Police Minister Bheki Cele to prioritise the arrest of the plotters and perpetrators of those crimes. Instead he is questioning the legality of weapons used by those who had to protect themselves from the looters because the police were unable to do so (the POST, August 11-15). As the POST’s lead story indicated, Cele has put the cart before the horse by mouthing accusations against security companies before having received the results of ballistics tests. But then that is typical of the impulsive Mr Cele – back-to-front priorities. The only conclusion to be drawn from the apparent silence concerning the naming and prosecuting of the plotters of…

POST REPORTER MXOLISI Kaunda, the eThekwini mayor, has assured visitors that it is safe to travel to Durban after the unrest. In a statement, the mayor said that during the recent long weekend, the city recorded 34 500 visitors, direct spend of R46 million, a GDP contribution of R113m and about a 31% occupancy rate. The eThekwini metro had projected a 50% visitor arrival at adjusted lockdown level 4 if there had been no civil unrest. The occupancy rate from July 8 to 17, said the statement, was 19%. This was a loss of 31% in terms of occupancy rates. The actual economic impact in Durban was a loss of 50 000 visitors, R110m in direct spend, R280m in tourism GDP and 600 jobs. The mayor said the municipality…

Eshlin Vedan eshlin.vedan@inl.co.za WARNER Beach resident Tyrone Pillay (40) aims to follow up his bronze medal in the men’s shot put T36 event of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games with success in the coming Paralympic Games in Tokyo. Pillay travels to Japan this week with the Games due to commence next Tuesday. “I just have to stick to the process that we have been doing in training and everything will fall into place in Tokyo. Preparing for the Paralympics requires a lot of mental and physical preparation but most of all a desire to want to be the best and succeed at what you do,” said the former Reservoir Hills Secondary School pupil. The Paralympic Games serve as a platform for athletes with a range of disabilities, including impaired muscle power,…

THE shore-based angling has been dominated by the garrick and shad. This is not a bad thing but many are hoping summer comes soon. The North Coast has seen some bigger inedibles but the fishing has been centred around edibles much like the rest of the coast. The inedibles were caught from deeper points in the Ballito area. Mackerel and redeye baits made as aerodynamic as possible for distance have been most successful. The edibles were caught on the edges of sandbanks or in rocky ledges. The sandbanks have mainly been kingfish and stumpies which love a chokka bait with tentacles. The rocky areas have been a mix of species with smaller chokka baits proving deadly. The central coast has seen shad action in the mornings and afternoons. Most…

Eshlin Vedan eshlin.vedan@inl.co.za WHILE the pandemic has wreaked havoc on the South African independent wrestling circuit, Chatsworth-based wrestler Joshua Chetty, also known as “Joshua The Bull”, remains upbeat and is training hard ahead of his challenge at the Champions Pro Wrestling (CPW) WrestleMonster 5 event, against a yet to be named opponent. WrestleMonster is the South African equivalent of the WWE’s WrestleMania event, regarded as the “grandest stage of them all” in wrestling circles. It was originally set for April but has been postponed indefinitely due to the ban on large crowd gatherings in order to curb the spread of the coronavirus. “The pandemic has affected me emotionally, physically and financially. I had to keep myself isolated while training because of safety and the only thing that kept me motivated was…

nikita.chiniah@inl.co.za August is Organ Donor Awareness Month and South Africans are being encouraged to register as organ and tissue donors. Samantha Nicholls, the executive director of operations at the Organ Donor Foundation, said about 850 patients were awaiting organ and tissue transplants in KwaZulu-Natal, and about 4 300 adults and children were awaiting organ and cornea transplants in the country. Nicholls said there was a noticeable increase in deaths of patients requiring transplants since the Covid-19 pandemic. “Prior to Covid-19, there was already a severe shortage of organ and tissue donors in South Africa. During Covid, the number of transplants decreased. Patients who waited for a transplant passed away. Many live-related donations were paused. There has been more than a 50% reduction of deceased donors since Covid-19.” Nicholls said because…

500g white chocolate 385g condensed milk ¾ cup unsalted butter 1 tbs rose water a pinch of salt 2 tsp vanilla extract Line a 30cm square pan with wax paper large enough to cover the bottom and sides, and set aside. Combine the chocolate, condensed milk, butter, rose water and salt in a medium saucepan and stir for about 5 to 10 minutes over low heat, until the mixture is smooth. Add the vanilla extract. Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan and smooth the surface with an oiled rubber spatula. Use the spatula to gently push the mixture on to the surface before it begins to set. Chill for about 3 hours until firm. Add toppings of your choice at this step (chocolate shavings, dried berries, etc). Turn…

NIKITA CHINIAH nikita.chiniah@inl.co.za THE family of Alwande Mgulwa want justice for the Verulam toddler after she was injured, allegedly by a horse, last Wednesday. The 2-year-old, of Riet River, had pried open the door to a communal toilet and wandered out ahead of her mother, Anele Mgulwa, who heard a loud sound and found her daughter unconscious. Mgulwa said a horse from a neighbouring property had entered the area and she found it hovering over her daughter. Alwande, who sustained head injuries, was admitted to a government hospital. She was discharged on Monday. The child lives with her 19-year-old mother, her three aunts and her grandmother in informal housing in Riet River. “My neighbour’s child told me he saw the horse kick Alwande,” Mgulwa said on Monday. “My little girl…

Nadia Khan nadia.khan@inl.co.za SOME South Africans are considering emigrating following the recent riots. Emigration consultants said they have received an influx of queries from South Africans who want to relocate to the UK, US, Canada, New Zealand and Mauritius, among others. Lavan Gopaul, an advocate and the director of Merchant Afrika, said he received about 20 queries a day. Merchant Afrika’s services include international tax, legal and investment advisory and emigration advice. He said that before the unrest, people contacted their offices about international tax and legal advice. “The emigration advice was a small side of the business. We would have one request a month, but that has since changed.” Gopaul said some South Africans were concerned about their safety and that of their families. “They don't feel safe with…

Are we nurturing a generation of narcissists and bullies? Aradhana Ramnund-Mansingh WE OFTEN question the many ills of society such as bigotry, misogyny, workplace bullying, road rage and gender-based violence. What we fail to realise is that all of these behaviours emanate from decades of what society deems as normal, where power relations and gender differences become traits of permissible norms. These behaviours are inculcated in us as children. We learn to be bigots, misogynists and narcissists in childhood through parents and the environment. The bullies are clearly differentiated by the school system. Within the private school system, it’s all about privilege, and we don’t often hear of publicised incidences, as it is generally not good for business in the world of the private academy. It is within these…

WITH reference to the letter, “Column is a ploy against Hindus in SA” (the POST, August 11-16) by Anand Singh, who was responding to a column by Imraan Buccus. The piece Buccus wrote was titled “The dangerous collapse of non-racialism” and it appeared in the New Frame Publication (www.newframe.com). I take exception to Buccus’s characterisation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as “a party that has its ideological roots in Nazism and is an unapologetically Hindu supremacist organisation”. First, I cannot see the link and nexus between his views on non-racialism from a historical context in South Africa and Hindu supporters of the Hindutva philosophy who reside in South Africa in general and in Phoenix in particular, given the fact that he specifically mentions Phoenix in his column. As to…

JUST over a month ago, we saw the ugly side of humanity. There were images of rampaging mobs looting and vandalising. The scenes overshadowed the deaths that accompanied the lawless behaviour and it raised the ugly spectre of racism. Then, in sharp contrast, came the Tokyo Olympics. Japan hosted a flawless Olympic Games under trying times caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The Games, which cost billions of dollars, were played at empty venues but the athletes more than made up for this. I looked out for a green shirt to lift my spirits after the unrest, but except for Tatjana Schoenmaker, who won a gold medal in swimming, the other South African athletes did not shine on the world stage. There were also not many Indian South African athletes on…

INDIANS were brought to South Africa by the British as indentured labourers from 1860 to 1911 to work and cultivate sugar cane in KwaZulu-Natal. They cleared the bush and planted and harvested the cane. Some were employed in factories to manufacture sugar. They were unhappy with their working conditions and meagre salaries; and there was resistance and protests in some sugar plantations. Later, the sugar industry created jobs for black South Africans. Mahatma Gandhi arrived in South Africa for a legal case and he was confronted by the race and apartheid laws. He ended up being beaten and discriminated against by the white ruling minority. Gandhi established the Natal Indian Congress (NIC) in 1894 to fight the apartheid laws and regimen. In 1912, the ANC was established on the same…

SEVENTY-six years ago, Nagasaki was flattened in an atomic fireball, and three days later Hiroshima was nuclear blitzed. According to reports, the two bombings killed between 129 000 and 226 000 people respectively. Within 10 days, thousand of civilians went bald as gamma rays overwhelmed them at ground zero. Many unstable nuclear states are increasing their atomic arsenals, posturing for war. Apart from belligerent behaviour, nuclear missile systems are open to cyberattacks. The attacks on Japan have left an indelible mark on humanity’s conscience and consciousness. Nuclear weapons are often presented as promoting security, particularly during times of international instability, but weapons that risk catastrophic and irreversible humanitarian consequences cannot be viewed as protecting civilians or humanity. The weapons would also obliterate the past and the future, destroying human…

Football leagues get under way as Manchester United and Liverpool shine The major football leagues across the world got under way this weekend. \Manchester United and Liverpool started their Premier League campaigns on good notes by claiming convincing wins over Leeds United and Norwich City respectively. Meanwhile, there was frustration for Arsenal and reigning league champions Manchester City who lost against Brentford and Tottenham respectively. Notably, Spurs’ star player Harry Kane did not play in his team’s win over City, which only intensifies speculation that he wants to leave the club. Closer to home, AmaZulu were dumped out of the MTN8 by Cape Town City after losing 2-1 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday. After struggling in the first half against the men from Cape Town, Benni McCarthy’s…

Carolyn Chew-Graham, Amali Lokugamage and Frances Simpson AS WE learn more about Covid-19, the accepted narratives about it are constantly being challenged. Initially, it was said that children are not seriously affected by the virus. But while acute infections in children do tend to be milder, there is emerging evidence that, like adults, they are at risk from persisting symptoms – long Covid. The Office for National Statistics estimates that around 13% to 15% of children with Covid-19 have symptoms that last for more than five weeks. In Italy, a recent preprint (an early piece of research yet to be reviewed by other scientists) suggests that more than half of children with Covid-19 have at least one persisting symptom more than 17 weeks after being diagnosed. Among them, 43%…

Janine Moodley and Nadia Khan TWO parents, grieving the loss of their daughters to Covid-19, believe schools in KwaZulu-Natal should close until the infections are reduced. Karishma Pillay’s daughter, Kaitlyn, 12, died on Saturday, and Sagel Balsarang’s daughter, Shanika, 9, earlier this month. Pillay, of Phoenix, said: “Covid is real. You don’t realise it until it hits home. There is a clear hike in the infection rate and schools should rather close and send the work home. Which would you choose – losing a year of education or losing your child forever? The teachers’ lives are also at risk.” Balsarang, of Ladysmith, said: “We are living in uncertain times. Even though a person can contract the virus from anywhere, my advice to parents is to keep their children at…

Nokuthula Mabuza nokuthula.mabuza@inl.co.za THE African Muslim Agency (Ama) in Johannesburg is appealing for assistance to help displaced Afghans. Hussain Choonara, the regional manager of the Ama, said thousands of families had been displaced, while others were trying to flee after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan. Choonara said the agency, which provides relief work, had been working in Afghanistan for three years – sponsoring food, clothing and essentials to families and orphans. “When the violence began escalating a few days ago, the Ama briefed our teams to provide assistance to those in need. “We are assisting displaced families with food hampers, toiletry and medical kits, kitchen utensils, gas, accommodation, blankets, mattresses and pillows. The hampers are to ensure sustainable aid rather than immediate relief since the situation will not be…

Murray Terwin A SURPRISE new addition to previously proposed changes on how emigrating South Africans will be taxed on their retirement savings could make tax emigration even more costly. The National Treasury recently published the Taxation Laws Amendment bill which incorporates tax proposals made in the 2021 National Budget. The bill and its memorandum contain several rules around the tax of retirement savings when South Africans emigrate. In the past, you could withdraw your retirement savings (subject to tax at the prevailing withdrawal rates) immediately when emigrating, provided that you “financially emigrated” from South Africa through the South African Reserve Bank (SARB). A person “tax emigrates” when they can demonstrate to the SA Revenue Service (Sars) that South Africa will not be the place that they return to after temporary…

THE looting, mayhem and destruction of businesses are indicative of a nation in deep trouble. The looting was executed with such precision that it left the police as mere onlookers. President Cyril Ramaphosa mentioned that the response from the government was slow. In fact, the army entered the fold when there was almost decimation of many businesses with an estimated R20 billion in damages in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. Vulnerable residents felt threatened and the impending threat came with two responses – to either flee or fight. Fleeing was obviously not an option. Fundamentally, residents would have questioned the notion of where to flee. After seeing that they were on their own, communities mobilised to fight and protect themselves by putting up barricades and controlling access into their areas. Let's also…

IN MID-July, South Africa dealt with the worst possible attack on its constitutional order since 1994. There was a week of mayhem. The response from the police, crime intelligence and the army was sluggish. Communities ended up defending themselves and tension between race groups followed. It must be emphatically stated that the future of Indian South Africans is intertwined and inextricably linked with most South Africans. What the unrest has revealed is that the government lacks an effective strategy to implement its much-talked-about national action plan to combat racism. Racial prejudice and inequality will require constant work over generations. We must condemn any form of racism or incitement to racial conflict, no matter from which quarter it may emanate. I would like to see every parent, child and resident in…

IN 1949 – the year Pravin Gordhan was born – the Durban riots took place. This was an anti-Indian riot from January 13 to 15, 1949, primarily by African people targeting Indians in Durban. The two days of rioting were exceptionally violent, resulting in deaths, looting, and burning of properties. It claimed 142 lives and created 40 000 Indian refugees. Gordhan grew up in the wake of this in Durban, went to Sastri College, and worked, like many Indian youngsters, in his father’s shop in Prince Edward Street on Saturdays. He went to the University of Durban-Westville to study pharmacy, working later at King Edward Hospital as a pharmacist. Gordhan later worked with the Natal Indian Congress (NIC), the United Democratic Front, the SACP and the ANC. He drew support…

Charlene Somduth charlene.somduth@inl.co.za SOME Unisa graduates are unable to apply for jobs because the institution has not issued them with certificates endorsing their qualifications. Some of the students graduated in October last year and others in June. The graduations were held virtually due to Covid-19 restrictions and regulations. An online petition has been started by Odette Jones who spent four years studying for a teaching degree. She addressed the petition to Professor Puleng LenkaBula, the vice-chancellor at Unisa; Dikeledi Hlabangane, the ombudsman at the university; and Blade Nzimande, the Minister of Higher Education. The petition has so far garnered more than 900 signatures. Jones said students received a message from Unisa last week, informing them that an SMS would be sent with details of when to collect certificates. “We are…