Table of contents for 2022-07-27 in Post

SEVERAL celebrities have given innovative names to their babies, and abandoned the traditional ones. This assumes significance because the trends set by a celebrity are followed by a large number of their admirers. Some recent celeb names: Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas’s daughter Malti Marie: Surrogacy gave Chopra and Jonas a baby girl. While it is unclear why the couple chose the name Malti (which could be related to Chopra’s mother’s name), the Sanksrit derivation means “small fragrant flower” or “moonlight”. Elon Musk and Grimes’s son Y: The couple announced the birth of their second child via surrogacy on March 11, and yes, she has a rather unusual name. Exa Dark Sidereal goes by the nickname “Y”, according to Grimes. Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s daughter North: When the…

In 1992, during an unknown month and date, an 8-month-old girl was found abandoned in an unknown hotel somewhere in Durban. From the little that is known, it would seem as though social workers initially took in the child and later placed her in a foster home. She was subsequently adopted by a couple and grew up believing they were her parents. The baby was Jamie-Lee Jeptha. She is now 31 years old, married and the mother of a boy. And she wants to find her biological mother. This week, Jeptha told POST she always felt something was missing from her life but she could never understand what it was. She had what would be considered a normal childhood. She has some memories of living in Chatsworth with her adoptive…

The Supreme Court in India said recently that a woman cannot be denied the opportunity to terminate her pregnancy merely on the grounds that she is unmarried. The court then allowed a woman to terminate her 24-week-old pregnancy, concluding that the foetus could be aborted without risking her life. A bench of Justices – DY Chandrachud, Surya Kant and PS Narasimha – said allowing the woman to suffer an unwanted pregnancy would be contrary to the object and spirit of the legislation. “We are of the view that allowing the petitioner to suffer an unwanted pregnancy will go against the parliamentary intent and the benefits under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act cannot be denied to her only on the basis of her being unmarried. “The distinction between a…

IMRAN Khan, the former prime minister of Pakistan, has warned that his country was not far from a Sri Lanka-like situation, where Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa was forced to tender his resignation amid an economic crisis and violent protests. Khan recently tweeted: “I can say with certainty after my interaction with our nation and their response to my call for Haqeeqi Azadi (the complete freedom protest march) that the people of Pakistan have had enough and will not allow these mafias to continue their loot and plunder. “We are not far from the Sri Lanka moment when our public pours out into the streets. My question is: How long will state institutions continue to allow this while in just over three months Zardari-Sharifs’ (Asif Ali Zardari and Shehbaz Sharif) mafia…

Give merit when due IT HAS taken a long time but the government has finally made electricity a priority. Now the words articulated by President Cyril Ramaphosa need to become a reality. Sufficient and reliable electricity is the starting point to getting our economy to grow. It will result in more jobs being created and, as a result, a society that is less stressed-out and angry. Literally and figuratively, it leads to a brighter future. It is good that Eskom is engaging with former employees. Most South Africans, irrespective of their colour, want their country to succeed. They would be happy to play a role in helping to build a stable, prosperous country. Unfortunately, for too long too many have been excluded because they were not black enough or they…

There’s a global renaissance regarding women's rights in the sporting world and some seismic shifts in political appointments. France, which is always at the forefront of gender equality, appointed Élisabeth Borne, its first female prime minister in 30 years. In fact, President Emmanuel Macron’s cabinet is made up of 14 male and 14 female ministers. Colombia also appointed its first female vice-president, Marta Lucía Ramírez, in its history. Ketanji Brown Jackson has just been appointed the first female black US chief justice as US President Joe Biden continues his promotion of women since choosing Kamala Harris as his second-in-charge. Both the Finnish and Swedish prime ministers (women) have launched a bifurcated and well-synchronised bid for Nato membership and the entire bloc is backing them. Moldova’s first female president, Maia Sandu,…

I lost everything’: Amputee takes on the KZN Department of Health following operation: Kenneth Frank: I feel for this guy. A lesson to be learnt. When you have money coming in, especially if you’re a one man show, get yourself insured – life, disability, income protection, and medical aid. Nishanth Bhartu: Really sad. I pray he gets compensation so he can rebuild his life. Sagar Singh: Ridiculous payout. It should be much more. An actuary should calculate the loss over his expected lifespan. Incompetence must be punished and the payout should reflect the future earning. Gonum Rengasamy: It’s so heartbreaking. Today people worry more about money and material things than love and care. Logan Pillay: Such a terrible ordeal. I hope Mr Pillay gets fully compensated. Shaun Sugern Govender: Yes,…

THREE days into the new school term saw Phoenix Secondary School without electricity, which has hampered teaching and learning. It also put the school nutrition programme, which feeds hungry pupils, in jeopardy. The school’s electricity supply was disconnected by the eThekwini Municipality due to a R3 million outstanding utilities bill. Phoenix Secondary is one of seven schools to have its electricity disconnected due to outstanding bills totalling millions of rand. The other affected schools are Phoenix Pioneer Primary School, Stonebridge Primary, Clayridge Primary, Grandmore Primary, Foresthaven Secondary and Northdene Secondary. Rajesh Trikum, the school governing body (SGB) chairperson at Phoenix Secondary, said the arrears were R3 million. “We have infrastructure issues and an underground piping problem has caused this huge bill. We complained to the municipality on several occasions but…

AN Isipingo businessman, who was shot twice in the leg, believes he and his family are being targeted by an alleged drug dealer in the area. Devraj Naidoo, 48, of Lotus Park, Isipingo, who owns a Tab betting facility and bar, said the gunman was waiting on his property on Friday morning. “I returned from Amanzimtoti and was waiting for my driveway gate to open. When I entered my yard and got out of the vehicle, I saw a man behind my truck, and he began shooting at me. I did not have time to pull out my firearm. All I could do was run. “My 73-year-old mother heard the racket and opened the veranda door. I pushed her back inside the house and followed her. I was shot twice…

Proteas legend Lance Klusener has been appointed as the head coach of the Durban franchise that will compete in the new South African T20 league that starts in January. The league will replace the Mzansi Super League that ran from 2018-2019. The league was created to nurture local cricketing talent and compete with T20 leagues such as the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Australia’s Big Bash. The Durban team will be owned by the RPSG group, who also own the Lucknow Super Giants in IPL. Klusener, who previously coached the Dolphins, Afghanistan and Bangladeshi team Khulna Tigers, is excited about the challenge. “This is a new challenge for me. It makes me very proud. I am looking forward to meet the team,” said Klusener. The league will be led by…

IN A unique comedy experience, Riaad Moosa will bring his character, Cassim Kaif, back to the big screen in a double feature of live stand-up comedy and a special comedian’s cut screening of his latest film, New Material. The screening and comedy session will be held on July 29 at CineCentre Grandwest (Cape Town), on July 30 at CineCentre Suncoast (Durban) and on July 31 at CineCentre Killarney (Johannesburg). As an award-winning comedian, actor, writer and presenter, Moosa is one of South Africa’s most popular and acclaimed comedians – and he happens to be a qualified medical doctor too. “I’ve been cooped up doing virtual shows for two years. “I’m thrilled to be able to perform to real people instead of emojis on my screen and to hear some real…

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 in KwaZulu-Natal. Watch her weekly predictions on GlowTV on Sundays after 8pm with Denver Naicker on the Get Real Show. She can be contacted at 072 986 5514 or email sharron@quantsoul.com ARIES (March 21 – April 19) TAKE time out for yourself to heal and recharge your batteries. There is a feel for needing some alone time. Take this time to get away from work and connect with nature. Lucky colour: apricot. TAURUS (April 20 – May 20) You are moving forward and things are happening around you. You still need to do your part and use this…

A NEW minimum wage is set to be discussed later this year, to be implemented in March 2023. While it may seem both compassionate and logical to explore an increased minimum wage for South African workers, the truth is it would be far better to abolish the minimum wage than to increase it. This year has seen a record rise in the cost of living. Fuel prices are rising every month. Electricity prices rise while the lights stay off. And the price of food and essentials has skyrocketed across the board. With all that in mind, it seems reasonable to raise the minimum wage. If costs are rising, minimum wage workers need to be able to afford the new expenses, right? But the minimum wage isn’t some universal fix-all for…

IS OUR government watching the events unfolding in Sri Lanka? Like the storming of the Bastille, which sparked a revolutionary spirit all around the world, the Sri Lankan masses tired of their corrupt, inefficient leaders, recently stormed the presidential palace, making President Gotabaya Rajapaksa flee the country. The plush presidential compound and its gardens soon turned into a tourist attraction. Like long queues of people at petrol stations, thousands queued to see how the president lived in luxury while they scratched the earth to earn a living. The rioters revelled in the palace, even diving into the swimming pool to celebrate their victory. They also ransacked the prime minister’s office, and set it alight. The government of Sri Lanka was a close family-run oligarchy. The president and his family have…

IT IS unacceptable that Eskom staff demand salary increases when they also contributed to the present state of the power utility. According to social media reports, these employees earn an average of R60 000 a month, and Eskom is one of the highest paying employers in the country. Taking this into account, Eskom should be providing a world-class service. Although employees will argue that senior management were involved in corruption, etc, it seems some employees were also complicit in acts of wrongdoing. Also, take into account that Eskom is overstaffed by about 16 000 employees according to international benchmarking. The board and the CEO involved in this mass recruiting should be prosecuted because this was a waste of taxpayers’ money. The majority of Eskom staff and management should be…

THE SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has called for public participation in the second leg of its inquiry into discrimination in the advertising industry. The first leg was from March 14 to April 18 and the second will be held from August 29 to September 9. Wisani Baloyi, the acting communications co-ordinator at the SAHRC, said the commission established the inquiry to deal with discriminatory messaging within a number of adverts. Through the inquiry, they aimed to establish a culture of human rights, he said. “We want to prevent discriminatory adverts which unfairly depict, discriminate and impair the dignity of the diverse people living in South Africa. In the recent past, there have been a few advertisements that have been indicative of racism and have evoked much criticism from the…

WITH Diwali less than three months away, the Minority Front has requested that eThekwini Municipality consults with the Hindu community before gazetting the new fireworks by-laws. Diwali, on October 24, is a celebration of good overcoming evil and it is usually celebrated with the lighting of fireworks. However, in the past, the use of fireworks for the celebration has been in the spotlight due to their noise levels and the effect that they have on pets. Each year, prior to the celebration, the municipality releases by-laws on how fireworks must be used. The by-laws include a specific time frame and date when fireworks can be lit. It also states the fines one will receive if one does not comply. Sunitha Maharaj, a PR councillor for the MF, said the lighting…

THE National Prosecuting Authority of South Africa (NPA) submitted a formal application to the Central Authority in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the extradition of Atul and Rajesh Gupta on Monday. This is within the 60-day period from the date of arrest of the Gupta brothers, as set out in the Extradition Treaty between South Africa and the UAE. The deadline for submission is August 2. The brothers are accused of using their connections with Jacob Zuma, who was president from 2009 to 2018, to win contracts, influence Cabinet appointments and siphon off state funds. Both Zuma and the Guptas have denied this. The Gupta brothers were arrested in June. In a statement on their Twitter account at the time, Dubai Police confirmed arresting Atul and Rajesh Gupta in…

HAVE you heard it yet? The KZN Angler News audio fishing report is South Africa's first fishing podcast series that focuses on the latest fishing reports of the East Coast, whether they’re hot or not! It delivers true and accurate content from the provinces most prominent anglers on a weekly basis on various facets of angling. This report is free and available on all major Podcast platforms including Apple Pods, Google Pods, Spotify and Deezer as well as SA’s most popular Facebook Pages. This show is proudly sponsored by The Kingfisher to ensure you get into the right feeding zones with bending rods for the upcoming weekend! https://ansapodcast.buzzsprout.com The offshore fishing has been fantastic along the entire coast. There have been gamefish, bottom fish and backline beauties. The north coast…

TAMERA Gangadien is doing her bit to make the world a better one by providing wheelchairs to families in need who can’t afford them. Gangadien, 27, an auditor from uMhlanga, launched her initiative, dubbed Impact, in memory of her late mother. “In August last year, my mother’s health deteriorated rapidly after she contracted Covid. She went from working 12-hour shifts as a controller at a security company to barely being able to take a few steps to get a glass of water. “My mum was then admitted to hospital. I remember helping her to get into the wheelchair and realised how important a wheelchair was to someone who was ill. My last embrace with her was in that wheelchair so this project is special to me.” Caring is part of…

Dear Fellow South African, Since the advent of democracy, our people and indeed social partners have, on many occasions, been able to unite around common programmes to address the challenges facing our society. As South Africans, we united around our first social compact together when we, after broad consultation, crafted our world-renowned Constitution that brought an end to the reviled and oppressive system of apartheid. Over time, social partners have been able to reach important social compacts around job creation, economic growth and Eskom’s restructuring and the global financial crisis, among others. More recently, social partners contributed to developing the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan as a response to the effects of Covid-19. The effect of the pacts has been varied but largely impactful. We have been facing high levels…

JUST when the dust is settling in the Nathi Mthethwa flagpost saga, comes another. Baleka Mbete, former ANC national chairperson, has urged the governing party to hold a national cleansing ceremony to help it to deal with the troubles the government is facing. What a load of hogwash. There are no signs of stopping the rot. It seems common sense is thrown out of the window. We are facing turmoil in the country, with the electricity crisis, unemployment and two thirds of South Africa’s municipalities in failed status. In spite of rife corruption, Mbete believes the party needs cleansing. It is sad to see our beautiful country deteriorating because of the fat cats in the government. It is time to stop the ANC and Mbete or another R22 million will…

ABORTION is discussed often in America. Other nations inevitably follow suit. It is in religious circles that the subject becomes notoriously complex. People discuss abortion because of its moral and ethical complexities, which in many instances become a matter of controversy. These become even more complex because of the many religious perspectives the subject invokes. But other perspectives are also loud and clear. This was never seriously discussed within the Hindu context, more especially in India, where Hinduism had its birth. Hinduism has a well structured moral and ethical code. But the subject demands the greatest circumspection for the best possible understanding, and even more careful application of Hindu moral rules. It may not be as complex as it appears in the Abrahamic faiths. The Americans are well disposed to…

THE Department of Education in KwaZulu-Natal has within its employ about 2 800 unqualified teachers while hundreds of qualified teachers are jobless. Sithe Maliga, the spokesperson for the KwaZulu-Natal Unemployed Educators Association, said they were concerned the department was not employing jobless qualified teachers. He said more than 250 unemployed teachers were a part of the association. “We came together thinking that if we work in solidarity, we would be heard. However, this has not happened. The recruitment processes of the department is flawed. This is unacceptable," said Maliga, who graduated five years ago at UKZN and is qualified to teach commerce subjects. “We tried to address the matter with the head of the department but got no joy. This is frustrating because this matter has been going on since…

CONSERVATIVE MPs in the UK parliament have selected former chancellor Rishi Sunak and foreign secretary Liz Truss as the final two candidates in the competition to become the next leader of their party. The winner of their head-to-head battle will also replace Boris Johnson as prime minister, following his resignation in early July. Sunak and Truss will now spend the coming weeks campaigning to win votes among the Conservative party membership, an electorate of between 100 000 and 140 000 people. The winner will be announced on September 5. The two represent largely similar traditions within the Conservative party. There is not a large ideology gap between the two, although they do have different approaches to certain key policies. Perhaps the most important of these is on taxation – a…