Table of contents for 2022-08-31 in Post

Four months after they welcomed their daughter Lianna, actors Debina Bonnerjee and Gurmeet Choudhary have announced that they will become parents again. Bonnerjee shared a picture with Choudhary and Lianna along with a picture of the sonography to announce her pregnancy. She wrote in the caption: “Few decisions are divinely timed and nothing can change that … this is one such blessing … coming soon to complete us … #babyno2.” |…

THE days of speedily updating your Facebook status the moment a new relationship is made official are long gone. In fact, the Facebook relationship update could be described as somewhat passé, replaced instead by a new form of social media relationship documentation – the “soft” or “hard” launch. Social media oversharing has become a commonplace occurrence – and the trend of PR speak creeping into the realm of relationships and intimacy is only growing. The soft and hard launch trend combines both. Love, labour and the consumer marketplace have always been intrinsically linked, and the evolution of public dating via social media documentation is worthy of investigation. The internet, and platforms like Instagram and TikTok, give rise to a new visual language of relationship milestones. A language which is highly…

SPRING is upon us and that means it’s time to revitalise and update your wardrobe. Post spoke with experienced and rising voices on the fashion scene. They have offered tips on the latest trends for this season: DOPAMINE DRESSING After two years of living in a pandemic, violence in our communities and recent floods, it's no surprise to see dopamine dressing (dressing to lift your mood) on-trend. The act of dressing in a way that makes you feel good is almost essential in today’s climate. Everything from bold psychedelic prints to bright pastels take hold this season. Kiara Gounder, a fashion and textiles educator at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), said: “There is a definite desire for colour – bold, bright and pastel. After two years of being in…

POLICE officials have urged communities to report crimes so they can deploy resources accordingly. Brigadier Jay Naicker, a spokesperson for the police in KZN, said there were a number of reasons why people didn’t report crime. “This could include that the value of the loss or damage incurred is minor and not something that can be recovered from insurance. “There is also reluctance to participate in ensuring that the perpetrators of crime are brought to book as people don’t want to submit statements or go to court. Often witnesses to crime also refuse to provide police officers with statements.” However, Naicker said reporting every crime that occurred was important. “Police deployments are done in terms of reported cases. Police manpower, budgets and resources are also determined by the official reported…

THE unfortunate timing of the Aamir Khan Bollywood version of the Holly- wood hit Forrest Gump (Laal Singh Chaddha), coinciding with Raksha Bandhan and Independence Day in India, has impacted on its box office take. Having escaped censure for his previous hit, PK, which went to its full theatrical run, the film fell foul of the many radical elements who have targeted Muslims since Narendra Modi’s premiership. Controversies regarding films in India is nothing new. Sanjay Bhansali had to bow to critics who found disfavour with the title and content of the film Padmavati, which later changed to Padmavaat, citing historical inaccuracies of the Maratha nation’s history. Khan, known for blockbuster films, will find the latest boycott strange. According to reports, social media trolls spread the narrative that Khan…

WITH reference to the story, “Is the ANC doing well?” (POST, August 17 to 21). I would like to add my observation. They say a fish starts rotting from the head. The challenges that one is experiencing on the ground in eThekwini have left ratepayers wondering if public representatives are taking issues seriously. And are they prepared to address these issues? Electricity meter readings are not taken monthly and ratepayers are being overcharged as estimated usage is used. These estimations get higher every month. If you submit your meter reading monthly, it is being ignored and you are still charged the estimates. These are unfair and ridiculous estimates. Can this not be resolved by either using meter readings submitted without fail or replacing conventional meters to prepaid or pay-as-you-go meters?…

AS THE name suggest, the ANC means African National Congress and not NIC, the Natal Indian Congress. That is why Indians are absent in ANC structures. My question: Why are so many Indians still voting for the ANC when they are faced with crime, corruption, social unrest, declining service delivery because of cadre deployment, lack of job opportunities and perceived racism? My other question: How many Indians, coloureds and whites were employed to do census 2022? Not many! The ANC forgets that Indians helped them in the formative stages by strengthening our non-racial democracy and building social cohesion in South Africa (namely, the Joint Declaration of Co-operation known as the Three Doctors Pact). How many Indians were employed by the Electoral Commission of South Africa during voting times? Not…

WHAT has happened to the South African Police Service (SAPS) and metro police, which were once effective organisations? Previously, when one drove around eThekwini, especially in Chatsworth, there were random police roadblocks and stop-and-search operations. I remember the police used to set traps as part of proactive policing and to deter criminals. For example, we all know that the N2 and Spaghetti Junction are crime hotspots at night. If the SAPS were proactive and set up traps, criminals would be deterred and Dr Mvuyisi Mzukwa, the chairman of the SA Medical Association (Sama), would not of been stabbed after his vehicle got stuck near Spaghetti Junction. I’m not sure about other areas but there is a lack of efficient policing in Chatsworth to combat hijackings, drug trafficking, home robberies, copper…

THREE men accused of killing Dhir Singh and his partner Kallawathie Beekarie in their farmhouse in Verulam have claimed they were assaulted and coerced into pleading guilty. Thobelane Mangele, 20, Siyabonga Nhlengethwa, 30, and Bonginkosi Mkhize, 30, were charged with housebreaking with the intention to rob, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and murder. It is alleged that in September 2018 they broke into 68-year-old Singh’s farmhouse where the couple were assaulted and stabbed with a spear. A Toyota Conquest, two cellphones, a television, DVD player and other household items were stolen. During their first court appearance in September 2018, the accused pleaded not guilty. Their trial started in the Durban High Court last week. During the trial, they said they were not properly informed of their rights during their arrests and…

REMONA Mckenzie, the DA councillor in ward 31 in Musgrave, has assured residents that progress has been made to secure the Currie Road reservoir. This, after a video on social media of Dr Eubulus Timothy, a Musgrave resident, exposed the lack of security at the reservoir. In the video, Timothy, a dentist, said Musgrave residents could be at risk of being exposed to contaminated water as the reservoir cover was open. “This tank is one of the reservoirs that supply the city of Durban. We don’t know what they have done … Whether they urinated, defecated, or just put stuff in it, but somebody has tampered with the water supply,” said Timothy in the video. He said the vandalism was an act of violence against Musgrave and the surrounding communities.…

MANY women agree that becoming a mother is a beautiful experience, but each woman’s experience is unique. For some, it’s restless nights and swollen breasts. For others, it’s about vaccinations and formula milk. There are countless reasons for new mothers to get fussy. This is why you should check the social media handles of celebrity moms who have used their outreach to become influencers. Not only will their Insta feeds boost your confidence during your pregnancy, but they also share tips and tricks for demanding infants and parenting. Kalki Koechlin: She ensured she kept her fans interested by posting updates during her journey, whether exercise photos or sharing tips. She now has a daughter with Guy Hershberg. The fact that she continued working throughout this period makes her handle a…

South African productions have experienced success on streaming platforms Netflix and MultiChoice’s Showmax. Some of the top productions were Kings of Jo’burg, Blood & Water, Reyka and The Comedy Central Roast of Khanyi Mbau. Kings of Jo’burg was a local success for Netflix. The series focused on the Masire brothers, who rule Johannesburg’s criminal underworld. However, the show takes a turn as a supernatural family curse and a tangled web of betrayal threaten to destroy their criminal empire. It won three international awards at last year’s Hollywood and African Prestigious Awards. They were Best Series in Africa, Best Lead in a TV series for the late Shona Ferguson, and Cindy Mahlangu won best supporting actress. Netflix touts the series Blood & Water as a top pick to watch. Two seasons…

On the court, Naomi Osaka is one of the fiercest competitors in all of professional tennis. But off the court, she is known for being laid back and low-key or, as she likes to say, “gentle like a flower”. It’s these two sides of her personality that inspired her famous flower bear logo – ferocious like a bear, gentle like a flower. The star has collaborated with Levi’s to create a new line, Levi’s x Naomi Osaka denim collection for Spring/Summer 2022. The collection includes five new denim pieces, each of which was based on original sketches by Osaka, and all feature contrasting denim washes and creative plays on proportion. It’s a unique and stylish line-up that can serve as the centrepiece for any outfit. It comprises a cascading mermaid…

THE National Horseracing Authority (NHA) has launched an inquiry into the alleged misconduct of one of its members who has been accused of racism. Yaseen Ebrahim, a businessman and racehorse owner from Zululand, reported Garth Puller, a former jockey turned racehorse trainer, to the NHA. The hearing began on Friday at the NHA’s Durban offices at the Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse. Edward Abraham, from Pather and Pather Attorneys, is representing Ebrahim. Abraham said his client and Puller had a disagreement on June 6. “Mr Puller trains three of my clients’ horses in Summerveld. In June, my client called Mr Puller wanting to know what the chances were of one of his horses named Wishful Girl Linn winning a race. Mr Puller informed my client that the horse was in a race…

The Rohingya are a stateless ethnic group, most of whom are Muslim, who live in the majority Buddhist Myanmar. They have lived side by side with the Buddhist community in Rakhine state for centuries but after repeated cycles of targeted violence since 1962 and continuous denial of their rights, nearly a million members of the Rohingya community live in the world’s largest refugee camp across the border in Bangladesh. MSF (Médecins Sans Frontières, also known as Doctors Without Borders), supports the response of the Bangladeshi authorities, runs nine health facilities in Cox’s Bazar and supports the installation and the maintenance of a network of water pumps. In Myanmar, MSF provides Rohingya, who remain in Rakhine state with basic health care, mental health support, and referrals for emergency and specialised…

Next week will mark three years since Robert Mugabe died. He was 95 years old when he passed away, supposedly from cancer, at the prestigious Gleneagles Hospital. This was a facility that started off as a 45-bed nursing home back in 1957. Over the years it grew into a world-class facility which now has more than 221 beds. If you visit the hospital, the basic room is 24-square metres in size and will cost you about R10 000 a night. That’s just for the accommodation. You will get the comforts that come with luxury, including a sofa, television, an in-room safe as well as a mini fridge. Something fit for a president will set you back about R100 000 a night. But you get a lot more than the basic…

WITH reference to the letter, “DA attempts to meddle in Kashmir feud” (POST, August 10-14) by MPL Les Govender. I fully subscribe to his sentiments. I, and many members of the South African Hindu community, have noted with dismay a recent attempt by one of the DA’s MPLs, Imran Keeka, to introduce a motion in the KZN Legislature on the Kashmir region (which incidentally, is an integral part of sovereign India in terms of international law). It is alarming that this MPL uses the platform of a provincial legislature to raise an international issue, which the South African government has already pronounced itself on in 2019, in that it is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan. We view this uninformed, mischievous and unacceptable behaviour by Keeka and the DA…

WITH reference to the article “Is the ANC doing well?” (POST, August 17-21). Visvin Reddy, the leader of the African Democratic Change, should be the last one to speak about Durban in crisis. He says the ANC has brought our country to where it is. He forgot that he was one of the enablers when he jumped ship on to the ANC bandwagon. Now he wants to play a martyr to save Durban. He voted for the ANC in the last coalition, to give it control, and now he crys foul. What a hypocrite. A double-minded person is unstable in all his ways. He has a history as a party hopper. He cannot be trusted. PASTOR ROY NAIR Bluff…

FOR the first time, I agree with Visvin Reddy, in his letter “Durban is in crisis (POST, August 28-28). However, Reddy talks down regarding colleague Imtiaz Syed. Both of these Indians have let us, the voting Indians, down by supporting the ANC in the first place. Reddy has his way of talking down to anyone who does not come to his rescue. I have served Chatsworth as an activist for 40 years at all levels, but I never saw Reddy as a foot soldier or activist on the ground. He forms small community forums and makes himself the leader to attract political parties after he was booted out of politics by the ANC. Reddy should never dare to tell us that he has never sold the voters out. We are…

TEN more alleged instigators of the July unrest appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court last Wednesday. The suspects are: Dudu Eunice Gama-Kubeka, 59 Nkululeko Zulu, 40 Dumisani Ronald Mtshali, 49 Bongani Joseph Mthembu, 57 Belecia Nonhlanhla Zwane, 48 Ayanda Khanyeza Magadulela, 41 Vuyo Mayekiso, 38 Bogadi Onica Maphisa, 47, Bonginkosi Thomson Mkhalipi, 47, and Kevin Nkhololo, 32 They were charged with conspiracy to commit public violence, incitement to commit public violence and incitement to commit arson. The matter was adjourned to November 30 to enable further investigations to be conducted. On Thursday, 37 other suspects made a second appearance in court. They face the same charges as the 10 accused and were granted bail of R3 000 with the same conditions. Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, the spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority…

A 10-DAY Durban Ganesh Utsav, to celebrate the birthday of the Hindu god Ganesha, will be held from Wednesday at the Kingsmead Cricket Stadium. The festival will pay homage to Ganesha, who is regarded as the remover of obstacles. Ganesh Utsav is also referred to as Ganesh Chaturthi. Brothers Viran and Aman Dang Singh have been hosting Ganesh Utsav in Durban since 2017. It was not held in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown restrictions. Each year they import a Ganesha murthi (statue) to which worshippers pray. It is then immersed in the sea. This year, a three-metre-high murthi was imported from Mumbai, India, and is made from biodegradable material. “In India, much effort goes into the festival to honour Lord Ganesha. Ganesha appeals to all…

SPECULATION was mounting about Rishi Sunak’s future as another poll showed Liz Truss with an unassailable lead among Tory members in the race for UK prime minister, the media reported. Some MPs were predicting that the former chancellor would opt to leave Parliament if he lost the battle for prime minister, although allies insisted he was not going anywhere, the Daily Mail reported. Senior Conservatives believed Sunak had “burned his boats” during the contest, due to come to a conclusion on September 5, and was unlikely to be offered a job he could accept, the report said. Research by YouGov found Truss was backed by 66% of party members, who were deciding the successor to Boris Johnson. Sunak has support from only 34%, excluding those who are not sure. Although…

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”. Contact her at 072 986 5514 or sharron@quantsoul.com ARIES (March 21 – April 19) You have everything under control and your plans are coming together. Fine tune your focus to avoid over thinking. Take action towards new ideas, even if they are not going to be a big income earner. Share the load and take a break if you can. Lucky colour: mustard. TAURUS (April 20 – May 20) Emotions are running high this week so be gentle…

A TRIBUTE to the Legends – which includes Lata Mangeshkar, Bupinder Singh and Kishore Kumar – will be held on Saturday at the iZulu Theatre at Sibaya Casino. Vishen Singh, an artistic director for Taal Productions, said: “We will pay tribute to artists who played an integral part in the memories formed by the older generation. The audience can expect live acts and performances. “The band will feature Anil Deonarain and Krishen Dhuma on keyboard, Anand Maharaj on saxophone, and Mona Maharaj and Sagren Naidoo on vocals. It's a diverse band in terms of age. “The youngest band member is 9 years old. The tribute show is a family affair, where all generations can come together and bond." Anesh Dusrath, who will host the show, said: “During the pandemic,…

KWAZULU-NATAL has emerged as South Africa’s housebreaking capital. This week Statistician-General Risenga Maluleke released the results of the Victims of Crime report from the Governance, Public Safety and Justice Survey (GPSJS) 2022. It showed that a growing number of people in KZN were becoming victims of housebreaking compared to elsewhere in the country. What’s more, a relatively high percentage of people do not report crime. The report does not rely on police reports but actual incidents that have affected those who were part of the survey. A glance at some of the findings: Household crime levels in SA: In 2021/22, an estimated 1.4 million incidents of housebreaking occurred at 983 000 households across the country. This represents just over 5% of homes in South Africa. However, only about 60% of…

THE sun rises silently and unobtrusively and makes life happen. A seed germinates underground invisibly, inaudibly and makes life happen. Women travail far from the limelight. That which is truly great is not determined by the hollowness of fame, social status, and celebration in the limelight. Indulge me in this special month aimed at the elevation of the marginalised and – in defiance of the practice of solely celebrating the well-celebrated – allow for a public tribute for a marginalised representative. She is one whose greatness played itself out in private spheres and concealed spaces where the lights dare and deign not shine. Allow me the space to pay tribute to my friend and colleague Winnie Ngwane who “transitioned” (a euphemism for death she will have used, which connotes that…

I AM deeply indebted to my forebears for affording me the freedom of thought and the freedom to choose whichever philosophy rang true for me. I consciously, out of my own volition entirely, laid claim to that heritage, its literature, its geography and civilisation which stretches back to the world’s oldest religious treatise, the Vedas. I also found within the thinking of the Arya Samaj an intellectual “fit”. I was raised during the Struggle for democracy. It became an attitude to life. I eschewed rigidity and rules as oppressive to the intellect, which we constantly pray to hone. The Arya Samaj afforded me the liberty to think independently and not to bridle my mind with the yoke of orthodoxy. I am free to reject any notion of Hinduism I feel…

OPPOSITION parties in the eThekwini Municipality have criticised a move that would see the city pay an additional R24 million to purchase orange recycling bags. They say the delivery and collection of the bags is currently non existent. While the report was only presented to council and exco members, as it dealt with contractual issues that councillors cannot interfere with, opposition parties raised concerns. The supply of the bags and recycling programme attached to them have come under scrutiny in the past – following complaints by residents. How can the council pay a R24 million increase when they don’t supply and collect the orange bags? Council must suspend the contract because there is no service delivery. The councillors represent the ratepayers and the head of council must honour their complaints.…

THANK you, Yogin Devan, for writing an excellent column, “Sour porridge brings out the worst in people” (POST, August 17-21). The column has created a backlash on social media. I do not believe this was written in bad taste. Hopefully, the column will stimulate change. Change begins with awareness of ethics and values. When our forefathers arrived in South Africa, they had little by way of material possessions. However, they had a priceless sense of values and ethics. What has gone wrong with the current generation that has developed a mentality of greed? Rather than trying to defend a wrong action, we must be brave enough and correct this anti-social behaviour. Often so much food is taken by carters that little food is left for others. This is a bad…

JOHN Steenhuisen, the leader of the DA, recently referred to his ex-wife as “roadkill” and a “flat chicken”. Appearing on Podcast and Chill, hosted by MacGyver “MacG” Mukwevho, Steenhuisen, asked what he understood roadkill to be, replied: “It sounds like my ex-wife.” Adding insult to injury this so-called leader compounded the denigration of his ex-wife by referring to her as a “flat chicken”. In a puerile attempt to palliate his inanity, his feeble response to his disgusting and deprecatory utterances was: “I fully understand that the joke may have been in bad taste to some.” Some? More than half of our population represent women. Does he really believe that only “some” would be offended? Then Steenhuisen added: “I think it is more telling that the South African media have chosen…

Despite enthusiasm back in 2010 to erect a monument commemorating the 150th anniversary of the arrival of indentured Indians in Natal, 12 years on it is a disgrace that it has still not been erected (POST, August 24 – 22). Instead, the project has been shuffled between an organising committee, the municipality and the premier’s office. The latest development is that eThekwini Municipality has handed the project over to the premier’s office. The solution to erecting monuments for heroes can be found in the annals of colonial history. The statues of Sir John Robinson and Sir Harry Escombe outside the Durban City Hall were paid for by private subscriptions from colonists and erected within 10 years of Escombe and Robinson’s deaths. The Indian community, along with contributions from the sugar…

ROXANNE Peters, who served on the executive board of the KZN Blind and Deaf Society, suffered a stroke on Friday and died at the weekend. Peters, 44, also served on the society’s fund-raising committee. In a tribute post on social media, Veetha Sewkuran, the society’s president, wrote: “Roxanne was a child of the KZN Blind and Deaf Society, born to parents Albert and Madhuri Peters, both of whom are blind. “Roxanne spent her childhood at the society, literally learning to walk and run through its corridors, whilst befriending and capturing the hearts of all she met. “Roxanne became her parents’ daughter, friend and companion, but most importantly, their eyes. Since she was a little girl, I was in awe of how easily she guided them and took care of their…

Served the community VENI Pather will be remembered for serving the community, empowering other women and promoting Tamil culture Pather, of Chatsworth, former public relations officer for the South African Tamil Federation (SATF) in KwaZulu- Natal, died last week. She was 65. Pravarni Pather, her daughter, said: “My mom was an amazing woman. She has done a lot of good deeds over the years. “She was the co-ordinator at the Shri Jagannath Puri Temple in Tongaat. For her, it was all about community work and upliftment. “She will also be remembered for her vibrant smile and big heart.” Richard Govender, the president of the SATF in KZN, said Pather started working for the federation in 2005. “She first served under the leadership of Major-General Bala Naidoo, who was the…

CHILDLINE SA’s existing helpline will soon be phased out and replaced by a shorter number to make it easier for children and adults to remember. The 08000 555 55 crisis line will be replaced with 116. Dumisile Nala, the national executive officer for Childline SA, said: “If you call 116, you will be directed to a counsellor at one of our offices across the country. “In addition to getting a short code number for Childline in South Africa, it also works outside of the country (on the African continent). “It means that if South African children were to find themselves in one of the African countries and in need of help, by dialling 116 they would be able to get through to a helpline.” Nala said in the past financial…

HAD Professor Fatima Meer been alive she would have been shocked by the corruption in South Africa, her daughter Shamim Meer says. Shamim was speaking at the inaugural Fatima Meer Memorial Lecture hosted by the University of KwaZulu- Natal last week. The lecture was titled: The Role of the Scholar Activist in Contemporary South Africa. “She (Fatima) expressed her criticism of the ANC openly and fearlessly even though she knew she would upset her friends and comrades. “In 2000 she said we do not have leadership to fight poverty. We have a corrupt leadership, that is our tragedy,” said Shamim. “If resources are reserved for the wealthy, if the government only sees to the needs of the middle-class citizens, all I can say is cry the beloved country.” Shamim described…

English Premier League strugglers Bournemouth yesterday sacked head coach Scott Parker, days after they were thrashed 9-0 at Liverpool. In a parting shot at Parker, owner Maxim Demin said in a statement that “in order for us to keep progressing as a team and a club as a whole, it is unconditional that we are aligned in our strategy to run the club sustainably. “We must also show belief in and respect for one another. That is the approach that has brought this club so much success in recent history.” He added: “Our search for a new head coach will begin immediately.” Parker had taken several public swipes at Bournemouth’s management over their failure to strengthen the squad after the south coast club’s return to the top flight. He was…

FOR rock and surf anglers the North Coast and far south have been the places to go, especially with the sewage situation in Durban. The North Coast has been producing fish for both the edible anglers and those seeking the bigger fish. There have been flatfish on most of the North Coast, with diamonds being the predominant catch. These fish love a big, juicy bait. Try using a head as a base and then cutlets wrapped around the head. This is a brilliant bait for almost all flatfish, and works whether you are using mackerel, bonito or any other bait fish. In terms of edibles, there have been kob and stumpies at most spots along the North Coast. Night has been the best time to target both species. With the…