Table of contents for 2023-01-11 in Post

KRISTIN Govender remains in hospital in an intensive care unit (ICU) after her hair and scalp were partially ripped off during a go-karting incident at the Gateway Theatre of Shopping. The 15-year-old’s hair became entangled in the go-kart axle while she was on the circuit which is operated by Action Karting. Her father, Vernon Govender, of Phoenix, said: “Kristin is still in ICU but she is improving. She can’t move from the waist down but she’s eating and is in good spirits. She’s positive and needs a lot of physiotherapy. The doctors did not say how long her recovery would take.” Kristin was due to start Grade 10 at Palmview Secondary School but will miss the term opening next Wednesday. “She is distraught that she can’t go to school,” said…

SAGREN Rishen Pillay began to fish and sell his catch in an effort to support his aunt. On Saturday afternoon, while casting his net at the Tinley Manor beach river mouth, the 30-year-old drowned. “We don’t know the circumstances that led to the drowning,” said his uncle, Reggie Naidoo. “Rishen went to the beach with relatives and friends and while casting his net on the rocks he got into some difficulty and drowned. His friends called the police and they said they would form a search party the following morning. “When I arrived at the beach the next day at around 6am, the police had still not arrived. That’s when I decided to call IPSS Medical Search and Rescue. “Two team members arrived within 15 minutes. Rishen’s body was recovered…

CHRISTMAS shopping may be over but now it’s time for back-to-school buying. If you were not able to shop for your child’s school needs last year, there is no need to panic. You can still do last-minute shopping at affordable prices, and here’s how. Use loyalty cards: Most parents are big on saving. The loyalty card(s) that you have been swiping since last year will come in handy. Use the points you have accumulated for some discounts. Compare prices: One Twitter mom, @mommy_moneyza, highlighted that retailers like Ackermans, Woolworths, PnP and Mr Price all sell shirts that are 80% cotton and 20% polyester and have the same quality. The trick is to shop where it is cheaper. Pre-worn items: There are kids who attended school for only one year and…

ALTHOUGH our economy rallied in the third quarter of 2022 (Statistics SA), expanding by 1.6% thanks mainly to the uptick in the agriculture, forestry and fishing industries, many South Africans have had to revise their spending habits to weather the economic storm in 2022. According to a survey by TalentLMS, employees battled the runaway costs of living by spending less. The study showed that they pulled back spending on three main categories in 2022: Going out: 56% reduced their spending in eating out (cafés, bars and restaurants. Shopping: 50% tightened their belt on shopping. Entertainment: 40% cut their spending on streaming, gaming and music. 2023 – local and international Motorists can breathe a sigh of relief with petrol and diesel prices seeing a substantial drop in the price from Wednesday,…

DR IMTIAZ Sooliman, the founder of Gift of the Givers, was selected as the Person of the Year by the Afrikaans publication, Vrye Weekblad. In every universal tragedy, this group’s response to humanitarian aid situations is overwhelming. The award is for his reverence for life and tireless global contributions, which have helped make the idea of brotherhood among all nations a living one. The sacrifices that he has made for the safety and welfare of humanity is priceless and it deserves lifelong gratitude from all of us. Dr Sooliman and his medical team have abided by their Hippocratic Oath, which is one of the oldest binding documents in history. In global war zones, refugee camps, natural tragedies and famine-stricken areas, the outstretched helping hand of the Gift of the Givers…

THE DA rejects the childish and myopic statement issued by the eThekwini Municipality, which wished the City of Cape Town a speedy recovery after a number of short-term sewage spills in the city. The DA believes that the ANC should focus its energy on fixing infrastructure instead of issuing frivolous and petty statements about other municipalities. The statement by councillor Nkosenhle Madlala was a poor attempt at humour which was met by a ferocious backlash on social media by members of the public, and rightfully so. Alex Lansdowne, DA City of Cape Town councillor who heads up the Mayoral Task Team on Waterways, pointed out to the eThekwini Municipality that 90% of sewage leaks in Cape Town are attended to with two hours of reporting. He further invited councillor Madlala…

THE South African Pakistani Association is concerned about the safety of its members following a second killing in a week. Muhammad Rizwan, 40, was shot multiple times during a robbery at his hardware store in Uitval, Ekuvukeni, last Wednesday. He died at the scene. His death comes days after Raja Shahzad Hussain, 47, was shot while trying to escape hijackers outside his hardware shop in Pretoria, Gauteng. No arrests have yet been made. Mehmood Hassan said he met Rizwan two years ago and they had become friends. “Muhammad lived in Dundee. He was a good person. He kept to himself and concentrated on his business. I could not believe someone would kill him in such a brutal manner.” ‘ Hassan said other Pakistani nationals were concerned about the killings. “We…

FOR Nellie Somers, Sona Singh who died recently was a dynamo who will not be forgotten. “Aunty Sona was a family friend. She achieved many attributes in her life and was well-known to both the press and the community. She was an inspiration to other women,” said Somers, 65, of Overport. Singh, who lived at the Aryan Benevolent Home (ABH), died on January 3. She was 89. “I’ve known aunty Sona since the 1960s. “She was referred to as the first Indian woman in South Africa to have qualified as a driving instructor. Aunty Sona owned SS Driving School and she used to take my mum for lessons. “She became fond of my parents, the late Mr and Mrs VS Chetty from Asherville in Overport. She enjoyed my mum’s hospitality…

The summer season is going well and we have seen some phenomenal sandies and other inedibles caught already. The North Coast has seen a large majority of the bigger inedibles. The sandsharks have been the most sought- after of the summer fish with most anglers trying for the magic 2m mark fish. Some anglers avoided this and went well past … Sandies are a tricky fish to keep hooked but once hooked they are fantastic fighters. Mackerel, redeye and shad are the baits of choice. The central coast has been quiet, other than the basin area. This section of beach is fishable in most water conditions and does not stop producing fish. The diamonds and grey sharks have been the main species coming out but the odd sandy and honeycomb…

Former Sri Lanka all-rounder Russel Arnold believes that India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah will make the team better in the long run despite admitting that the side has to ensure the right-arm fast-bowler is available for the ODI World Cup to be held in October- November. On the eve of the first ODI against Sri Lanka in Guwahati, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said Bumrah won’t play in the series, citing the need for some more time to build bowling resilience. It added that the decision has been taken as a precautionary measure, with no replacement being named in Bumrah’s absence, further delaying the competitive cricket comeback of the right-arm fast-bowler, who has been out of action due to back injury since September last year. “Well,…

Aurets is a healer, psychic medium, intuitive mentor, masseuse and regression therapist who also teaches meditation and breath work. She practises in Upper Highway. Contact her at 079 356 4657 or email theeternalbreath @gmail.com ARIES (March 21 – April 19) The new year brings gentle emotion into your life revealing greater clarity of purpose while enhancing balance, especially around family. Romantic beginnings or deeper intentions in an existing relationship will prosper. Magic number: 9. TAURUS (April 20 – May 20) Practise less haste and more caution in dealings with others. If you will be entering into new contracts for business/personal, be clear of your intentions. Study and understand all the information thoroughly. Take off your blindfolds before finalising decisions. Magic number: 7. GEMINI (May 21 – June 20) Look…

Legumes, like chickpeas, are some of the most versatile, nutrient-dense and affordable foods to add to your meals and even treats. This recipe is vegan friendly if vegan chocolate is used. Date balls: 1 cup dried dates, soaked in boiling water for 20 minutes and then drained ½ cup rolled oats 1 cup tinned chickpeas, rinsed well and drained pinch of salt 1 tbs shredded coconut ½ cup cocoa powder Chocolate coating: 80g dark chocolate slab 1 tsp coconut oil Blend the oats in the food processor until it becomes oat flour. Add the dates and chickpeas, and blend until smooth. Gradually add some water if the mixture is very stiff. Add the salt, coconut flakes and cocoa powder. Blend until smooth. Roll into balls and let it set in…

Abdul Sattar Allie Osman, a businessman, was killed in a car crash, along with his son and granddaughter, on the N3 near the Vrede interchange and the Wilge Plaza in the Free State last Tuesday. Osman, 63, from North Beach in Durban, his son Faizel, 35, granddaughter Haneeya, 14, and grandsons aged 10 and 7 were travelling to Vereeniging, Gauteng. Yusuf Osman, Abdul’s brother, said his sibling was driving his Nissan Almera. Faizel was in the front passenger seat and the children were in the back seat. “We believe that while travelling near Vrede, my brother tried to overtake a Quantum, but the driver did not allow him to do this and pushed him on to the opposite lane. There was a collision with two oncoming cars. Faizel and Haneeya…

NINEY Ruthnam was 10 years old when he bought his first camera – a Kodak Brownie. He used the money he had saved from his weekend job – pushing an ice cream cart on the Durban beachfront. “I took portraits of my family, mostly of my siblings,” said Ruthnam, now 74. At 13, he worked for his uncle, businessman MK Bobby Naidoo, at his photography studio in Beatrice Street (now Charlotte Maxeke Street) in the CBD. “I worked in the darkroom, developing and printing pictures. At age 18, while capturing nightlife social pictures at the Himalaya Hotel, a friend approached me. He said the Daily News was looking for someone to work in the darkroom – printing the pictures that other photographers took. I got the job. “At 19, I…

In 1985, some iconic Hollywood movies were released, including Back to the Future, Beverly Hills Cop, Rambo: First Blood Part II and Rocky IV. From Bollywood, films like Saagar, Mirch Masala, Arjun and Ram Teri Ganga Maili were drawing audiences. During that time, the apartheid regime in South Africa had become increasingly violent as it fought for survival. Those in power used parts of the Bible to justify apartheid. In response, a group of mainly African Christian leaders published the Kairos Document in September 1985, which rubbished the notion that apartheid could be justified from a biblical perspective. The authors argued that any God who supported apartheid was, in fact, the devil disguised as God. It obviously did not go down well with the white supremacists. Reverend Frank Chikane, a…

Basmati is the most popular speciality rice in the UK, adding extra flavour and subtlety to everything from curries to pilafs to kedgerees. Nearly three-quarters of the world’s basmati is produced in India, and the UK buys 3% of it – plus substantial amounts from the second-largest producer, Pakistan. All has not been well with this delicious staple, however. A huge number of newly-cultivated varieties have been permitted in the UK and EU since 2017, and some have turned out to be sub-standard, lacking the unique popcorn-like fragrance that helps to make this rice so sought after. New rules are being introduced at the beginning of 2023 that aim to take these lesser varieties of basmati off the market. Will this solve the problem? Code of practice Basmati rice has…

AT THE beginning of each year, hopes are raised, ambitions revived and dreams are renewed. There is a bounce of excitement in every step as the final year of your schooling career approaches, and you touch down on perhaps the longest runway yet. But make no mistake, this is as crucial a year that will, in many ways, be a life-changing year for all those completing their schooling career. Whatever your aspirations may be, it has to come with sacrifice, visited with commitment and perseverance, but most importantly, it must come with the zest and zeal to succeed because the next project in your life lands you into the harsh realities of a cruel and, at times, unsympathetic and demanding world. This is where only the best become the chosen…

Cape Town: Faf du Plessis will be returning to Super Kings yellow for the first time since he left the Indian Premier League franchise a couple of seasons ago. Du Plessis captains Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League now, but it is with Chennai Super Kings that he forged his reputation as a T20 superstar. With the launch of the new SA20 that got under way yesterday at Newlands, there wasn’t much hesitation from the IPL franchise to get Du Plessis back among their ranks. The former Proteas skipper will lead the Joburg Super Kings into battle in the inaugural tournament, and his knowledge of how the franchise operates will play a big role helping them hit the ground running in their opener against Durban Super Giants at…

Many parents will remember their first back-to-school responsibility – polishing their school shoes at the start of the new week. With great attention to detail, this simple act taught children responsibility and to care for their items. To re-create the same sense of responsibility, Bata South Africa, which produces more than four million of the country’s school shoes annually, provides these tips to help teach and encourage children to take care of their shoes: Clean shoes with a soft cloth – wipe across the top of the shoe. Brush underneath the shoe daily to clear any grit or mud caught underneath. Polish the shoe with a matching polish colour to take away scratches or marks. Buff with a soft cloth for shine. Do not store in a box, as the…

2 cups rolled oats 1/3 cup no-added sugar peanut butter 100g pitted dates 1 medium apple 100ml boiled water 1 tsp vanilla 1 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp turmeric pinch of salt Preheat the oven to 180ºC. Blend the peanut butter, dates, apple, boiled water and vanilla until smooth. Mix the rolled oats, cinnamon, turmeric and salt in a separate bowl. Add the peanut butter mixture to the oats until well combined. Spread out the mixture on a greased baking tray, and bake for 45 to 50 minutes, until light brown and crispy. Cool before storing it in an airtight container. Serves 8. | NOTES: For granola bars, press the mixture into an oven-proof dish and bake for 45 to 50 minutes. Cut into bars and cool. Enjoy a snack…

Rich in fibre and protein, it should keep blood glucose levels stable until the next meal or snack. 100g frozen cherries 1 tbs chia seeds 80ml almond milk 70g cooked, cooled oats (20g raw) 1 tbs smooth fat-free cottage cheese 1 tsp cocoa 1 tsp raw honey handful of ice Blend and top with sliced cherries. | NOTES: The cherries can be replaced with any berries. You can add more cocoa, but it will make it less sweet. You may need to add more milk if the mixture is too thick. You can use raw oats, but cooked oats give a better, creamier texture.…

THE Department of Education has advised matric pupils to keep busy by reading and exercising while they await their exam results. “The release of the results is often a tricky and sensitive time for some pupils as they may feel depressed at this time,” said Elijah Mhlanga, the spokesperson for the department. “There is nothing one can do other than to wait patiently for the day of results and to stay safe. We encourage learners, who are prone to battling with stress and anxiety, to talk to anyone about their state of mind or contact the South African Depression and Anxiety Group for free professional advice.” The National Senior Certificate results will be announced on January 19 and distributed by schools and exam centres a day later. Those who need…

IT IS a “massive victory”, an “emphatic judgment”. That is how local commentators saw the recent high court victory by the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber and the Pietermaritzburg and Midlands Chamber in a case they brought against the National Energy Regulator’s (Nersa) municipal tariff methodology. While the verdict will probably be appealed by Nersa using taxpayers’ money, it will be hard-pressed to come up with a believable argument. The essence of the judgment is to stop the practice of municipal managers loading the price of electricity – one of many regulatory prices that are at the whim of officials, not only at the local level but also at the provincial and central government. Its significance is that it brings into focus the difference between the private sector’s attitude to…

INDIANS are sociable people. They like to have big get-togethers. When they have a function, they don’t want to leave out any relative for fear of antagonising them. So they invite everyone, no matter how distant a relative he or she is. Consequently, their weddings, birthday parties and funerals are big and extravagant events. My own wedding went against the norm. It was a poor, shabby event. I could not afford a big, showy wedding because I earned a pittance as a teacher. After paying the instalment on the bond for the house, I didn’t have much left to afford anything else. So I opted for a small wedding – a marriage ceremony at a temple and a reception at the house. It seemed like a shotgun wedding. But I…

IT IS perceived that the energy crisis during 2023 will continue with rolling blackouts. There have been many energy experts and others who have come up with solutions to rectify the energy supply, but it is obvious that Eskom has a crisis that has built up over the years. If Eskom is run as a business, as it should be, it is bound to fail. How can a business run if many of its customers do not pay for the services they receive? How can Eskom survive if there is continuous theft and sabotage of its equipment, such as cables, transformers, etc, for which there are also lengthy delays in replacements? How will Eskom survive as a business if its suppliers are being paid for non-delivery and sub-standard coal? Then…

THE post-pandemic world has been characterised by social, political and economic instability. Poverty and inequality are increasing globally. While the South African experience is no different, this has been aggravated by rampant corruption, crime, violence and xenophobia, which threaten to envelop our nation. In South Africa, corruption is most prominent and entrenched in the sectors of government that are tasked with addressing the basic needs of the poor. The poverty-stricken masses are the victims of lack of basic services (welfare, water, sanitation, electricity, housing, education and health care), while political leaders compete for the trappings of power and privilege of high office. According to our scriptures, people turn to the Lord when faced with adversities. Religion promotes basic values of sharing and caring to uplift the poor and disadvantaged in…

A WARRANT of arrest has been issued by the Verulam SAPS for Irshad Asif in connection with four counts of murder and one of attempted murder. These charges relate to the July 2021 unrest. In June 2021, the Constitutional Court sentenced former president Jacob Zuma to 15 months’ imprisonment for contempt of court. Soon afterwards, the looting of businesses and burning of trucks started in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, allegedly as a result of his imprisonment. Communities conducted patrols and barricaded their roads to prevent looters from entering their properties. During the unrest, more than 300 people died nationally. More than 30 people were arrested for the killings and 61 were arrested for instigating the looting. The matters are being heard in courts in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. Colonel Robert…

GARETH Bale retires from football, with his place as one of Britain’s greatest players secure after a spectacular career at home and abroad. The Welshman was the world’s most- expensive player when he moved to Real Madrid from Tottenham in 2013 and went on to win the Champions League five times with the Spanish giants. However, he will be remembered and loved most fomdly in his homeland for his achievements in dragging Wales from the wilderness of international football to two European Championships and a first World Cup since 1958. At the peak of his powers, Bale inspired Wales to the semi-finals of Euro 2016 in their first major international tournament for 58 years. The 33-year-old leaves the stage with a record 111 caps for Wales and 41 goals –…

Buffalo Bills football player Damar Hamlin was discharged from hospital in Cincinnati on Monday, just a week after suffering a cardiac arrest during an NFL game, medical staff confirmed. Hamlin was released from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center (UCMC) and flew to Buffalo where he will continue his recovery at another hospital. “We are thrilled and proud to share that Damar Hamlin has been released from the hospital and returned to Buffalo,” UCMC said. “He is doing well and this is the next stage of his recovery.” In separate posts on Twitter, Hamlin thanked medical staff in Cincinnati while paying tribute to the outpouring of goodwill across the sporting world. “Grateful for the awesome care I received at UCMC,” Hamlin wrote, adding that staff at his new hospital, Buffalo…

Jon Rahm believes he is currently the “best player in the world” after a streak of three tournament wins in five starts, and has questioned the methodology of calculating the golf rankings where he remains number five in the world. The former US Open champion won the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii over the weekend with a comeback for the ages when he overhauled Collin Morikawa’s seven-shot lead in the final round. Having also won the Spanish Open and DP World Tour Championship, former number one Rahm was hoping to at least move past Patrick Cantlay into fourth spot but still finds himself in fifth place. “Since the play-offs … I’ve won three times and I don’t even get close to him. So I’m trying to understand what’s going…

South African all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius announced his retirement from international cricket with immediate effect, Cricket South Africa (CSA) said on Monday. Since making his international debut in 2016, the 33-year-old has represented South Africa across all three formats – 30 T20Is, 27 ODIs and three Tests. He was a part of the 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup and the 2021 T20 World Cup squads. “A few days ago, I made one of the toughest decisions of my cricketing career. I have decided to retire from all forms of international cricket. Growing up, my only goal in life was to play for the Proteas. I didn’t know how it was going to happen, but God gave me talent and a serious will to succeed. The rest was in his hands.…