Table of contents for 2023-08-23 in Post

DINGALINGS Productions will return to Suncoast after 18 years, with a new comedy show on September 9 at The Globe. Kumseela Naidoo, the head of marketing and public relations for the Dingalings, said the show, Hanging with the Dingalings, would feature Koobeshen Naidoo, Henry Ramkissoon and Senzo Mthethwa. She said the adult comedy show would take place during Heritage Month and pay tribute to their identity as Durbanites and proud South Africans celebrating their cultural heritage. “Apart from the laugh-a-minute comedy and nostalgic stories, audiences will be treated to song and dance from some of Durban’s finest artists.” Naidoo said the Dingalings had 50 comedy shows in their repertoire. “The Dingalings’ first performance was at the Super Nova Cinema at Suncoast. It was called 4 Dingalings and a Ding,…

500g lamb leg, sliced against the grain 1 tbs cornflour ¼ tsp roasted and ground cumin seeds plus ¼ tsp extra 1 tbs soy sauce ¼ tsp Sichuan peppercorns, ground 1 onion, sliced 2 cloves garlic, finely sliced 1 thumb-sized piece of ginger, finely sliced 1 red chilli, thinly sliced or to taste 1 tbs vegetable oil salt and pepper to taste 1 spring onion In a bowl, combine the lamb, cumin seeds, soy sauce, salt, pepper and cornflour. Toss to coat. Heat the oil in a large pan or wok over high heat. Add the onion and stir fry for 1 minute. Remove the onion from the pan. Add the lamb to the pan and sear for 2 minutes per side, or until browned. Add the onion, garlic, ginger…

500g lamb shoulder or leg, cut into strips 2 tbs chilli paste 2 tbs sesame oil or any neutral oil ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce 160ml Japanese teriyaki glaze 4 cloves garlic, minced 2 tsp finely sliced ginger 1 finely sliced onion 2 cups thinly sliced vegetables (I used green beans and peppers) 1 spring onion, sliced to garnish 1 red chilli, sliced to garnish sesame seeds, to garnish salt and pepper to taste Marinate the lamb with the chilli paste, 3 tbs soy sauce, salt, pepper, and about 1 tbs of cornflour. Heat the oil in a wok or pan over high heat. Add the lamb and stir fry for about 7-8 minutes, or until browned on all sides. Remove the lamb from the pan and set aside. Add…

Aurets is a healer, psychic medium, intuitive mentor, masseuse and regression therapist. She also teaches meditation and breath work. She is passionate about holistic care and offers a small range of holistic products. Aurets practises in the Upper Highway KZN. ARIES (March 21 – April 19) Victory is here. However, it’s not a time to slacken off. Continue to put in the efforts to reap the benefits. Remain in alignment as problems arise. Reassess, adjust and continue. All happens as it’s meant. Magic number: 5. TAURUS (April 20 – May 20) Happier family times are ahead. Communication is key by knowing your emotions on deeper levels by prioritising yourself. Storms are not all disruptive. Some cleanse and heal. Surrender the present chaotic feelings you feel. It will subside for the…

Thalente Khomo, a freelance photographer and Master’s student at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), was chosen to represent South Africa at the Bihar Museum in Patna, India. Khomo’s exhibition is called the G20 Art Project – Together We Art. It was organised by the government of India during its G20 presidency. It celebrates the cultural diversity of G20 members and guest countries. Khomo is from Gcilima, near Southbroom on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, but she is based between Johannesburg and Durban and is a Master’s student in applied arts – photography. “I was interested in the arts from a young age,” said the 27-year-old. “As a child, I always wanted to be an artist or an author. My paternal grandmother, who was a domestic worker, used to bring back…

HARRY Haricharan, at first glance, would be considered an unassuming and a reticent character – stoic even. But beneath that façade of unpretentiousness lurked a pedagogue with great knowledge and ability and indeed an unfailing commitment to his craft; not just commanding the respect of his charges, but earning it. My high school career was completed at Avoca High School in Durban North in the ’80s, a school at which my father also taught English as did Haricharan. My first impression of Haricharan did not hold much as he did not actually teach me, but this changed as my interaction with him began and developed in the past two years of my schooling career. He was an extensively read man, with a great penchant for English literature, which I was…

DURBAN’S doyen of child doctors, Bayragi Thaventhran “BT” Naidoo, tended to babies over three generations in a remarkable career spanning more than five decades. The healer of children, or paediatrician, who would have treated a grandchild, their parent and grandparent when they were all babies, passed away from age-related illness last week, at the age of 90. He was one of the last pioneers of a breed of doctors who not only practised medicine but were also in the vanguard of the campaign against racial inequity and deeply immersed themselves in community activities. For Dr BT, as he was fondly referred to, medical knowledge and scientific expertise were the foundations of medical practice, but it was the infusion of human values that made him an exceptional doctor. Naidoo realised from…

ELEVEN years have passed since the Marikana massacre and there is no sign of justice. My son, Azad Essa, a journalist, was appointed by Al-Jazeera media to cover the story in 2012. In 2017, he insisted I accompany him to the site to check if there had been any improvement in the lot of the platinum miners. It was horrific to witness the squalor that even registered full-time workers at the mine had to endure. There were shacks of the lowest quality, no electricity and crowded conditions. It was a depressing day. The mound or koppie on which the shooting of protesting miners occurred stood silently, like an immortal sentinel. A witness of police brutality. Acting under instructions. It was basically all about a minimum wage. Thirty-four workers were gunned…

THE story “Tow-truck boss reaches out” (POST, August 16-20) made for sad reading. Last Friday was a bad day in Chats- worth. It was harrowing for three children and the driver who were killed in one accident. When will this end? We have almost become inured to the carnage on our roads. It seems nobody shows respect for our laws. What on earth do we have laws for when nobody bothers to enforce them? We are among the worst in the world for accidents and carnages. Every death is one too many. Every year, hundreds of accidents occur and the never-ending dialogue continues about accidents and what should be done about them, but no solution transpires. In most cases, it’s not the vehicle that causes the accident, it’s the driver…

THE IFP, as the official opposition in the KZN Legislature, calls on authorities to provide a detailed plan, with tangible solutions, to address crime in KwaZulu-Natal. Although the Crime Statistics Report revealed that the number of murders in the province decreased from 1 623 to 1 584 cases, we are not satisfied. Inanda and uMlazi have been identified as the number one and number two areas with the highest murder rates, respectively, both in the country and the province. It is an increasingly intolerable fact of life in this province and country that hardly a day passes without us hearing of yet another murder, rape, abduction, hijacking or burglary. It cannot be a business as usual approach, with piecemeal efforts, as gun-toting criminals do as they please in our society.…

THE six men accused of murdering Babita Deokaran have pleaded guilty in the Johannesburg High Court on Tuesday. Their sentences ranged between six and 22 years. The accused are Phakamani Hadebe, Zitha Radebe, Nhlangano Ndlovu, Sanele Mbhele, Siphiwe Mazibuko and Siphakanyiswa Dladla. According to IOL, they also faced another charge of attempted murder of Deokaran’s domestic worker, who was in the car with her at the time of the shooting. On August 23, 2021, Deokaran, 53, the chief director of financial accounting at the Gauteng Health Department, was shot outside her home in Mondeor, south of Johannesburg. She had returned home after leaving her daughter at school. As she waited to enter her property, gunmen opened fire on her vehicle. Deokaran sustained multiple bullet wounds and died in hospital. She…

STATISTICS South Africa recently released the Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the second quarter of 2023. The official unemployment rate is now 32.6%, down 0.3% of a percentage point from 32.9% in the first quarter. The number of unemployed people decreased by 11 000 to 7.9 million during the same quarter. The number of people who were not economically active for reasons other than discouragement increased by 93 000 to 13.3 million. The number of discouraged work-seekers decreased by 94 000 in the second quarter of 2023 compared with the first quarter resulting in a net decrease of 1 000 in the not economically active population. The number of employed people increased by 154 000 to 16.3 million compared to the first quarter. The unemployment rate according…

THE offshore fishing has been mainly based on bottom fishing for the past few weeks and for good reason. The yellowtail have been putting some serious bends in the rods! The North Coast has seen some good snoek fishing along most of the usual spots. Tinley Manor and Blythedale have been the true hot spots. Trolling fillets on the backline along with good quality, small-lipped minnows are the way to go. The bottom fishing up north has been a bit quieter than the rest of the coast but there have still been some good hauls of geelbek and daga. The bottom fishing has been phenomenal along the Durban coast and further south. The main targets have been the bigger reef predators. That being said, there has been a very…

FOR the first time, Indian Idols season 13 winner Rishi Singh will perform with finalists Deboshmita Roy and Bidipta Chakraborty and runner-up Mani Dharamkot in South Africa. The Indian Idols Fantastic 4 show will take place on Friday at the Globe at Suncoast, and the following day at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg. Singh went from singing devotional songs in his hometown in Ayodhya to becoming the winner of Indian Idols 13. The 19-year-old is a third year aviation management student. “I’ve been singing since I was 3 or 4 years old. My desire was to concentrate on the bhajan genre (religious). However, people encouraged me to also sing Bollywood songs. I decided to take this advice and it has proven to be helpful,” he said. “I was inspired to…

400g thinly sliced chicken pieces 150g baby bok choy 1 tbs soy sauce 2 tbs vegetable oil 4 garlic cloves, chopped 3 chillies, chopped 1 small onion, chopped 1 cup riced, cooked, a day old is best eggs as desired Heat the oil in a wok or frying pan over high heat. Add the onion and stir fry for 30 seconds. Add the garlic and chillies. Stir fry for another 30 seconds. Add the chicken and stir fry for 4-5 minutes, or until cooked through. Add the soy sauce and stir to coat the chicken. Add the bok choy and stir fry for 2-3 minutes, or until wilted. Add the rice and stir to combine. Serve with a crispy fried egg. Substitute the chicken with eggs or any meat. Substitute…

1 red onion, finely sliced 10 cloves garlic, sliced 2 tbs chopped spring onion 1 cup vegetable oil 1 cinnamon stick 2 bay leaves 2 star anise ½ cup chilli flakes 1 tsp salt or to taste ¾ tbs sugar 1 tsp crushed black peppercorns or sichuan peppercorns if you have 1 tsp smoked paprika ½ tsp cayenne pepper or bird’s eye chilli powder ½ cup soy sauce 1 heaped tbs gochujang paste 1 tbs toasted sesame seeds Heat the oil in a pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until softened. Add the garlic and cook until golden brown. Add the spring onion and cook for a minute more. Remove from the heat and set aside. Add the cinnamon stick, bay leaves and star anise to the…

1 packet ramen noodles (I used Samyang – 140g) 1 tsp gochujang paste 2 cloves garlic, finely diced 1 tbs finely diced onion (red onion if you have) 1 tbs chopped spring onion 1 tbs finely chopped coriander 3 tbs soy sauce black pepper to taste 1 tsp sesame seeds ½ tsp chilli flakes 3 tbs sesame oil or any neutral-tasting oil Cook the noodles according to the package instructions. While the noodles are cooking, add the gochujang paste, garlic, onion, spring onion, coriander, soy sauce, black pepper, sesame seeds, and chilli flakes to a heatproof bowl. Heat the sesame oil in a pan over medium heat. Pour the hot oil over the ingredients in the bowl, stirring to combine. Add the cooked noodles and a few tablespoons of the…

TWO Phoenix brothers who were found guilty of crimes stemming from the July 2021 unrest, will turn to the Supreme Court of Appeal to have their sentences reviewed. Dylan Govender, 29, and his brother Ned, 30, were charged with the murder of Mondli Majola, 19, from Zwelisha Township near Phoenix. He was shot while walking along Desertpalm Gardens in Palmview to Cornubia during the 2021 unrest, and died at the scene. Three men who were with him – Mxolisi Putuzo, Nkululeko Mangwe and Qaphelani Mkhovu – were also attacked. Dylan, 29, a graphic designer, and Ned, 30, a mechanical engineer, from Palmview, were also charged with attempting to murder the trio. The brothers pleaded not guilty to all the charges. During the trial, they were represented by Carl van der…

BUBBLY sand waiter and maitre d’hotel, James Ratibar, of Clare Estate, turns 100 on Wednesday – the first generation offspring of an Indian indentured worker from Bengal. His father (in his recollection, Gendha) came from Calcutta, while his colonial-born mother’s (Bhudia) family originated in the holy city of Mathura. Ratibar’s maternal grandmother passed on at age 116. Ratibar is as quick-witted, elegant and charming as when he held court at Arundel Tearoom on the Durban beachfront, serving patrons on the sandy shore during World War II. And latterly, the British Middle East India Club, better known as the Queen’s Tavern, around the corner from Newspaper House in Greyville. The once-posh establishment was famed for its curry menu, not just among harried journalists but also the well-heeled world cruisers of the…

SHARON Page Williams is a trailblazing, dedicated and accomplished athlete. She was born on May 26, 1966, and attended Bechet Secondary School in Sydenham, where her sports journey began in 1980. Forced to participate in inter-house sports, Williams’s initial race was a 100m sprint on the school grounds, where she triumphed over a girl who already had her KZN colours. From grades 8 to 12, Williams excelled in academics and sports. She obtained her KwaZulu-Natal colours in athletics and hockey between 1980 and 1984. Williams continued to receive KZN colours for athletics since 1985. She won awards and honours for, among others, setting KZN athletics records and securing victories in track, cross country and road events. Williams won a gold team prize at the SA Champs in the women’s 55+…

THE Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill, commonly referred to as the Bela Bill, has recently come under the national spotlight, sparking both fervent discussions and polarised views. While the bill proposes significant changes to the way schools operate and are governed, what has become increasingly clear is that the narrative surrounding its public support has been distorted. DearSA, in its continuous mission to represent the voices of the South African public, has been at the forefront of gathering opinions and feedback on the Bela Bill. Our findings, which represent a wide spectrum of the population, starkly contrast with the storyline presented by certain factions in the government. The real picture shows a lack of public support Through our rigorous public participation process and from the feedback of those who…

THE article “Call for Modi’s Prosecution” (POST, August 16-20), refers. The SA Kashmiri Action Group (Sakag) and Muslim Lawyers Association (MLA) peddle false narratives, lies, slant, bias, misinformation and selective quoting of examples of “human rights abuses” which they hope will masquerade as factual writing or reasoned discourse. It is well known to the objective, critical-minded and independent reading public how so-called writers/authors/activists/organisations with a particular ideological agenda are used as support to bolster one’s argument to reach a desired objective and outcome, irrespective of the factual realities. This is a well-known tactic used by liberals/leftists/communists/Marxists/religious fundamentalists such as Islamists, the world over. Their attempt at propaganda herein ticks all the boxes in this regard. What Sakag and the MLA conveniently forget to mention in their diatribe against Narendra Modi…

FOR too long, the taxis have been a law unto themselves, flouting the rules of the road with impunity. Motorists all over the country know what a nuisance and danger taxis pose on the roads. The authorities have done little to regulate the taxi cartel and make it comply with the rules of the road like the rest of the motorists. Whenever the authorities tried to clamp down on the miscreant taxi drivers, they were defiant and embarked on strikes and protests, often violent. They blockaded the roads, disrupting traffic and causing chaos in the cities. Commuters were left stranded, and business suffered. The problem was further exacerbated as many of the taxis owners were either police officers or had political connections in the local councils, provincial government and even…

THE recent article, “Call for Modi’s prosecution” (POST, August 16-20), which was championed by the Muslim Lawyers Association (MLA) and the South African Kashmiri Action Group (Sakag), was bemusing. The charge sheet to arrest Narendra Modi, the Indian prime minister, was led by the MLA and formulated by a certain UK medical doctor, Muzammil Ayyub Thakur, an ex-Kashmiri resident. Since 2017, the militant insurgency by youth in the Kashmir Valley escalated and more so after the so-called martyrdom of 22-year-old Burhan Wani, commander of the Hizbul Mujadeen. The insurgency group, which is supported by Thakur – which he declares in interviews internationally – has seen him die in an encounter with Indian Armed Forces. On October 26, 1947, under the Maharaja Hari Singh of the two princely states (Jammu and…

WOMEN’S rights organisations have criticised some court judgments that they claim were too lenient towards child sex offenders. In three matters presided over by Bilkish Asmal, a regional court magistrate sitting at the sexual offences court in Pinetown, the offenders were given suspended sentences and ordered to pay fines to the families of the victims. The sentences were flagged for review by Sharon Marks, the acting regional court president of KwaZulu-Natal, in February 2021. Judges in the Durban High Court confirmed two of the three convictions and sentences. In one case, a 41-year-old man was convicted of sexually assaulting his 7-year-old niece in June 2019 in Hillcrest. According to the court papers, the man was the cousin of the child’s father. He had been staying with the child and the…

LUIS Rubiales, the president of the Spanish Football Federation, apologised on Monday for kissing star player Jenni Hermoso on the lips after Spain won the Women’s World Cup. Rubiales, 45, planted a kiss on Hermoso after she collected her medal after the final in Sydney, provoking outrage in Spain. “Certainly I made a mistake and I have to acknowledge that,” Rubiales said in a video posted on social media by Spanish television. “It was done without any ill intention in a moment of the highest exuberance. Here we saw it as natural and normal, but outside it has caused a commotion. “I have no choice but to apologise and to learn from this ... and when representing the federation take more care,” he said, adding that he thought the…

350g chicken, sliced into bite-sized pieces 1.5 tbs gochujang chilli paste Salt and black pepper to taste 400g cooked noodles (I used Roka, Pad Thai noodles) 3-4 tbs oil 1 onion, cut into chunks 1 red pepper, cut into chunks 1 green pepper, cut into chunks 4-5 cloves of garlic, sliced 2 chillies, sliced (optional) 3 spring onions, diced 40g cashew nuts 3-4 tbs light soy sauce 3-4 tbs dark soy sauce Asian seasoning to taste 1 tbs toasted sesame seeds Combine the chicken, gochujang paste, salt and pepper in a bowl. Heat the oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until browned on all sides. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside. Add the onion, peppers, chillies and garlic to the…

450g boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces 1 tbs cornflour mixed with 2 tbs water 1 tsp salt ½ tsp black pepper 1 tbs vegetable oil ¼ cup honey ¼ cup soy sauce 1 tbs ginger, grated 1 clove garlic, minced ½ red chilli sliced – or to taste Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a pan or wok over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned on all sides. Remove the chicken and set aside. Add the garlic, ginger, and chilli to the pan or wok and cook. Stir occasionally, for 1 minute, or until fragrant. Reduce the heat to low. Add the soy sauce and cornflour slurry, and stir to combine. Once the sauce thickens, add the…

1kg chicken wings 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp onion powder 1 tsp paprika 1 tsp salt ½ tsp black pepper glaze: 1 tbs sesame oil ½ cup honey ¼ cup soy sauce 1 tsp red pepper flakes 1 tsp ginger paste 1 tbs Worcester sauce juice of 1 lime 1 tsp ground coriander Wash and pat dry the chicken wings. In a bowl, combine the chicken wings, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt and pepper. Toss to coat. Air fry the chicken wings at 180ºC for 10 minutes, flip, and air fry for another 10 minutes. Turn up the heat to 200ºC and air fry for another 3-4 minutes on each side, or until crispy and golden brown. In a saucepan, combine all of the glaze ingredients and bring…

IT IS WITH great sadness that we learnt of the return to the Mercy of God of our friend, comrade, freedom fighter and respected journalist, Rafiq Rohan. Rafiq was a champion for human rights and dedicated his life to fighting for justice and establishing a non- racial society. He was raised in Durban in a mixed-race Christian family and was exposed to racism and the horrors of apartheid at an early age. Rafiq grew up in difficult circumstances and valued the importance of education early on. He was badly disfigured in an accidental fire at home when he was a boy and endured living a life with taunts about his disfigurement. The experience made him more determined to succeed academically. He immersed himself in books, and in his quest for…

MANY coloured and Indian compatriots who were the backbone of the UDF feel excluded from our nation’s political life, and point to their under-representation in decision-making structures as evidence of this. Many white South Africans wrongly believe there is no place for them in South Africa today, and some have drifted towards laager-style politics and a siege mentality. Women feel marginalised and unprotected as they are preyed upon in their homes, at schools, at places of higher learning, and even in church. Young people, a third of our population, are feeling the cold winds of exclusion from opportunity. They see politics as the preserve of old people and aren’t voting. By far those who feel most excluded and neglected are the urban and rural poor, the unemployed and society’s most…

DESPITE being launched six years ago, a R134 million oThongathi housing project remains incomplete, with only 11 units under construction, all of which have been vandalised. The information forms part of a written parliamentary reply from Sipho Nkosi, the MEC for Human Settlements in KZN, to questions by the DA. The reply also confirms that the 248-unit uMbhayi development was launched by the department in 2017, with housing intended for residents living in a nearby informal settlement. Construction is due for completion in July 2026 and occupation due to commence from February/March next year. It is unacceptable that this development is so far behind when KZN has a massive housing backlog. How the department will begin occupation in just a few months remains to be seen. KZN’s Department of Human…

WITH reference to the article, “Call for Modi’s prosecution” (POST, August 16 – 20). The Hindu Dharma Trust (HDT), represented by the legal firm Surendra Singh and Associates, views, with concern, calls by the SA Kashmiri Action Group and the Muslim Lawyers Association to arrest Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he arrives in South Africa for the BRICS Conference. The HDT views, with deep suspicion and concern, the statement by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) that investigations are well under way to arrest and prosecute Modi. The HDT would like to place on record that on June 23, 2023, we addressed a letter regarding this matter to the NPA. The response of the NPA was almost non-existent, if any. Apart from a feeble attempt by Rodney de Kok to…

SEVEN political parties have joined forces to contest next year’s national elections, under the banner of the Multi- Party Charter. A two-day convention was held last week at Emperor’s Palace in Kempton Park. Formerly known as the Moonshot Pact, the charter is an agreement between ActionSA, Freedom Front Plus, Spectrum National Party (SNP), United Independent Movement (UIM) and the Independent South African National Civic Organisation (Isanco). The bigger parties to the agreement are the DA and IFP. The aim is to unseat the governing ANC after the 2024 national and provincial elections. The coalition agreed that they would, among other things, share public power and positions based on merit instead of cadre deployment affiliations. Their aim is to create jobs, grow the economy, increase service delivery and address other challenges.…

Ebrahim Patel, the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, recently announced a tariff charge for imported chicken. The increase would affect Brazil, Ireland, Poland, Spain and Denmark, leading to an increase of 265%, 158.4%, 96.9%, 85.8% and 67.4% on imported chicken respectively. These tariffs were based on a recommendation by the International Trade Administration Commission (Itac). It found that producers in international markets were dumping or disposing of products in South Africa, causing harm to the domestic industry. Patel said that although dumping was destroying jobs in the country, local producers should not exploit the anti-dumping duties to the detriment of consumers. According to the Itac, the Competition Commission and Consumer Commission will monitor poultry prices to determine whether unjustified price increases are affected by local producers due to the…

Veteran All Black hooker Dane Coles said he was “gobsmacked” to hear former New Zealand coach Steve Hansen was helping rivals Australia prepare for the Rugby World Cup. Hansen has agreed to assist Australia head coach Eddie Jones, a long-time friend, this week as an unpaid adviser while the Wallabies prepare to face France on Sunday in a World Cup warm-up in Paris. Coles, who has played 86 Tests for New Zealand, was stunned to hear his ex-All Blacks boss is currently in the Wallabies camp. “Yeah? Shag, what are you up to?” the visibly shocked Coles said, using Hansen’s nickname. “That hurts a little bit, to be fair,” he added. “It’s a bit disappointing, but we can’t do much about that.” New Zealand reporters broke the news to Coles…