Table of contents for 2024-01-24 in Post

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, KZN. She can be contacted at 072 986 5514 or sharron@quantsoul.com ARIES (March 21 – April 19) Every cloud has a silver lining, so don’t lose faith. The end of a cycle is here and there is change in the air, but you need to accept that not everything is going to be easy. The change could be around testing your confidence levels, so this is emotional and relationship-based. Go with the flow and know that you are worthy. Lucky colour: yellow. TAURUS (April 20 – May 20) Start out how you wish to continue and lay the…

THE second poster from the film, The Goat Life, featuring Malayalam superstar Prithviraj Sukumaran, was recently unveiled. Actor Ranveer Singh took to the stories section of Instagram to share the poster which features Sukumaran with an intense and rugged look. The film, which is said to be “the greatest survival adventure ever”, is based on a true story. It shows the transformation of Sukumaran The movie also stars Hollywood actor Jimmy Jean-Louis, Indian actors Amala Paul and KR Gokul, and Arab actors Talib al Balushi and Rik Aby. Shot in multiple countries, the film is the biggest venture in the Malayalam film industry.…

3 cups icing sugar 3 cups dessicated coconut 1 can condensed milk 1 tbs rose water food colouring of your choice Mix the sifted icing sugar with the desiccated coconut until well blended. Pour in the condensed milk and rose water. Mix well to combine and distribute the ingredients properly. Divide the mixture into 3 equal parts in separate bowls, colour 2 parts with colours of your choice and leave 1 white. Grease a square glass dish with a non-stick spray. Makes it easier to take out when ready. Press each layer tightly in any order into the dish. Set for a little while before cutting into the desired shapes and sizes. Store in an airtight container.…

250g butter (room temperature) 125ml sugar (icing/castor/normal) 1 tsp caramel/vanilla essence +/- 2 cups flour Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in the essence. Add the flour, a little at a time until you have a soft, workable dough and mix well. Form the dough into two discs, cover in cling wrap and refrigerate for half an hour. Roll the dough to +/- ½cm and cut into the desired shapes. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until lightly browned, in a preheated oven at 180°C. Decorate as desired once completely cooled.…

1 x 150g good quality chocolate of your choice 1tsp coconut oil 1 cup salted, roasted peanuts peanut butter Break the chocolate into individual segments and then heat in the microwave for 30-second intervals. Mix it each time until the chocolate is melted and smooth. This should take about a minute if the chocolate is at room temperature. Mix in the coconut oil, followed by the nuts. Place a teaspoon of the choc-nut mix into little cupcake liners. Top with ½ tsp peanut butter and then top with more chocolate mix. Refrigerate for about half an hour. Store in the fridge in the hot seasons and at room temperature when cool.…

Firozabad: A Muslim woman, who delivered her child on January 22 in the town in Uttar Pradesh, has named him Ram Rahim because he was born on the day of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony at the Lord Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Dr Naveen Jain, in charge of the District Women Hospital, said that a woman, Farzana, gave birth to a baby boy on Monday. "The child and the mother are fine. The child's grandmother, Husna Banu, named him Ram Rahim,” said Dr Jain. Banu said that she named the child as Ram Rahim to give a message of Hindu-Muslim unity. The whole nation celebrated with fervour after the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya on Monday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the ceremony at the newly-built Shri…

MATRICULANTS who hope to pursue a career in medicine at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) may have to look elsewhere for admission. The university only has place for 250 first-year students and a race quota system, which means 19% of Indian students will gain admission. According to UKZN, there were about 12 000 applications for the 250 places for first year entrance to the MBChB degree programme at the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine. However, the quota system for the first-year MBChB degree programme as defined by the College of Health Sciences specified that 69% (173) of the spots were for black (African) students, 19% (48) for Indian, 9% (22) for coloured, 2% (5) for white and 1% (2) other. Normah Zondo, UKZN’s executive director, corporate…

FOR Panjavarum Govender and his wife Dhanalutchmi, putting God first, showing each other love and respect, and spending quality time together have been their secret to a successful marriage spanning more than five decades. Panjavarum, 77, and Dhanalutchmi, 69, of Yellowwood Park, celebrated their 52nd anniversary on January 2. The couple met when Panjavarum, who was 23 at the time, visited a relative in Chatsworth in January 1971. Dhanalutchmi, who was 15, lived next door. “I was staying at my aunt’s house for a short holiday, when I saw the most beautiful girl with long hair and the loveliest smile next door. I instantly knew I wanted to marry her,” said Panjavarum. Dhanalutchmi said she found him handsome and respectful. “He spoke to me with respect and we quickly became…

ABUSE, infidelity, poor communication and a lack of finances are some of the driving factors that result in some marriages ending in divorce before the 10-year mark. According to a study by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), 18 208 completed divorce forms were processed in 2021. This was an increase of 13.1% from the 16 097 divorces processed the previous year. The study revealed that 4.8% of the divorces – which equate to 881 cases of divorces granted – were from the Indian/Asian population; 9 175 were African, 3 202 coloured, and 3 652 white. Of the 881 Indian/Asian cases, 533 divorces were filed by women, 273 by husbands, and 75 were either mutual or unspecified. In addition, 471 of those divorced had children under the age of 18.…

THE article, “Community involvements key to improving safety” in schools, (the POST, January 17-21) refers. We are in the first week of school. Initiatives must be taken by the police, parents and teachers with a strong message against bullying and the use of illegal substances. Bullying reached epic proportions towards the end of last year, against the most vulnerable, which is our children. Sadly, times have changed radically that we, as parents, need to overcome the challenges of a new generation. The travesty of drugs and bullying, and its consequences in our schools should be rightfully dealt with at all levels. We, as parents, and the community at large, need to be part of the schools and institutions fighting this scourge. Drugs, alcohol and bullying have become a norm in…

IN DEFENDING Israel’s conduct in Gaza since October 7, 2023, the Israeli legal team at the International Court of Justice, painted Israel as a paragon of virtue. However, the truth is that Israel has a long history of committing and/or aiding and abetting genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in historic Palestine and abroad. Here is a small catalogue of atrocities that Israel has been involved in. In 1947/48, Israel perpetrated the massacres of Palestinians under its Plan Dalet. That was followed by the 1956 massacres in Gaza’s Kafr Qasim, Khan Yunis and Rafah by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), the most immoral army in the world. In 1982, Israel used its proxy, the Lebanese Phalangists, to carry out the Sabra and Shatila massacres. The founder of Zionism, Theodore…

THE BMW 6 series GT was advertised at R5 500. The raised body Toyota Hilux was priced at R10 500. The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon was selling for R7 500 and the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG would set you back R5 500. There are no noughts missing in the above figures. The prices are all correct because these are battery-powered, ride-on toys that I came across on display at a large Durban shopping complex. As I stood looking at these mini versions of the real vehicles, two things struck me. One had to do with the shrinking value of our money. The other was about societal and value system changes that guide behaviour, choices and actions. I could not believe that these mass-produced, weakly built plastic toys that do not leave the…

ALTHOUGH Venk-Pac, one of the largest packaging companies in the country, has been in existence for 25 years, in recent times it has become synonymous with the gift of life – water. Its directors, Ricky and Shamala Naidoo, take humanitarian work to a whole new level, across religions, cultures and races. Just last month, the humble couple, for the 20th year in a row, hosted the annual Verulam Day and Frail Care Centre’s annual Christmas party. At the recent KZN International Business Association (Kiba) dinner, they pledged R1.5 million to the frail care centre. The couple hail from Clairwood and Merebank. The entrepreneurial spirit that runs through the family started with Ricky’s dad, Venketas “Vee” Naidoo, when he became the first person in Africa to manufacture plastic straws in 1967.…

SINCE December last year, undertakers have been unable to book cremations at the Mobeni Heights crematorium for “larger bodies” as the furnace door of the incinerator is too small. Fed-up with the ongoing problems at the crematorium, the Progressive Funeral Practitioners Association of South Africa (Profpa SA) has appealed to the eThekwini Municipality to allow the facility to be privatised, or its day-to-day running outsourced. Director of Pinetown Funeral Services, Clive Moodley, said: “This crematorium can only accommodate four funerals a day as there is only one furnace in operation. That furnace cannot accommodate a large body because the door is too small. This has resulted in families having to incur extra costs for cremation at private facilities. “Profpa SA has made an application to the city to purchase and/or…

The best option is to remain calm, look down and follow their instructions. Put your hands up where they can see them and don’t make any sudden moves. Try not to resist them. People generally tend to get injured or hurt if they try to play the hero. Most of the time these perpetrators just want to steal from you and if you co-operate, in the vast majority of cases they will leave you unharmed. People who get harmed tend to be the ones who are either armed themselves, try to fight off the robbers or say things to the robbers that aggravate them.…

PRIVATE logistic companies contracted by the eThekwini Municipality to provide water transportation services, downed tools this week, after they said they were not paid for services rendered in December. According to a source, seven companies which were awarded the tender by the city in August last year, have been waiting for payments – ranging from R3 million or more each. “Some of the companies have been greatly impacted due to non-payment. They cannot pay staff or fuel their vehicles. The staff will also not work if they are not paid. “These tankers are now parked off at the depots, while communities such as Ottawa, Verulam, and Ntuzuma, continue to struggle to get water for days on end. “This is not the first time that the city has failed to pay…

WHEN Ashmika Ramsaran received her results she burst into tears. Ashmika, 18, from Shallcross, is a matriculant from Wingen Heights Secondary School. She has achieved six distinctions. “After the new year, the reality set in that results would be out. As the days passed, I kept on lowering my expectations of my results. I was concerned about my maths marks. My family bought a copy of the newspaper and I was too afraid to check my results, so my sister did it for me. When she screamed ‘six distinctions’, I burst into tears.” Ashmika said she was surprised that she got a distinction in maths. “I really struggled. But I think it was my consistency when it came to studying that really helped. I spent every day learning and revising.…

DESPITE being in hospital during the exams, Kayleigh Lazarus emerged as the top pupil at Greenbury Secondary School in Phoenix. Kayleigh, 18, from Centenary Park, achieved six distinctions. “I feel blessed and grateful for what I have achieved. I also feel a bit anxious because now that school is over, it means I am becoming an adult with more responsibilities.” She said she achieved her results through God’s guidance and the support of her parents, Livia, a matron and Claude, a mechanical engineer. “A few years ago, I was diagnosed with cluster headaches. They are worse than migraines and last about three hours. These headaches make me sick and nauseous. I also get pain in my eyes. The only thing that helps me is high-flow oxygen. “There were times when…

EMRAAN Hashmi, who has dabbled in almost all genres and essayed myriad characters, has finally explained the reason why he wanted to play a villain. Hashmi was pitted against Salman Khan in the third instalment of the Tiger franchise, which is now streaming digitally. He said: “It is truly special when a film keeps giving you appreciation and respect, again and again. This means that a film has made a place for itself in the books of time. It is really amazing to have got so much love playing an anti-hero in Tiger 3. “I was sold on the idea to play a villain, shrewd and cunning as he is powerful enough to take on an iconic hero like Tiger in a hand-to-hand combat. Aditya Chopra and Maneesh Sharma created…

INDIAN Police Force immerses audiences in the turbulent world of the Delhi police as they deal with a string of bombings carried out by the Indian Mujahideen. A series of blasts that spread fear throughout the Indian nation’s capital is the compelling premise of the first episode of the seven-part web show. The series boasts a star-studded cast that includes Sidharth Malhotra, Vivek Oberoi and Shilpa Shetty. As the story progresses, Joint Commissioner Vikram Bakshi (Oberoi) and Superintendent Kabir Malik (Malhotra) call the shots in a unique cell unit tasked with solving the puzzles surrounding the planned pandemonium. The unstoppable police officers make an awkward, if not completely clumsy, entry into the world of web series. They target the person known as India’s most wanted terrorist, Zarar (Mayyank Tandon), a…

1 roll puffed pastry ½ cup pizza or pasta sauce, or passata 4 potatoes 1 tsp turmeric 1 tsp coriander and cumin powder (dhania/jeera powder) 1 vegetarian stock cube 1 tbs Cajun spice 1 tbs aromatic spice for roast potatoes 1 tsp mustard seeds 1 tsp dried oregano 2 tbs olive oil or butter 2 onions 5 green chillies (depending on your taste) 1 cup grated Mozzarella cheese (use any cheese of your choice) Boil the peeled and cubed potatoes. Add the turmeric, cumin and coriander powder and vegetable stock cube. Heat the olive oil or butter. Add the mustard seeds. The mustard seeds should splutter. Add the finely chopped onions and fry for two minutes on medium heat. Once the potatoes are boiled soft, discard the water and…

10 strawberry marshmallows 20 Marie biscuits 5 tsp strawberry jam 10 ice-cream sticks 1 large slab of good quality chocolate sprinkles Place the jam on 10 of the Marie biscuits. Keep aside. Place 1 marshmallow on each of the other 10 Marie biscuits. Microwave for 20 to 30 seconds until the marshmallows expand. Place the top of an ice-cream stick on to each gooey marshmallow and then place the jam biscuits over the marshmallow biscuits and stick together. Dip each set of biscuits in melted chocolate and then decorate with sprinkles. Place in the fridge for 15 minutes until set.…

“I TRIED to stop the fight. I tried to protect my brother … ” An emotional Caroline Faye Munilall testified in the Durban Magistrate’s Court this week, about watching her brother Bryson Munilall, 27, die after he was assaulted and stabbed by two suspects outside the Dance Café nightclub, on Chris Hani Road, in November 2022. The siblings are the children of KZN magistrate Bryan Munilall. Joeash Govindsamy, 29, and his wife Aveshnee Naidoo, 23, of Greenbury in Phoenix, were arrested and charged with murder. Both pleaded not guilty. Aveshnee was also charged with assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. She has pleaded guilty to this charge. State prosecutor, Desiree Boyang, told the court that the accused had acted in common purpose to kill Bryson. Caroline told the…

A 93% aggregate with 9 distinctions. That was what it took to get into the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine as a female South African of Indian descent. I got a R20 000 discount for my first year of medical school and my father paid every cent in full for the subsequent five years. My father is also a South African of Indian descent. He lived in a one-bedroomed home with his five siblings and parents. He worked as a labourer, but was blessed with the strength, courage and determination to open his own business – his highest level of education being a matric certificate. His blood, sweat and tears are what got me a private-school education and put me through medical school. I managed to…

EDUCATIONAL experts have shared their thoughts on the quota system and its impact on students. Professor Labby Ramrathan, who is based at the School of Education at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, said: “We are still in a transforming context and a very unequal basic education system and as such, some external drivers are needed to make gradual changes. “For higher education studies, limited seats to pursue high-end careers is the greatest challenge in doing away with the quota system and as such, will be needed for a longer period,” he said. Ramrathan said his only concern was the low numbers accepted through the quota system of different race groups. “The number of seats for coloured, Indian and white students need to be reviewed periodically with the intent of achieving equity.…

LOCAL Hindu organisations have condemned the actions of a former Durban pastor, now living in the UK, after he took to Facebook mocking the consecration ceremony of the installation of the Ram Lalla murthie at the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra in Ayodhya, India. The consecration took place on Monday after a 500-year struggle by the Hindu community to reclaim the temple as the birth place of Lord Ram. Last week, a Facebook group, called Understanding Hinduism, posted a picture of a puppy with its paws in a praying position. The puppy had a dot depicting a trishula, or trident, on its forehead and was wearing an orange robe. The group posted the picture with the following message. “On January 22, 2024, our generation was extremely blessed with this amazing…

DESPITE marriage not always being a bed of roses, the thought of divorce never crossed the minds of Bhagwathpersad “Danny” Bachu and his wife, Basanthie. Sixty years later, the Chatsworth couple said their bond was strengthened by communication, respect and love. Bhagwathpersad, 83, and Basanthie, 75, of Woodhurst, celebrated their diamond anniversary on January 1. The couple met in 1962 when he was 21, and she was 14. Bhagwathpersad, who lived in Merebank, said he worked as a weaver with Basanthie’s brother, Harry, at a textile factory. “We were good friends and he always invited me to his family home in Mount Vernon. I eventually visited. “When I saw Basanthie, I thought she was beautiful, but it wasn’t until later that we began talking,” said Bhagwathpersad. “I visited often and…

YOU may think I am some kind of weirdo writing about a funeral again in the new year. But I found this funeral rather unusual and interesting, and decided to share it with the readers. Remember the film Four Weddings and a Funeral starring Hugh Grant? Although what I saw wasn’t anywhere close to it, it reminded me about the film. While a funeral was taking place at my cousin’s house, a wedding was going on across the road in a church. A mournful ceremony in one place but a joyous celebration in another. How sorrow and happiness could be juxtaposed, I thought. But that was not all. While my cousin Pauline is a Christian, her husband Sunny was a staunch Hindu. When they married, I expected Sunny to forsake…

CHUCK Grassley once observed that: “What makes a child gifted and talented may not always be good grades in school, but a different way of looking at the world and learning.” As you enter the swansong year of your schooling career, much will depend on your investment into the year – persistence, perseverance and passion become key to your ultimate success. Education is the singular weapon that nobody can take away from you, yet it is the foundational weapon upon which your very life could well depend. The sad reality is that our educational system, degenerating as it is, is a herding system designed to shepherd a matriculating class out of the system to make way for another. However, your success or failure will depend on no one else but…

AS THE matric results were released last week, it has once again highlighted the importance of this exam and its impact on a student’s life. In South Africa, the matric certificate is not just a piece of paper, but a ticket to better opportunities and career success. We applaud those who performed exceptionally well, and it is heartening to see that their hard work and determination paid off. However, we must also remember and encourage those who did not do as well. The matric certificate is not the only adjudicator of a person’s future and should not be seen as the sole determiner of one’s success. It is important to acknowledge that not all matriculants will find further educational opportunities or find lucrative employment. South Africa is grappling with high…

THANK you for the op-ed celebrating the consecration of the Ram Mandir over the rubble of the Babri Masjid, a relic of the Mughal Era, by Swami Vedananda Saraswati (the POST, January 7-21). In all sincerity, I welcome its consecration, with the hope that a true and sustainable justice with peace and tolerance triumphing centuries of hate and intolerance, will transform a hate-filled nation into one united with common purpose to uplift its people and lead by example. Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela were inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, so why can’t leaders and people in the 21st century and beyond be? Hinduism and Islam have positive qualities and the capacity to unite in the fight over injustice and oppression, and to achieve entente cordiale for the progression of India.…

World War II ended in 1945 and within just 16 years the academy award-winning movie Judgment in Nuremberg showcased the atrocities that Hitler and his fanatical cronies inflicted upon the vastly innocent Jewish race in Europe. I was 15 at the time and had heard of the war, and read umpteen picture books and comics, and watched many movie classics. But the sheer intensity of the hidden genocide that was continuing in Germany, even while the outer war was happening, eluded most of us. That was until this amazing “Maximillan-Schell” award-winner blasted the black and white screen at the Avalon Cinema in Victoria Street. I watched the movie three times in fascination, trying to figure out the war. I recall that the film became a repeated talking point and debate…

FIVE armed gunmen stormed a mosque in Kwaggafontein, near KwaMhlanga, Mpumalanga, during the Friday prayer and held up about 150 worshippers last week. Victims, who declined to be named, said they were traumatised. One worshipper said as they were praying the men entered the mosque. “There were about five of them. “They all had guns. They made us lie down on the floor and demanded our wallets, cellphones and valuables. I did not have anything with me, but they took my brother’s phone.” He said the robbers were ruthless and assaulted the worshippers. “It was a scary experience. I did not know if we were going to make it out alive. “I just wanted them to leave. This incident showed the disregard that criminals have for places of worship.” Another…

EFF leader Julius Malema’s reposted call to “expropriate the land in uMhlanga with all those beautiful buildings and we don’t want to give anyone a cent …” has ruffled feathers. EFF spokesperson for KwaZulu-Natal, Mazwi Blose, said the video was a clip from the party’s Siyabonga Rally after the 2021 local government elections in Durban in January 2022. “The video was re-released when the EFF’s posters advertising our manifesto were removed from the uMhlanga area last week,” said Blose. In the video, Malema said: “We want the land. Here in eThekwini, we want to start with the land in uMhlanga. We want to expropriate the land in uMhlanga with all those beautiful buildings and we don’t want to give anyone a cent. If they paid money, it’s like they…

DHIVYA Naicker has attributed her eight distinctions in the IEB exams to having the right balance between schoolwork and leisure time. Dhivya, 18, from Ballito, matriculated from Crawford International North Coast College. “I also achieved a 90.92% aggregate. I am grateful and proud of what I have accomplished. I worked consistently throughout high school and ensured I had a balanced lifestyle by playing sport.” Dhivya is awaiting her final acceptance letter from Stellenbosch University. “I want to study bioinformatics and computational biology. It is a combination of genetic energy and software engineering. I chose this field because I am passionate about biology in animals and plants. I also love technology, and this degree has a mixture of biology and technology.” She said she looked forward to university. “This is an…

WITH nine distinctions, Paveshan Naidu is looking forward to studying medicine at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). Paveshan, 17, from Chatsworth, matriculated from Star College with an aggregate of 94%. “I feel relieved now that the stress of waiting for the results is over. During my matric year, I had a good support system in my parents, sister and friends.” Paveshan said he chose medicine because he had always been exposed to the health-care system. His mom, Venusha, is a pharmacist. “My sister Derushka is also studying medicine and is a second-year student at UKZN. I found medicine to be interesting and I would like to one day work with underprivileged communities.” His dad, Krish, a manufacturing executive, said: “Paveshan’s hard work has paid off. We are grateful to his…

LESHARN Govender’s hard work has paid off. He has been accepted to study medicine at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). The 17-year-old, of Durban North, who matriculated from Northwood Boys’ High School with seven distinctions, said medicine was his first choice. “I want to be in a field that impacts people rather than having a typical office job. I was offered placement at UKZN, UCT, Stellenbosch University and the University of Pretoria but chose to remain in Durban because it’s unnecessary to relocate. Now, I don’t have to worry about cooking and taking care of myself. All I have to do is focus on my studies," said Lesharn. He said being consistent was his key to success and that came from being disciplined. “I used to study after school.…

Zwane, the 34-year-old attacking midfielder, has become the linchpin of the side and produced an outstanding performance against neighbours Namibia on Sunday. Apart from scoring two brilliant goals, the technically gifted player oozed class and determination. On two occasions he set off on dribbles and left the Namibian players floundering in his slipstream. SA coach Hugo Broos was moved to acknowledge the role player-of-the-match Zwane played in the 4-0 victory. “It was the case of the maestro in the midfield, Themba,” said Broos. “We know it, and I have said it already several times, when Themba plays well the team plays well. We saw it again (on Sunday). “Even (if) it was not really his football. Themba is the man with the combination, but he knew where to go,…

There have been plenty of summer fish around with some edibles in the mix as well for our shore anglers. There have been plenty of summer fish around with some edibles in the mix as well for our shore anglers. The drags are making plenty of noise along the coast. The north coast has seen the bulk of the inedible catches. The usual spots like Tugela and Mtunzini have been the places to go if you are looking for something to test your drag. Remember that these spots should be fished in a group as there have been incidents in the past. Bloody baits like mackerel and bonito have been the most successful. There have been some good edibles around most of the north coast. Look for some protected…

Hina Khan said it was an achievement that the film, Country of Blind, in which she played the lead, would be featured in the list of films accepted for voting by the Academy for Oscars 2024. Country of Blind is one of three Indian films in contention for the Oscars nominations. The others are the Malayalam film, 2018, featuring Tovino Thomas, and Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s 12th Fail with Vikrant Massey playing the principal character. As many as 265 feature films, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter, are included in the list, which is topped by celebrated films such as Oppenheimer, Barbie and Killers of the Flower Moon, all of which have won big at the recent Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards. Khan said: “To be featured on the same…

SAMANTHA Ruth Prabhu, who has gained recognition for her performance in The Family Man 2, and is gearing up for the release of Citadel: India, shared throwback workout videos from the preparations of both the projects. The actress played Raji in the spy thriller drama The Family Man season two. The series is created by Raj & DK, and features Manoj Bajpayee in the lead. Prabhu took to Instagram stories and shared a throwback video where she can be seen working out in the gym, wearing a black tank top and matching leggings. The post is captioned: “The Family Man 2 #Raji #2020”. In another post, she dropped a workout video where the Theri actress, who enjoys 31.5 million followers on the photo-sharing app, is flaunting her biceps. She captioned…

bananas peanut butter salted peanuts, chopped dates good quality chocolate Slice the bananas in half then each half down the middle lengthwise. Place on baking paper on a freezer-friendly tray. Top each banana piece with a generous layer of peanut butter, then top that with a few pieces of chopped dates followed by a sprinkle of chopped peanuts. Drizzle melted chocolate generously over the top then freeze for three hours. Store in the freezer in an airtight container and eat frozen whenever you need a delicious, healthy snack.…

1kg mince of your choice 1 onion, finely chopped 1 small bunch chopped mint ½ cup chopped celery leaves 1 tsp crushed green chillies 1 egg 1 tbs ginger and garlic paste 1 tbs dhania jeera powder 1 tsp garam masala 1 tsp turmeric 1 tsp chilli powder salt to taste Kebabs: Mix all the ingredients together, roll in balls and bake in a lightly greased oven tray at 200ºC for about 20 minutes until brown. Burgers: Mix all the ingredients together, divide and press into burger patties and bake in a lightly greased oven tray at 200ºC for about 20 minutes until brown. Sausage rolls: Mix all the ingredients together. Cut ready-made puff pastry in half, lengthwise. Place the raw mince mix along the middle, lengthwise. Fold over to…

3 tbs golden syrup 1 cup brown sugar 250g butter ½ cup raisins 2 tsp vanilla essence ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda 2 cups oats 1 cup cake flour 1 cup desiccated coconut ½ cup crushed Weet-Bix ½ cup crushed bran flakes ½ tsp salt 1 tsp baking powder 1 cup cornflakes Heat the first three ingredients on medium heat in a saucepan until the sugar dissolves. Mix in the next three ingredients. Remove from the heat and keep aside. Whisk the dry ingredients (besides the cornflakes) in a large bowl. Add the melted liquid into the dry ingredients and mix well until all the ingredients are evenly distributed. Press the mix tightly into a prepared oven tray. Add the cornflakes over the top, evenly, and press well into…

THERE is widespread belief that the increase in divorce rates is due to the moral decay in societal values. Something that many fail to consider is that the higher rate of divorces may actually be due to increased awareness of mental health, women being more financially independent, evolving beliefs about self care and more awareness on the impact of unhappy marriages on children. l The impact of divorce on the couple: Many assume that the person who wants the divorce feels happy about their decision. While there might be feelings of liberation when exiting an unhappy marriage, the reality is that even the person who requests the divorce experiences emotional distress. While it may seem to the other partner that the spouse “just threw in the towel”, in my experience…

We all seek love and relationships. The quality of our love life depends on how the planets influence us at a given time. The planets impact our emotions, shaping our outlook on life. Understanding these effects on our sun signs is crucial. Celebrity astrologer Parduman Suri, honoured as the best Vastu consultant of India by the governor of Maharashtra, shares his predictions for marriage and love in 2024 for each zodiac sign. Aries (March 21 – April 19): The early months bring a favourable time for marriage. The conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter indicates the potential for love marriage. Be cautious about expressing sensitive matters to your partner, as Jupiter’s transit to your second house on May 1 may lead to misunderstandings. Married individuals will have a good start to…

IT WAS with immense sadness that we heard of the passing of prolific Federation soccer star Bernard Hartze (“Dancing Shoes”). His dazzling soccer skills brought joy for entire generations. Bernard was gifted with outstanding pace and skill, and possessed fearsome skills that left all his opponents mesmerised. Our history of non-racial soccer says goodbye to its most important chapter. His flair and supreme class have left a mark on generations who were not lucky enough to see him play. Bernard was an incontestable symbol of our nation, a source of immense pride for all of us. Over the course of his star-studded and illustrious career, he was unequalled in his abilities that gripped the imagination of an entire generation. He became an iconic star, instantly recognisable across our footballing landscape.…

IT IS with great trepidation that I pen this column on our beloved eThekwini Municipality. The Durban brand was indeed a powerful one, being recognised as the best performing metropolitan council in South Africa. It received international accolades as one of only two debt-free cities in the world. With an AA credit rating, banks and other international agencies were loathe not to lend money to the city. Having R8 billion in reserves, the city was the toast of the country. eThekwini embarked on many innovations that saw it receive worldwide acclaim for projects related to water supply, waste management, housing and infrastructural upgrades, and many other initiatives. Its monumental projects like uShaka Marine World, Moses Mabhida Stadium, beach promenade, uMhlanga Town Centre, uMmhlanga Pier and others were indeed noteworthy. Up…

Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink. The phrase from Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s epic poem, Rime of the Ancient Mariner, aptly describes the plight of the thousands of residents of suburbs and towns north of Durban that have been without water supplies in the wake of heavy rains. The water crisis in uMhlanga, Phoenix, Verulam and Tongaat has reached chronic proportions – each time the floodgates in heaven open and there is a heavy downpour, water infrastructure is damaged, cutting off piped water. Some residential areas have been without water for more than 100 days. On Monday, disgruntled Verulam residents took to the streets to air their frustration at the lack of service delivery. Municipal water tankers, which must be used only as a contingency measure during occasional…

LOOKING out of the window of my London flat, I’m greeted by grey skies, a stark contrast to the azure canvases I grew up with. It’s a familiar sight, yet inherently different, emblematic of the journey I’ve undertaken from the sun-kissed landscapes of South Africa to the bustling streets of London. As I sip on my tea (Rooibos, obviously), I find myself reflecting on the age-old question: Is the grass really greener on the other side? The journey from South Africa to the UK has been a roller-coaster of emotions, and the stark differences between the two have become more apparent over time. Leaving the warm embrace of South African sunshine and the comfort of family was undoubtedly one of the most challenging aspects of my move. The notion of…

FOUNDED 33 years ago, the Chats- worth Regional Hospice Association stands proudly as a beacon of hope and comfort to patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families. Based on the humane principles of compassion, hope and love, the hospice is fuelled by the unwavering passion of volunteers who selflessly give off their time and energies, in ensuring that we attain our mission of rendering palliative care and support free of charge to our patients. On Saturday, January 27, a Founders Day event will be hosted to acknowledge the magnanimous contributions and the sterling vision of the remarkable individuals, who were instrumental in the establishment of the Chatsworth Regional Hospice Association. It will also be in celebration of our 33rd anniversary. A plaque will be unveiled at the event in gratitude…

A MOTHER is grateful that her son and husband are still alive after they were shot during a hijacking in the driveway of their home, less than a kilometre away from the Chatsworth police station. The son, who did not want to be named for safety reasons, had just returned home when he was confronted by a lone gunman. The automated gate to his home had closed when he saw the suspects climbing over the wall. Video footage, which went viral on social media, showed the suspect trying to jump over the boundary wall of the home in Florence Nightingale Drive on January 15. In the video, the son tries to fight off the suspect and push him back over the wall. But the gunman fights back and shoots…

THREE years after foreign national, Mohammed Nasir, charged for the murder of his South African wife and 9-month-old baby, escaped from prison, there is still no information about his whereabouts. Chantelle Ash, also known as Ayesha, 20, and her daughter, Tasneem, were found strangled with their hands tied, at a lodge the couple had booked into. Their decomposing bodies were found by a receptionist at the lodge on the R518 near Masodi village, Limpopo, on January 13, 2021. It was reported that the woman and her daughter were with an unknown man and had booked into the room on Tuesday, January 12, at around 7pm. The man had apparently booked the room for the night but had not provided any personal information. The two bodies were found the next day…

Zakhele Ndlovu, a political analyst at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, said Julius Malema said things that he thought people wanted to hear. “This is a populist party that appeals to people’s frustration and anger. The EFF is a party of clowns. I would not even entertain that kind of rhetoric from a party that is desperate to win votes among frustrated black people,” Ndlovu said. He said the EFF would not garner the Indian vote. “There is no way the EFF is going to win the Indian vote or the support of sensible and informed voters. “Minorities in general, and Indians in particular, have never supported the EFF, or political parties that masquerade as radicals and lack the vision to take South Africa in the right direction. “I think…

DIA Singh’s goal of achieving 10 distinctions in the IEB exams, has become a reality. Dia, 17, from Newcastle, was a Grade 12 learner at Curro St Dominics Academy Newcastle last year. She was also the school’s head girl. “When I started the year, I set a goal to achieve 10 distinctions. I stayed focused on my studies. When I felt pressured, I had doubts about my goal but I prayed to ease my mind. When I got my results, I could not believe it. I had to look at them a few times. I still have not processed my results.” Dia said she had been a high achiever since primary school. “I also achieved a 95% aggregate. One thing that has worked for me is being consistent and…

YASTI Subramoney is one of the outstanding achievers in the IEB exams, having achieved eight distinctions and a 94% aggregate. The 18-year-old, from Morningside, matriculated from Durban Girls’ College where she was the deputy head girl. “It was a long wait for my results. The holidays were mixed with a bit of anxiety. I can now breathe a sigh of relief. I feel overwhelmed but excited for the next chapter, which is university.” Yasti intends following the direction of her parents, Terence Subramoney and Subashini Moodley, who are both doctors. She may study medicine at UCT, the University of Pretoria or Stellenbosch University. “I chose medicine because of the adrenaline of the environment. I love being on my feet all the time. I also believe there are a…

BAFANA Bafana will tackle Tunisia in their final group match at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly stadium in Ivory Coast at 7pm tonight looking to seal their place in the round of 16. With nations like Ghana already eliminated and hosts Ivory Coast sweating for their lives, more drama is expected at the conclusion of Group E. Football writer Smiso Msomi takes a look at three key match-ups that could decide Bafana’s clash with the Carthage Eagles. Themba Zwane v Ellyes Skhiri Zwane’s display in Bafana’s last match against Namibia may have put a target on his back for the rest of the tournament and it will come as no surprise if Tunisia’s central defensive midfielder Skhiri pays close attention to him. The Eintracht…

ABRASIVE but elusive, in your face but slippery, a hard man with a soft touch – David Brits is not an easy opponent, boasting a skill set that saw him help the Toyota Cheetahs win the coveted Currie Cup. Brits is a man on a mission. And now, to the benefit of Springbok Sevens supporters, he’ll soon be in the green and gold. When the 26-year-old was handed his training jersey at the Blitzboks’ first training session in Perth on Monday, emotions got the better of Brits – for once. “This was an incredible feeling, being handed the training jersey for the first time,” said Brits, who represented the SA Schools and Junior Springboks teams in his younger days. “I knew about the custom, but I did not how much…