Table of contents for 2024-09-04 in Post

1kg lamb tripe 1 chopped onion ± ¼ cup oil (to suit your preference) ¼ tsp hing (counteracts the effects of gaseous foods) 1 tsp jeera seeds 1 cinnamon stick 1 star anise 2 bay leaves 1 tsp dhania-jeera powder 1 tsp fennel powder 1 tsp turmeric 2 tsp ginger and garlic paste 3 tbs mixed masala 2 tbs chilli powder 1 sprig curry leaves 1 chopped tomato 2 cans of butter beans 1 stock cube 1 tsp garam masala salt to taste Clean, wash and boil the tripe with 2 cinnamon sticks and 2 bay leaves until softened, but not too soft because it shreds. It takes about 25 minutes in a pressure cooker or an Insta Pot. I discard the liquid, but you can use it in…

1 onion a little oil 1 tsp jeera seeds 2 tsp whole soomph 4 cinnamon sticks 2 star anise 2 bay leaves 1 tsp turmeric 2 tsp dhania-jeera powder 1 tsp soomph powder 3 tbs masala 2 tbs chilli powder 2 tsp ginger and garlic paste 2 culls (washed and cut) 1 tomato, chopped curry leaves gizzards (optional) steamed potatoes sprinkle of garam masala Fry the onion in little oil with the jeera, soomph, cinnamon sticks, star anise and bay leaves. Add the turmeric, dhania-jeera powder, soomph powder, masala and chilli powder. Braise for about 5 minutes. Add the culls and the ginger and garlic paste. Mix well with the spices and cook on medium heat for an hour. Add the tomato, curry leaves and gizzards, if using. Add…

Shake: 1 litre vanilla ice-cream 1 litre milk ± 2 tbs rose syrup (according to taste) ± 2 tbs elachi syrup (according to taste) 4 tbs Klim ± ½ freshly ground elachi Blitz all together. Before serving, add grated jelly (recipe below) and sabja seeds (soaked as per package instructions). For serving, top with extra ice-cream and nuts if you prefer. Jelly: I mixed 1 packet strawberry jelly as per the package instructions and added a few drops of rose essence. Make in advance and chill as normal.…

1 cup mealie meal 1 litre water Mix and soak in a sealed, glass jar in a sunny room for about 5 days. It needs sun for the perfect fermentation. Bring to a boil on medium heat in a deep pot. As it cooks, it will thicken. Add as much boiled water as you like until you reach your desired consistency. Boil for 15 minutes stirring regularly to prevent sticking. Season to taste. Top with sliced spring onions/chives and serve hot with your favourite pickles or braised vegetables. Mix with a whisk for a smooth, lump-free porridge. Mix in a few tablespoons of sour milk for a more creamy consistency. Add a squeeze of fresh lemon for a more sour finish.…

THE makers of the Allu Arjun-starrer Pushpa 2: The Rule unveiled the new poster of the film, featuring the lead actor in an intense look. It shows the character Pushpa Raj against a striking red backdrop with the tagline, “Witness his rule in 100 days”, signalling the film’s much-awaited release. This intense visual teases the action-packed conclusion to the epic rivalry between Pushpa and Bhanwar Singh, setting the stage for what promises to be a thrilling cinematic experience. The film features Arjun in the titular role, with Rashmika Mandanna, Fahadh Faasil, Dhananjaya, Jagadeesh Prathap Bandari, Rao Ramesh, Ajay, Sunil, Anasuya Bharadwaj, Shanmukh and Ajay Ghosh. It is set to hit the theatres on December 6. Arjun is the son of film producer Allu Aravind. Arjun, who is popularly called “stylish…

1 tin creamed corn 3 eggs or half a cup of buttermilk 2 cups self-raising flour 3tbs softened butter A handful of chopped dhania A handful of chopped chives or shallots 2 or 3 chillies, finely chopped 1 tsp salt ¼ tsp dhania/jeera powder ¼ tsp turmeric powder ¼ tsp white pepper 2 tbs sesame seeds Set the oven to 180°C. Grease a loaf pan. Add butter and eggs to bowl. Add the dhania, shallots, chillies, spices and mix well. Mix in the sifted flour and empty the mixture into a greased pan. Sprinkle sesame seeds on top. This is optional but it adds texture and taste. Bake for up to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Turn out onto a cooling rack. It can…

The Gandhi Development Trust and the Phoenix Settlement Trust, in partnership with the Durban University of Technology, the 1860 Heritage Centre and the Denis Hurley Centre, held the annual Paddy Kearney Memorial Lecture on his 82nd birth anniversary on Saturday at the 1860 Heritage Centre in Derby Street. The topic was: “The relevance of Paddy in the present times in South Africa.” The guest speaker was Judge Chris Nicholson. Dr Raymond Perrier, the director of the Denis Hurley Centre, also launched the book, Paddy Kearney – a Prophet for our Times. At the event were:…

WHEN armed robbers stormed a Verulam woman’s home and held her mother at gunpoint, she put her car into gear and ploughed into the suspects before reversing at high speed into their getaway vehicle, which was parked at the bottom of the driveway. Tasneem Essob, 32, a medical secretary, was in her car and about to leave home for work when she noticed two armed men accost her mother as she opened the driveway gates, last Thursday morning. Her pet boerboel was tied up close by, so he did not run out when her mother opened the gate for her to leave. Essob said: “I don’t think they knew that I was inside my car, or that there was a dog in the yard. From the driveway gate their view…

OVER the past few months, various crimes including murder, robbery, housebreaking and hijackings, have been on the increase, with several areas in KwaZulu-Natal having the highest number of cases reported at police stations. On Friday, the SAPS released its crime statistics for the first quarter of the 2024/25 financial year (April 2024 to June 2024). According to the statistics, among police stations which had the highest number of reported cases in the province were in Chatsworth, Phoenix and Verulam. They were listed among the top 30 stations in the country for various crimes. Over the three-month period, there were 6 198 murders – with 1 455 of those occurring in KZN. There were also 1 811 attempted murders, 6 858 common assaults, and 5 893 robberies with aggravating circumstances…

A CHARGE of rape against a Chatsworth worship leader was provisionally withdrawn in the Chatsworth Magistrate’s Court on Monday. The 31-year-old man, who headed the praise and worship team at a church in Bayview, was charged for the alleged rape of a teenage girl, who was a member of the church band, to whom he taught music. In April, after spending 50 days in prison, he was granted R5 000 bail. On March 7, the Hawks KZN tracking team, the metro police task team and the Chatsworth SAPS Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit arrested the man at his home in Westcliff. His arrest came a day after the teenager allegedly told her mother that she had been raped by the man when she visited his home…

WHEN Avinesh Diviya Pillay walked through the doors of Hopeville Primary School to take on the role of principal, he brought with him the ethos of working and serving with love, kindness and respect. On Friday, Pillay, 60, from Redhill in Durban, left behind that legacy as he stepped into retirement, after a teaching career of 38 years. He grew up in the “close-knit community” of Havenside in Chatsworth with his father, a teacher, and his mother, a nurse, as well as his brother and sister. But going back, teaching was not always Pillay’s first choice. The grandfather of one was once a firefighter. “When you talk about a community raising a child, that was Havenside. It was a community that was crazy about sports. It was made…

ZEE TV Miss India South Africa, TeKayha Anastasia Sukuram, who describes herself as a “confident changemaker”, is preparing to represent South Africa at the 31st Miss India Worldwide pageant in the US from September 10 to 15. “It would definitely be a dream come true to bring home the crown, but, most importantly, I want to represent our beautiful country to the best of my ability and to leave a mark on the global stage,” said the 22-year-old of uMhlanga. Due to the Zee TV Miss India SA title, she is an automatic entrant in the global pageant. The pageant, which is produced by the India Festival Committee and based in New York City, will be held at the Royal Albert’s Palace in New Jersey. The contestants, from 15 countries,…

SURELY, you have heard of the recent Paris Olympics where the poor and the homeless were cordoned off from the mainstream Games arena by being cajoled and marshalled into metro buses before being shunted off, far away from the city. This reminds me of the glue-sniffers on our very own Marine Parade who are firstly paraded and then neatly packed into police vans before being dropped off at the Valley of a Thousand Hills, also known as Robber Roy’s Retreat, or at any other suitable station that would take at least eight days of walking back to the city. This in a bid to ensure that the very serious, week-long discussions at the Durban International Convention Centre were not marred by unruly, filthy kids who had no right to…

IF YOU don’t know me by now, you will never never never know me ... – This brilliant song made popular by Patti LaBelle, Seal and latterly, Simply Red, was originally sung by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes in 1972. I am telling you this because it will tie together the whole thread of this column neatly. I do not shy away from controversy because I believe firmly in speaking truth to power. Many things I discuss in my columns in this newspaper relate to the Indian community. This is for two simple reasons: POST is the voice and heart of the community and the Indian community is where I am from. I know it well. Let me throw this at you. What do actors in locally made movies…

IT HAS been three years since Babita Deokaran paid the ultimate price with her life for revealing the corruption at the Tembisa Hospital in Gauteng. It seems that these exposures are just the tip of the iceberg within the National Department of Health. The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) are now investigating thousands of fraudulent claims amounting to billions. So far, Gauteng and the Eastern Cape are the key areas of this fraud but investigations will soon spread to other provinces. Beside irregular procurement payments, another modus operandi was crooked attorneys being in cahoots with health officials and obtaining files of unsuspecting patients who knew nothing of these shenanigans. One example, according to the Health Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi, was a R70 million claim for a botched circumcision which was actually…

DURBAN model, social media influencer and entrepreneur, Naliyani Uma Govender, has been chosen as one of the faces and to promote a first of its kind fashion collaboration between H&M and international designer, Anamika Khanna. Khanna is a fashion designer based in Kolkata, India. Govender, 26, of Reservoir Hills, said being selected to be part of the collaboration was a “dream come true”. “I have had a long-standing relationship with H&M, having worked on several campaigns with them in the past. When my agent reached out to let me know that H&M had shortlisted me for this campaign, I was over the moon. “The excitement grew when I found out I would be leading the campaign in South Africa, and more specifically in Durban. It was a surreal and deeply…

ACCORDING to The Association for the Aged (Tafta), perpetrators of elder abuse were often those closest to the victims, including family members and caregivers. Femada Shamam, the chief executive officer of Tafta, said elder abuse remained a “pressing concern” in KwaZulu-Natal. She said the abuse of older people continued daily, and the situation was likely to worsen unless there was a unified effort to enact change. “With South Africa's elderly population at 5.6 million and an increasing number of people living past 100, the potential for abuse will only grow. “The reality is that as our population ages, the vulnerability of older individuals intensifies, demanding immediate and sustained action from all sectors of society,” she said. Shamam said that in its last financial year, Tafta handled 55 cases of elderly…

THE youth make up the 33.5% of unemployed people in South Africa. For Faiza Amanullha, 29, and her 27-year-old husband of Unit 9 in Chatsworth, their lives have come to a standstill because they cannot find jobs. “I have been unemployed for two years. I had previously worked at a hardware store. My husband does casual jobs like being a driver’s assistant. With our CVs in hand, we have approached companies in our community and surrounding areas for jobs. But the common response is they are not hiring, or they just went through retrenchments, or we are not qualified,” said Amanullha. She said the most difficult part was waiting on false hope and promises. “Sometimes companies or retail stores take our CVs and tell us they will get back to…

SEVEN pupils from Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High have been selected to represent the school in table tennis at the upcoming South African Junior and Senior Inter-Regional and Open Championships. This premium event for table tennis in South Africa hosts national teams for juniors and seniors, who are selected from various schools. It will be held at the Brixton multi-purpose centre in Johannesburg from September 22-29. The pupils are Nitara Totaram, Kritika Totaram, Sivarna Sivnannan, Keona Pillay, Prajna Bhugwandeen, Bhavna Heeralal and Saihurie Pillay. Kerwin Naidoo, the school’s sports co-ordinator, said: “Their hard work and dedication to the sport and their training is what makes them good at what they do.” Naidoo said table tennis taught one time management, people management and self-management in addition to mental and physical training. “It also…

4 cups water a few cinnamon sticks ± 1 cup sugar (depending on your taste) ¼ tsp rose essence 500g vermicelli 250g butter ¼ cup desiccated coconut ± 1 heaped tsp elachi powder (depending on your taste) Crush the vermicelli into small pieces. Boil the first 4 ingredients for 5 minutes. Fry the next 3 ingredients in a non-stick pan until browned. Remove from the heat and pour in the liquid mix. Stir well, return to the heat and mix in the elachi. Cook for a few minutes on medium heat until softened to your liking. Serve hot with a sprinkling of almonds.…

Steam 6 peeled potatoes (quartered and coloured with a little food colouring) in the microwave for 5 minutes. Then lightly fry until crisp on the outside. Par boil 4 cups rice of your choice. Boil 2 cups breyani dhal or use 2 cans of brown lentils. Boil a few eggs (optional) In a large oven-proof pot, in a mixture of oil and butter, fry 4 onions with 2 tsp each of jeera and fennel seeds, ½ tsp freshly-ground elachi and 2 cinnamon sticks. Remove half the fried onion mix and mix into the par-cooked rice. Place the ingredients below into the remaining onions in the pot and mix well to combine. 2½-3 kg lamb pieces 2 tsp each of freshly-roasted dhania seeds, jeera seeds, fennel seeds, 2 cinnamon sticks, 2…

1 cup self-raising flour (replace with 1 cup normal flour and 1 level teaspoon baking powder if you want less puffy banana puris) 1 tbs butter (not margarine) ± ½ cup water 1 tbs rose water or ½ tsp rose essence melted butter (not margarine) for basting cornflour or maizena for sprinkling oil for deep frying sugar mixed with equal amounts of desiccated coconut for dredging syrup (made with equal parts of water and sugar, and boiled for about 5 minutes until slightly thickened) Sift the flour into a bowl and rub in the butter evenly. Combine the water and rose essence/water. Add to the flour and mix into a soft dough. Knead lightly and divide the dough into 6 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball. Roll out…

SUDHANSHU Pandey, who plays Vanraj Shah in the family drama Anupamaa, quit the show and has expressed gratefulness towards his fans. In an Instagram live session, Pandey, who has 2.2 million followers, talked to his fans and revealed his “important announcement”. “For the last four years, I have been coming to your house every day through a daily soap, playing a character for which I have got a lot of love and resentment. “I want to tell all of you that I am now not a part of Anupamaa. “I am not playing Vanraj Shah anymore.”…

THE three-episode docu-series serves an excellent job of highlighting the fundamentals of the Salim Khan-Javed Akhtar collaboration, which produced some of the most successful Bollywood super hits in the 1970s. Khan and Akhtar’s talent for storytelling has not diminished with time, and their wit is still razor sharp even at 88 and 78 respectively. As Khan and Akhtar keep the tales coming, the moments are clear and the story grows more interesting with each anecdote. Along with causing an emotional tug, their discussion of the brief time they had with their own mothers sheds light on the mother figure’s contribution in many of their hit movies. Khan and Akhtar reigned as star writers for Hindi film by featuring a middle-class protagonist, who challenges supremacy and quickly ascents the ladder of…

½ dozen trotters (800g), cleaned and boiled 500g boiled sugar beans 1 onion, diced 2 green chillies 1 tbs ginger and garlic paste 3 medium tomatoes, grated Ground and whole spices 2 sprigs curry leaves ½ tsp cumin seeds ½ tsp fennel seeds 1 cinnamon stick 1 bay leaf 1 clove 1 aniseed ½ tsp turmeric 1 tsp garam masala 1 tsp dhania jeera powder 4 tbs masala Handful of coriander Before you start cooking, the sugar beans need to be cooked ¾ if not fully cooked. And the trotters needs to be thoroughly cleaned and cooked in a pressure cooker/over the stove with aromatics. Pressure cook the trotters with 1 tablespoon ginger and garlic, 1 teaspoon turmeric, 1 cinnamon stick, 1 star aniseed, 2 to 3 cloves and…

1 cup semolina 1 cup plain full cream yoghurt ½ cup granulated sugar ¼ cup vegetable oil ½ cup full cream milk 1 tsp vanilla essence 1 tsp baking powder ¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda ¼ tsp elachi powder A pinch of salt Raisins or chopped nuts, optional Switch the oven on to 180°C. Add the semolina, yoghurt, sugar, and oil to a large mixing bowl. Mix well and set aside for 15 to 20 minutes to allow the semolina to absorb the moisture. Then add the milk, vanilla essence, baking powder, bicarb, and salt to the mixture. Stir until smooth and well combined. If adding nuts or raisins, fold in and add the elachi powder. Grease a cake pan, pour the batter into the pan and spread it evenly.…

A TRUCK driver from Chatsworth testified in court this week how he watched armed suspects, who had hijacked and assaulted him, allegedly shoot and kill a metro police officer who had stopped to check why the vehicle was on the wrong side of the freeway. Kishore Lakraj, 56, was driving a truck carrying over R730 000 worth of meat belonging to Chester Butcheries, when the three accused, Mlungisi Phakamani Mpanza, 37, Mzomuhle Lawrence Gamede, 34, and Sabelo Mncube, 42, allegedly hijacked him on July 20, 2023, on the M7 freeway, near Queensburgh. At the start of their trial, in the Durban High Court last week, all three suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges of murder, kidnapping, and two counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances. The court heard that Mpanza…

THE first injured child from Gaza was brought to South Africa on Friday through the Gift of Mobility Campaign, to receive medical treatment at the Raslouw Private Hospital in Gauteng. Many children in Gaza have sustained severe injuries due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian militant groups. Some of the children are now travelling to South Africa for medical treatment. The campaign is sponsored by Meal SA, the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF), and the Raslouw Private Hospital. Mira Baher Khaled, 9, was playing with friends when bombs exploded near her and she sustained a complex fracture in her right leg that required urgent medical treatment. Her operation is scheduled for this week. Mira, who arrived with her family, will also be seen by psychologists, speech therapists,…

HER upbringing in a family steeped in cultural and religious values has kept Sorushka Devan, a 40-year-old nursing educator from Tongaat, grounded and committed to improve her love for singing as a means of keeping Tamil culture alive. This has resulted in her embarking on a remarkable journey to pursue her passion for music, despite her busy work and home schedules. Since January 2023, the mother of two has been taking vocal lessons at the Styler Music Academy and recently a video of her rendering a popular Tamil devotional song by playback singer P Susheela went viral overnight. "Music has always been a part of my life. I grew up in a home that always had Tamil music. My mother and late father always sang Tamil songs and watched Tamil…

“HIGH school bullying”, the POST, August 28-September 1, refers. This article highlighted the issue of bullying at schools. It is a crisis that threatens the well-being of our children. Regrettably, incidents of bullying and violence have become all too common in our schools. As parents and members of the community, it is imperative that we confront this menace head on. In today’s rapidly changing world, we face new challenges in protecting our children. The consequences of bullying are devastating, and it is crucial that we address this issue at all levels. Unfortunately, the education department has historically failed to tackle bullying with sufficient vigour, allowing the problem to persist, with the lack of effective discipline. To combat this, it will be an idea to propose the establishment of a special…

A SLEEPING giant is about to awaken in Durban, and it all bodes well as a catalyst for economic development and job creation. The iconic Hilton Hotel is set to reopen its doors following a three-year hiatus occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic and dwindling tourism numbers while the Durban ICC was in recovery mode. The five-star hotel, which was opened in 1997 by then president Nelson Mandela, did much to position Durban as a leading conference and holiday venue, and its closure raised concern among tourism and hospitality bodies. The announcement of the hotel’s reopening by eThekwini Municipality comes at the start of Tourism Month which is celebrated annually in September to promote domestic travel. Durban is the jewel in KwaZulu- Natal’s tourism crown, and the Hilton Hotel will…

THE super-rich sailing world has been rocked by the sinking of Bayesian, a 56m British flagged yacht in which 7 people lost their lives, including the owner, Mike Lynch, and his daughter. Now wealthy owners are scrambling to bolster safety standards as the unthinkable has become a reality. But let this be a salutary warning to all of mankind – never underestimate the wrath of an angry God. All your money in the world will never help you when the unstoppable turns to consume you. Lynch's wife, Angela, will now inherit more wealth than when he was alive but all the money in the world can never bring back her husband and daughter. Now all the authorities involved are playing the blame game, with speculation that the captain could be…

ONE of South Africa’s greater problems over the years has been labour and labour relations. Trade unions, per se, are the employee representative agencies that form the conduit of labour relations with the employer. South Africa’s productivity ratio in terms of man hours utilised is abysmal, and there is an urgent need to review the role of trade unions as it applies in the state sector. Constitutionally, every citizen has the right to freedom of choice and the freedom of association. Inherent in this prerogative is the fact that any imposition by any person/s or the state on any citizen is a gross violation thereto. While collective agreements form the cornerstone of relationships between the state and its employees, the role of trade unions needs revision. State employees are compelled…

The family of a Phoenix man who was allegedly assaulted and later died in hospital are hoping that his killers are brought to book. Clinton Kisten, 23, of Sunford, who suffered brain damage and was placed on life support, died on Saturday evening. His cousin Shaida Kisten said Clinton had left their home with a friend on August 29 at about 5pm. She said he had been living with her since he was 10-years-old. “He had spent the day with me at home. His friend, who he had often spent time with, arrived at about 4.45pm. He told me that they were going out and he would see me later. I stood outside and watched them leave, as I usually do. “I also stay awake until they return home. It…

REVERED Param Pujya Swami Muktanandaji Maharaj, the spiritual head and managing trustee of Anandashram in Kanhangad, Kerala, will be touring South Africa this month. He will be hosted by the Adi Shankara Ashram of Johannesburg, the Sarva Dharma Ashram and the Sannyasa Spiritual Council of South Africa. Swamiji was born in 1944 in Wayanad, Kerala, and was deeply inclined to spirituality from a young age. Later he became inspired by the teachings of Papa Swami Ramdas (1884 -1963), a renowned Indian saint, philosopher, philanthropist and founder of Anandashram. He took initiation into monkhood and dedicated his life to the ashram. Anandashram was founded by Papa Swami Ramdas and his disciple and successor, Mother Krishnabai, in 1931. The foundation of Anandashram, as declared by Swami Ramdas on its opening day, is…

Ageism: Discrimination based on age, leading to disrespect and neglect of elders. Evolving family structures: With some children emigrating or struggling with unemployment, the traditional family support system is eroding. Some older people are even primary caregivers for adult children with mental health issues, further straining family dynamics. Social ills: The rise in crime, drug, and alcohol abuse creates environments where older people are particularly vulnerable. Systemic issues: Disruptions in municipal services and other systemic failures put older people at increased risk. Caregiver stress and burnout: The demands of caring for an elderly person can lead to frustration, resentment, and, in some cases, abuse.…

IN A bid to beat unemployment, a single Chatsworth mother has turned her passion of making savouries into a business that supports her family. Priya Naidoo, 63, from Bayview in Chatsworth, has been running El-Shadaai Caterers for 27 years. “When I started, my children were 12 and 6 years old, and I needed to support them. “Times were tough. It was difficult to get a job. As a single mother, I had to think of something that allowed me flexibility to work and care for my kids. I always loved cooking and making samoosas, spring rolls and other savouries. So, starting a savoury business made ideal business sense at the time.” Naidoo said she made savouries, and back then she made meals and rotis. “It was a hit among the…

Paveshan Cayden Govender of Woodview in Phoenix has achieved remarkable success in powerlifting, setting a world record at the recently held South African Amateur World Powerlifting Congress competition at the ONOMO Hotel Durban. “I started karate when I was 6 for self-defence and discipline. I’ve won numerous tournaments and I hold a first dan black belt. I later transitioned to powerlifting due to my progress in the gym. I train three times a week and almost daily during the school holidays," said the 17-year-old. Paveshan, a Grade 12 pupil at Palmview Secondary School, said his hard work paid off when he set a world record of 220.5kg in the 16 to 17 age category (under 75kg division) in the deadlift, surpassing his personal best of 200kg. “I’ve achieved something I…

My parents called it pacha chutney and I call it any one of the first 3 names. It is quick and easy to make, versatile and can be eaten with many types of global cuisine. 1 onion 2 large tomatoes chillies cucumber ½ tsp celery salt ½ salt pepper sugar juice of half a lime chopped mint Cube or dice the onion, tomatoes, chillies and a piece of cucumber, fine or slightly chunky. Season with celery or normal salt, freshly-ground pepper and sugar. Add the lime juice and mix in the mint before serving.…

2½ cups rice 2 onions potatoes 2 cups breyani dhal 2 large onions curry leaves 1 tsp jeera seeds 1 tsp fennel seeds 3 cinnamon sticks 2 bay leaves 2 star anise oil water 1 can tomato puree/chopped tomatoes 2 cups mint 4 green chillies 4 roasted elachi pods 1 tsp turmeric 1 tsp garam masala 1 tsp dhana powder 1 tsp jeera powder 1 tsp ground breyani spice mix 2 tbs chilli powder ½ cup sour milk 1 pinch saffron 500g mixed vegetables of your choice 1 cup boiled broad beans 200g butter ½ cup water Par cook the rice and keep aside. Fry the onions until crispy and set aside to top the breyani. Roast the potatoes and boil the breyani dhal. Fry the onions, curry leaves, jeera…

1kg mince ½ tsp turmeric 2 tsp dhania-jeera powder 2 tsp ginger and garlic paste 1 tsp chilli powder 1 stock cube 1 tsp garam masala 2 large finely-chopped onions 4 chopped green chillies (depending on preference) 1 bunch chopped fresh mint Add the mince to a large pan with the turmeric, dhania-jeera powder, ginger and garlic paste, chilli powder and stock cube. Cook until all the liquid has dried and the mince is cooked. It’s not necessary to add oil to lamb/beef mince because natural oils will be released. Add a little oil to chicken mince. Season to taste and sprinkle with the garam masala. Remove from the heat. Once slightly cool, mix in the onions, chillies and fresh mint. Once completely cooled, fill the samoosas.…

ACTRESS and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut, who has been in Bollywood for almost 18 years, says she hates being an actor – but loves being a director. “No, acting is not daunting at all … I think acting for me is too passive … I just hate being an actor. I just hate it with so much intensity. You go to the set and you’re always looking: What’s happening? You know, what’s going on? Which scene are you doing? You are just always wondering, what’s going on.” However, she loves being a filmmaker. “I love being a director. You know, you ask me, ‘what's going on?’ I know. I’ll tell you. I think I’m one of those better directors, you know, who understand how vulnerable it is to be an…

THERE should be much excitement and anticipation as Kavin Media, South Africa’s leading Tamil movie distributor, brings the much-awaited film GOAT (Greatest of All Time) to 20 cinema screens across the country tomorrow (Thursday). But will there be such eagerness even with that many showings? I can gladly confirm that I will be comfortably slumped in a cinema seat with the biggest box of popcorn and Coke on hand on opening night. But I get a huge lump in my throat when I reckon that I may perhaps be one among only a maximum of 20 people in the cinema – and that too one of the very few South Africans present. On numerous occasions in the last 10 years or so that I have watched Tamil movies at local…

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 ARIES (March 21 – April 19) Your shifting energy supports greater self-awareness, growing sensitive to your environment and tuning in to your intuition with greater ease. Remain focus-driven in tasks while applying manifestation skills attracting greater abundance. Healthier diets are beneficial as you continue to support yourself. Magic number: 6. TAURUS (April 20 – May 20) Move forward now. Embrace healthier changes, releasing toxic relationships, situations and environments. Avoid insecurities and confusion surrounding your emotions over advancing. Trust that all will work out in your favour. Consider advancing gradually, avoiding abrupt exits.…

AN UMHLATUZANA mother of two has pleaded guilty to her husband’s murder, which she had plotted with her lover, five months after they started an affair, in 2022. In the Durban High Court last week, Loretta Simone Ramrathan, 30, was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment for the murder of her husband, Bradley Singh. Singh, 38, was on his way to take his transport to work on November 21, 2022, when he was stabbed multiple times in his chest and robbed. His shoes, phone and lunch bag were stolen. Detectives from Bayview police station became suspicious of Ramrathan when she called them multiple times, at odd hours of the day and night, hounding them for information about the murder and if they had made any arrests. They then called her in…

A MOTHER of three, who hid in a deep freezer to evade arrest, has been sent to jail for fraud and theft. Prishne Khan, 37, was sentenced in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Monday to 10 years’ imprisonment on 63 counts of fraud that resulted in losses that exceeded R3 million. Lumka Mahanjana, the spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in Gauteng, said Khan also received four years for theft of R350 000. The court ordered that these sentences run concurrently; resulting in an effective sentence of 10 years in prison. Mahanjana said Khan was employed as a bookkeeper at the Northern Cricket Union from June 2015 to January 18, 2017. Her responsibilities included processing payments for various service providers. “Instead of executing her duties honestly, she…

LANDFILL sites near neighbouring communities could cause serious health issues which could have short and long term effects on residents’ health. This is according to air quality and health experts, who have vast experience in dealing with the impact of toxic emissions on the health of people living close to dumping and illegal landfill sites and industrial pollution. Bongani Mthembu, air quality and health project officer for the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA), said gas emissions from a landfill site could release various harmful substances into the air. “It leads to serious health effects to adjacent communities. The primary pollutants from a landfill site would include methine, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulphate, and volatile organic compounds – which are a variety of chemicals that cause short- and long-term adverse health…

CHATSWORTH is my ancestral village. I know no other emotional home. My father’s family was moved there from the Magazine Barracks on Somsteu Road, Durban, in 1965. The Group Areas Act meant that they had to move to a township that matched their apartheid race classification. Our gene pool originates in the deep south of the Indian subcontinent. The ethnic chauvinist in me claims my Tamil lineage, a Dravidian people with a written history dating over 5 000 years. In truth, my bloodline has been colourfully tinged with the joys and jeopardies of human existence. Apartheid classified my family “Indian”. We were even known as “Asiatic” at some point. This was in spite of the fact that by then at least five generations of my family were born in Africa.…

Naveen Munsami, a services manager from Westhills Estate in Pinetown, has discovered a passion for planting proteas. Since 2015, Munsami, 52, has nurtured his garden, cultivating various types of proteas, including the King Protea, Susara, King White, King Pink, Madiba, Sylvia, Limelight, Little Prince, Pink Ice and Cream Mink. “I wanted to start a beautiful garden when we moved to our new home in 2015. After researching, I decided to try planting proteas. It’s an amazing feeling to have our national flower in my garden,” he said. Each variety of protea has unique characteristics and flowering seasons, which ensures that he has flowers blooming all year round. Munsami said: “Proteas require well-drained soil and full sun. They should not be fertilised. They also need regular pruning to maintain the shape.…

WHEN in 1917 the Balfour Declaration, a public statement issued by the British government in support of a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine, 94% of the inhabitants of the now distinct geopolitical entity were Arabs. But nowhere in the short declaration were the words “Arab” or “Palestinian” used. Instead, they were referred to as “non-Jewish” communities. The declaration was significant for a more important reason than the use of dehumanising language. The declaration was important for proclaiming that the “civil and religious rights” of the “non-Jews” would not be prejudiced under a new dispensation. No mention was made of their political or human rights but at the same time, political and national rights were ascribed to 6% of the population – the precursor to settler colonialism and…

RACIAL categorisation may have been jettisoned when the new South Africa was born in April 1994. But racial identity is alive and well in the democratic nation. The other day I came across a tender put out by a KwaZulu-Natal government department for a communications agency. Preferential points would be given for a tenderer who is “African”. Yes, African – not black which would then include Africans, Indians and coloureds. Racism may have been expunged from the statute books. But ethnic and racial segregation still exists across the social fabric. Slowly, very slowly, there is cultural assimilation of things that were once the preserve of Indians. A growing number of whites boast on Facebook of relishing spicy mutton bunnies that take them to heaven. More and more folks who are…

DENNIS Pather correctly regrets that there are elements in the US resorting to crude remarks about the Democrat presidential nominee Kamala Harris because of her racial identity (the POST, August 28-September 1). But while condemnation of such racism should be unquestioned, it serves to deflect attention away from the realities Harris represents. For her well-groomed appearance and affable nature conceals a radicalism which Elon Musk has described as “quite literally communist”, as her record shows open borders and the decriminalising of illegal immigration, abolition of ICE (Immigration Customs Enforcement), free healthcare for illegal immigrants, elimination of private healthcare, the endorsement of infanticide – killing the new-born, promotion of the anti-American 1619 Project, the abolition of school choice, the prioritisation of the role of school unions in raising children, the…

THE massive legal and political battles that are in progress in various courts in the country are a sombre reminder that forces are at work, testing the powers of our sacred Constitution. We are sadly witnessing compulsive serial litigation, stretching the limits of legal constraints. Justice is the fulcrum on which our democracy rests. Since democracy means rule of law and balancing of diverse opinions, it is one of the most important aspects of our democracy. Our Constitution was and is our safeguard against tyranny. It must go beyond mere words and become the golden pillar, which must support and enable the political system to safeguard the sovereignty of the country and rights of the people. We realised the value of a democratic society and the need to respect one’s…

THE elderly are becoming soft targets for criminals on pension pay-out days at shopping malls and automatic teller machines (ATMs), law enforcement authorities warned this week. Durban Metro Police spokesperson Boysie Zungu said the number of cases of theft involving elderly victims was on the increase in recent weeks. He said they had noted that these criminals were on the prowl when Sassa grants were paid out – usually on the 2nd or 5th of a new month. Unsuspecting elderly people are often accosted by strangers offering to help at an ATM but end up being scammed, said Zungu. “This ATM scam is not new. It has been going on for a while but criminals are moving around and changing their location. For example, if they strike in…

NEW DELHI: Does your work keep you glued to a screen for long? Beware, coupled with no physical activity, it might take a toll on your brain’s cognitive functions and lead to digital dementia, experts warn. The term “digital dementia” means memory issues and cognitive deterioration brought on by over-dependence on digital devices like smartphones, computers, etc. “Long periods of screen time can affect the brain’s cognitive functions,” Dr Vinayak Kshirsagar, Senior Laparoscopic Surgeon, DPU Super Speciality Hospital, Pimpri, Pune said. This is because of the “decreased attention span and prolonged screen time, which often involves sitting in a difficult posture. This can cause obesity, body aches, spine problems, and backaches”. The experts suggested moderate screen time. For cognitive health, it’s critical to utilise digital technology carefully.…

AMONG the biggest threat to democracy today is crime and corruption, fuelled by bad or ineffective governance. The impact of this is felt daily by millions of South Africans. Most do not, however, know that their problems are a result of this trio of issues. Today criminal syndicates exist in every sector, area and expenditure item of government. There might even be syndicates that specialise in ensuring that they get paid prices well above the normal selling price for items such as toilet rolls, pens, etc. There are a growing number of communities who have to suffer the daily extortion costs from taxi and construction mafias. All of this adds to the cost of transport, construction and procurement. In the end it means that citizens get far less of a…

1990 was the year in which the world as we knew it changed dramatically. The Soviet Union collapsed, the Iron Curtain fell in Eastern Europe, and Francis Fukuyama wrote a best-seller entitled The End of History. In South Africa, it appeared that we were just about to begin our history. After four decades of apartheid, FW de Klerk, without fanfare, announced the unbanning of the liberation movements and the unconditional release of Nelson Mandela. In Durban, Natal Indian Congress (NIC) activists could not believe this turn of events. Many had come through the hard years of the 1980s in which two states of emergency were declared and thousands of activists detained. Now that their dreams of the coming home of the African National Congress (ANC) was realised, there was…

PROTEAS Women have some of the world’s most lethal spinners in white ball cricket. The current ICC T20 bowlers’ rankings do not reflect this as none of the South African bowlers feature in the Sophie Ecclestone-led list, but every team in the world knows not to take the South Africans lightly. Ecclestone sits at the top in the current rankings with 772 ranking points, only two points ahead of Nonkululeko Mlaba’s career-best rankings points, meaning Mlaba on her day can be just as good as any in the world. On Mlaba’s shoulders rests the country’s hopes of a maiden World Cup trophy as a 15-player Proteas Women Squad was announced yesterday (Tuesday) ahead of the UAE-based ICC Women’s T20 World Cup next month. The UAE, like any other subcontinent country,…

BAFANA Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has placed huge emphasis on his side flying out of the blocks quickly as they bid to qualify for the next Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon). The 2025 Afcon will be held in Morocco next year and Broos and his team are seeking to ride their previous tournament energy as they kick off their qualifying campaign. Bafana will battle Uganda at home at Orlando Stadium on Friday (kick-off 6pm) before they jet off to South Sudan to play their second match in the group on Tuesday. The South African national team has had a very positive last 12 months in terms of performance as well as achievements. Their third-place finish in the last Afcon came as a huge surprise to many local, and indeed…

THE swallows and yellow-billed kites have already made their appearance in Durban, so spring is definitely here. The weather didn’t get the memo this week, but we are almost into the warmer months. The offshore fishing is really picking up with a lot of decent tuna, dorado and couta being caught along the KZN coast. The North Coast has seen great fishing when the conditions line up. The currents and water temperatures have been the things to look at. Cape Vidal and Sodwana have produced good fish for the skis and boats. Live bait remains the best bait to use but the dorado and tuna have favoured faster plastics. The central coast has seen the same small snoek invasion as the north. Most anglers have opted not to fish in…

THIS week our tip focuses on some range work and something to make the time on the range more active and exciting for the whole family. Just bashing balls on the range is not the key to game improvement. Having a structured practice can make it all the more enjoyable. Chipping is a crucial aspect of golf, requiring precision, control and practice. A good chip shot can save par, while a poor one can lead to bogey or worse. Here are some effective drills to help you improve your chipping technique. The gate drill: Set up two tees 30cm apart, with a ball in the middle. Practise chipping through the “gate” without hitting the tees. This drill improves accuracy and control. The circle drill: Draw a circle around a hole…