Table of contents for 2022-07-13 in Post

Mahila, Queens of Bollywood, will be staged at the Playhouse at the weekend. The production, by Rudra Dance Company, reflects the female stars of the industry over generations. It traces the history of the world’s largest film industry and the female contribution to it – on and off-screen. Pavishen Paideya, who leads the creative team, said prior to their stardom, these women were co-stars to popular male lead actors, but this had changed and was worth honouring. “In recent years, females have been given bigger and more important roles, even the leading roles in films. So it’s a major highlight in their careers as they have come a long way.” The focus of the production is not only on the glitz and glam side of the industry but it also…

Duff is a psychic medium, soul coach, spiritual mentor, healer and animal communicator. She has been connecting with spirit for more than 20 years and runs her business, Quantum Soul, from Waterfall in KwaZulu-Natal. Watch her weekly predictions on GlowTV on Sundays after 8pm with Denver Naicker on the Get Real Show. She can be contacted at 072 986 5514 or email sharron@quantsoul.com ARIES (March 21 – April 19) It may feel like you have been deceived by someone close to you, but you are urged to get the full story first. There is also a change coming up that will involve you moving out of your comfort zone. Take your time to adjust. Lucky colour: silver. TAURUS (April 20 – May 20) Take a look at a confusing decision…

The Isiaiah 54 Children’s Sanctuary is a registered NPO that has been a safe house for abused and abandoned babies and children since 2005. The children’s home, based on the Bluff in Durban, has 10 children in its care and is in need of a number of items this Mandela Day. Glynnis Dauth, the founder of the home, said: “We are always in need of groceries, especially meat. The full list of items that we need is on our Facebook page @Isiaiah54cs.” The needs list includes nappies (sizes 4, 5 and 6), cough syrup, plasters, rice, pasta, cereal, fruit, bread and toiletries. “We have a lot of small things that need to be repaired, like our kids' toilet seat. We also need to replace a broken filter from our Jojo…

The Northern Action Committee (NAC) will distribute about 100 food hampers to families in oThongathi and surrounding areas on Mandela Day. The organisation is based in oThongathi and has been serving the community since 1996. Colin Maistry, the founder of NAC, said he was inspired to do community work by his pastor, Namy Naidoo, from Tongaat Tabernacle. “When I was younger, I joined the pastor, who distributes meals to street children in the community. I was also part of the SAPS Youth Desk and witnessed some of the social challenges like poverty and unemployment. This led me to start NAC.” Naidoo has a team of about 15 volunteers. “When we started the organisation, we established a mobile clinic at the Belvedere Community Hall and liaised with the Department of Health.…

THE Nelson Mandela Community Youth Centre will mark Mandela Day by embarking on a book drive to inculcate a love of reading among children and the youth. Mandela was known for his passion for enriching the lives of children through education, so the youth centre thought it apt to embark on a reading campaign. Clive Pillay, the centre manager, said they had joined forces with the Revolution Motorcycle Club to take reading to the children of Chatsworth. The plans include storytelling in the community. “Our programme entails going into the Welbedacht community to set up storytelling sessions, which we believe will encourage young people to read. We will also distribute books because not enough reading is being done by children.” He said children between the ages of 6 and 15…

WHEN a boundary wall at Riverview Primary School collapsed during the floods in April, it exposed the school to criminality. The school in Palmview, Phoenix, is 30 years old and has 520 pupils from grades R to 7. This Mandela Day the school is appealing for assistance to have the wall rebuilt and stolen taps replaced. Denver Saccarapany, a community activist, said the school was next to a river. “The river was about 3 meters wide, but during the rain it widened and as a result, the boundary wall collapsed. “People could walk in and out of the school whenever they wanted to." He said the copper taps and pipes were stolen despite a security guard on site. Sponsors helped to replace some of the taps with plastic fittings. “A…

I grew up watching my parents serve our local community with dedication. My dad was an NHS (National Health Service) family GP and my mum ran her own local chemist shop. I wanted to make that same positive difference to people as their Member of Parliament and I was first elected to represent this wonderful constituency in 2015 and re-elected in 2017 and 2019. I live in Kirby Sigston, just outside Northallerton. I have been fortunate to enjoy a successful business career. I co-founded a large investment firm, working with companies from Silicon Valley to Bangalore. Then I used that experience to help small and entrepreneurial British companies grow successfully. From working in my mum’s tiny chemist shop to my experience building large businesses, I have seen first-hand how politicians…

For more than two years, Covid-19 had us trapped in the concrete jungle – just the four walls, the couch, the television and the shopping malls. But last weekend I had an opportunity to escape from the concrete jungle into the bush. The July weather was glorious and so I headed to the Ashburton Aloe Festival. The dry, arid thornveld may not be your idea of an ideal weekend getaway. But I love the bush. For hidden among the thorn trees are three sparkling gems which many have yet to discover. My first stop was the breathtaking Hackland Aloe Garden. If you haven’t seen it yet, you are missing one the most spectacular flower shows in the country. Like me, you would fall in love with this aloe garden, far…

THIS is my post-race commentary of the Hollywoodbets Durban July. Sparkling Water, the only filly in the race put her best foot forward and sparkled all the way to a convincing victory. Water crisis was not a handicap for her. Her win is a feather in the cap of women’s rights groups in the country. Jet Dark jetted in from the dark but the winning bird had already flown. He blamed Eskom for rolling blackouts. Safe Passage had safety issues. With the high crime rate in this country, no one is safe. He can ask Bheki Cele to beef up security. Do it Again couldn’t do it this year. Better luck next year. Kommetdieding, the winner of the Duban July 2021, lost his winning streak. Pomp and Power, which couldn’t…

EVERYTHING in a modern economy relies on fuel somewhere along the line. It is an essential good for all of us, from the poorest of the poor to the richest among us. We need it for getting to work, having our food reach the shops, to keep warm during cold weather, and to supply generators when Eskom inevitably fails to keep the lights on. Why then is petrol taxed? It is more essential than bread, as it is needed to get the bread to our shelves. It is the bedrock of a modern, motorised economy – yet it is taxed as if it were a luxury. As of February this year, 33.5% of the price of fuel paid for taxes and levies. The largest of these being the General Fuel…

ASHRIKA Seeripat will be remembered by her family for her selfless nature and her love for life. Seeripat, 42, was allegedly suffocated during a robbery at her home in Umzinto on Thursday. Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo, a provincial police spokesperson, said it was alleged that Seeripat and her domestic worker were accosted at gunpoint by unknown men who demanded cash. “It is suspected that the victim was suffocated. Her body was found lying on the side of the bed.” Shortly after the incident, police arrested her domestic worker. The 54-year-old was charged with murder. She appeared in the Umzinto Magistrate’s Court on Monday and the matter was adjourned until Friday, for a bail application. Avanti Low, Seeripat’s sister, said Ashrika was not married and did not have children. She was an…

THE agricultural and rural development portfolio committee held a public hearing recently for the Sectional Titles Amendment Bill for eThekwini and iLembe municipalities. The bill was earlier presented in the KwaZulu- Natal Legislature and featured recommendations by the committee to the Sectional Titles Act 95 of 1986. Sectional titles refer to the separate ownership of a unit within a complex or development. This is in contrast to a freehold or full title, where one purchases full ownership rights to a property, including the building and the land upon which it is built. Ntombikayise Sibhidla Saphetha, the chairperson of the committee, and the provincial legislature, said the hearing was an important part of observing protocol – by consulting with the stakeholders affected by the bill before it was tabled and submitted…

Sarafiwe! – a political satire written and produced by Jayshree Parasuramen and Lee Kunene – opens at Durban’s Rhumbelow Theatre at the weekend. Directed by Ra Kunene, the production is a combination of film and theatre with sketches that promise to take audiences on a journey through post-apartheid South Africa. Parasuramen said they aimed to entertain, but also provoke thought on issues affecting local communities. “We started working on the production towards the end of last year and the beginning of this year. Lee and I wanted to tap into where we are today and how things are now in the country. “Both of us reflected on race in the creative process – Lee as a black South African and me being Indian South African. “We both reflected on our…

MULTI-award-winning comedian Marc Lottering returns to the city for more laughs this month. Lottering is the highlight in a line-up of acts being brought together by Laughing Stock Comedy at the Bat Centre. “I’m part of a comedy line-up and I will be doing some stand-up material for around 30 minutes,” the comedian said. The show will be hosted by Kelvin Stoffels and features Richelieu B. Lottering, who has been performing stand-up comedy since late 1997, said keeping material fresh had helped him over the years. “You never stop with your nerves. Even now, I will be anxious about the show. Will it work? Will people take to it? Will they enjoy it? For a lot of people, it may be the first time they see you, so you want…

MADE in Chatsworth started three years ago and aims to celebrate, share and preserve the memories and history of the people of Chatsworth by giving a platform to the people in the community. Kiru Naidoo, writer and founder of the Made in Chatsworth Market, a branch of the organisation, said they would honour the legacy of Madiba by hosting a book drive. They will also provide health testing facilities. “The significance of Mandela Day is for us to open our hearts and our eyes to those who materially have less than we do. Madiba cared deeply about children and reading, and he read voraciously on Robben Island. “We’re excited about partnering with the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) Durban chapter to promote the book drive. Its chairperson,…

THE Giving Hope Foundation will be launched next week and, to commemorate Nelson Mandela’s birthday, it will honour humanitarian Dr Imtiaz Sooliman. Sooliman, the founder of the Gift of the Givers, a non-governmental organisation and disaster relief group, will receive a peace award at the Riverside Hotel next Wednesday. Roy Sukdhev, the co-founder of the foundation, said: “Residents of Durban can now feel proud that it’s our turn to honour one of the world’s most outstanding humanitarians. “Our newly-formed foundation, which is based in Phoenix, saw it fit to recognise Dr Sooliman for his noble humanitarian efforts for victims of disasters and pandemics throughout the world. Our peace award highlights the importance of moral and innovative leadership, an ethic of public service, and a willingness to transcend boundaries of religion,…

MICHELE Nazeer, who runs Abandoned Paws in Bonela, which nurtures and provides stray animals with new homes, has made an urgent call for food donations for the animals. “I love animals and started the organisation in October 2020. We collect stray, abandoned, and neglected animals and keep them for a while until we find someone willing to adopt them.” She said at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, she rehomed 10 litters of puppies and 10 adult dogs. “I had a few cats, but asked other organisations to assist and rehome them.” Nazeer said she was currently taking care of two puppies and a rabbit. “Soon after the pandemic, people couldn’t afford to buy food for their pets and they reached out to me for help. They loved their animals…

DUE to the dwindling numbers of parents paying school fees, Durban South Primary in Clairwood has been unable to repair facilities. Burton Jaganathan, the head of department for the senior phase at the South Coast Road school, said: “Many pupils come from single-income households, or their caregivers are dependent on grants. “The situation in many homes worsened following the unrest and the recent floods in the province. We hope to renovate and restore various parts of the school and its facilities. “The paint is peeling and it’s an eyesore. We need about 40 litres of paint for the corridors. “The school also needs to be fenced or a boundary wall built. “We also need someone to remove the bushes and need help to cut the grass and trees on the…

RISHI Sunak, the former Chancellor of the Exchequer in the British government, has formally launched his bid to become the leader of the Conservative Party. If he succeeds, he will automatically become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He tweeted: “I’m standing to be the next leader of the Conservative Party and your prime minister. Let’s restore trust, rebuild the economy and reunite the country.” Sunak also launched a website ready4rishi.com and posted a three-minute video setting out his intentions. “I got into politics because I want everyone in this country to have those same opportunities, to be able to give their children a better future. Our country faces huge challenges, the most serious for a generation. And the decisions we make today will decide whether the next generation of…

WITH reference to the story, “Time to build a caring society: What parties think”, regarding Moral Regeneration Month (POST, July 6-10). The Moral Regeneration Month programme is the responsibility of the deputy president. This budget is usually wasted in talk shops and this has to change because, from experience, actions speak louder than words. Madiba said: “It is easy to break down and destroy. The heroes are those who make peace and build.” The focus areas for nation-building and social cohesion, explained in the National Development Plan (NDP) 2030, must be organised as community outreach programmes during July. This must be done to get the government to listen to the people’s needs, and build community trust and partnerships to achieve spatial development that works for people. The July 2021 unrest…

IN HIS weekly newsletter to the nation, President Cyril Ramaphosa opens with a remark about something most citizens are well aware of: about load shedding disrupting the economy and causing hardship for all South Africans. Indeed, the havoc the electricity crisis is wreaking on our moribund economy and people’s lives cannot be overstated. It’s comforting to know that the president is with us, that he’s also aware of the hardship and devastation caused. Another reassuring statement from Ramaphosa is the promise that something is being done – that steps are being taken to stop the ongoing economic haemorrhage. Ramaphosa refers to significant steps he and his administration have taken from as early as 2018, including the one around renewable energy procurement. However, the president admits that all that has been…

Formula One fans who aim racist, sexist and homophobic abuse at others should be banned for life, four times world champion Sebastian Vettel said after reported incidents at Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix. The sport condemned the behaviour at the Red Bull Ring, where most of the crowd supported Red Bull’s world champion Max Verstappen and campsites were full of the Dutch driver’s ‘Orange Army’. Mercedes’ seven times world champion Lewis Hamilton, Formula One’s only black driver, said he was “disgusted and disappointed”. “Whoever these people are, they should be ashamed of themselves and they should be banned from racing events for their lives,” Aston Martin driver Vettel told reporters. “I think there should be zero tolerance.” Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, an Austrian, said the abuse had to stop and…

Manchester United and Chelsea are showing less than ideal progress in the transfer market this off-season. Both clubs need some serious fine-tuning to their squads ahead of the new campaign. In Chelsea’s case, they need to make modifications up front especially if they want to challenge for the league next season. United fall short in several areas and are not even expected to challenge for the league next season. Their immediate focus under new coach Erik ten Hag will be on trying to regain a place in the top four, after their worst ever Premier League performance last season under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and then Ralph Rangnick. Chelsea lack a number nine. After a poor season in that department last term, they cut their losses and have sent Romelu Lukaku…

THE first openly gay Imam in South Africa has condemned the Muslim Judicial Council (SA) for releasing its “short fatwa” on homosexuality. Imam Muhsin Hendricks, from the Western Cape, said the MJC should have consulted with the LGBTQIA+ community before publishing the fatwa. The fatwa, a religious decree, was issued by the MJC last week. In the seven-point fatwa, the MJC said the primary sources of legislation in Islam were the Qur’an, Sunnah and Ijma or scholarly consensus which prohibited same-sex actions and, by extension, same-sex marriage. The fatwa said: “The one who contests the rulings belonging to this category has effectively rejected the categorical law of Allah. They have consequently taken themselves out of the fold of Islam.” It said a person who had a desire for the same…

IF YOU are passionate about volunteerism and still deciding who you plan on supporting this Mandela Day, how about Action in Autism? The organisation’s premises are in need of refurbishing and they invite the public to help them breathe life into their venue. Liza Aziz, the chairperson of Action in Autism, urges people to dedicate some of their time as the Action in Autism Centre is in need of tender, loving care. “Alien invasive (plants) have taken over the grounds and weeding is needed. The classrooms also need an urgent paint job to create a more conducive ambience,” said Aziz. “Honouring the values of Madiba, I ask the public to volunteer their services that would help a vulnerable group of people (autistic). Your efforts will make a more beautiful environment."…

ARE we living up to Mandela’s teachings, and is this democracy the one he envisioned? In his tribute speech at Nelson Mandela’s funeral in 2013, Ahmed Kathrada praised Mandela for having an abundance of love, simplicity, honesty, service, humility, care, courage, foresight, patience, tolerance, equality and justice. In current times, we have seen that the world seems to be in short supply of these values. Courage has been replaced by cowardice. Service has become self-beneficial service. Tolerance has turned to intolerance. Because of the loss of these values, the world that Mandela and others sacrificed so much in trying to create seems to be turning on its head. Is this the democracy he envisioned? Mandela’s vision for South Africa’s democracy is found in the Freedom Charter of 1955 and the…

A REGISTER is being compiled of the family gravesites at the Brook Street Cemetery in the Durban CBD. The register is being put together by the Orient Islamic Educational Institute in conjunction with the Anjuman Trust and the Islamic Burial Council. “Many families purchased gravesites at the cemetery almost 100 years ago, either with a 99-year lease or in perpetuity. The families were given title deeds for each gravesite,” said Farouk Bayat of the Orient Islamic Educational Institute. “These title deeds were handed down, or not handed down, from one generation to the next. “It is likely many have been meticulous in keeping these title deeds safely. “However, there would probably be just as many who may not have these title deeds for various reasons. “We are undertaking an exercise…

THE offshore fishing has been very good this past week. The game fish catches and bottom fishing have been great. The North Coast has seen some yellowtail and amberjack on the deeper marks. These are incredibly hard-fighting fish that demand the strongest tackle. You have to give 100% from the bite to landing the fish otherwise you will get cut off. The closer reefs have seen some good couta. The fish have ranged from eight to 20kg+ specimens. They have mostly been taken on live bait, but quality dead baits have also worked well. The central coast has seen a great flush of geelbek and daga in the past two weeks. The charters have been fully booked and the recreational anglers have been launching at every opportunity. The weapons of…