Table of contents for 2024-01-17 in Post

A 5km walk/run will be held on January 27 at 8am to raise funds for Baby Ahana’s cancer treatment. The event will begin at the Bluff National Park Golf Club and cost R100 a person. For more information, WhatsApp 071 397 9143. Nominations for the Shri Mariammen Temple Society’s Ammen Awards are now open. The awards will be held at the temple hall in Mount Edgecombe on March 21. One awardee will win a trip for two on the Bhangra Boat Cruise – MSC Cruise courtesy of Star Events and Althaf Sooliman. The categories for the awards are: The promotion of the Hindu religion, eastern languages, arts and culture, excellence in education, media, sports and socio-economic community upliftment. Nominators must email or hand deliver a detailed CV of…

500g bhindi/okra, trimmed and sliced into 1cm pieces a small splash of oil 2 cloves 2 small cinnamon sticks 1 star anise 2 cardamom pods ¼ tsp black mustard seeds ¼ tsp cumin seeds pinch of fenugreek seeds 2 sprigs curry leaves 1 bay leaf 1 medium onion, finely chopped 1 tbs garlic and ginger paste 1-2 tsp mild chilli powder or paprika powder (adjust quantity to heat tolerance) 1 tsp coriander powder 1 tsp cumin powder ½ tsp garam masala 1 tsp turmeric powder salt to season ½ cup fresh chopped tomatoes fresh coriander leaves to garnish Place the bhindi in an air-fryer for 10 minutes at 200ºC or place in a preheated oven for 10 minutes at 200ºC. Keep aside when done. Heat the oil in a pot…

Week 1 Breakfast: Overnight oats. Toast with avos. Cereal of your choice. Smoothie. Chocolate millet porridge. Dosa with sambhar. Idli and sambhar. Lunch: Idly and tomato chutney. Warm cous cous salad. Cabbage and soya chunks curry. Vegetable sub with a minty spread. Soya fish frikkadels. Titha tofu masala. Cauliflower, carrots and peas in a cashew nut gravy. Supper: Spinach and gram dhal curry. Jackfruit curry, rice or roti. Spicy veggie shepherd's pie. Soya fish or tofu fish curry. Creamy chickpea curry. Meat-free moussaka. Vegetable breyani with masoor, cashew nuts and sultanas. Week 2 Breakfast: Overnight oats. Toast with avos. Millet with cinnamon and berries. Smoothie. Chocolate millet porridge. Dosa with sambhar. Idli and sambhar. Lunch: Spinach and chickpea curry. Soya chunks, green beans and potato curry served in bunbhaji/herbs. Dhal…

A NIGHT of ‘joyriding’ turned deadly for a young Asherville woman, after she was allegedly shot dead by her teenage “friends”, including a 14-year-old boy. Tasneem Green, 24, was found slumped in the driver’s seat of a car at the John Dory Grounds in Newlands East on January 8. Her body was riddled with bullets. Four days later and a few hours before her funeral, an 18-year-old man, Blake Davids, and three teenagers, aged between 14 and 16, were arrested in Sydenham and Newlands East. The arrests were made in a joint operation by Newlands police detectives, the investigating officer, Detective Warrant Officer Viresh Panday, and the Hawks tracking team. The accused, who were charged with murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances, appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on…

EXPERTS believe the solution to the eThekwini Municipality water billing crisis is for independent service providers to take over the function. Dr Anthony Turton, an environment adviser, said the municipal billing had been a problem for years. “The impact that this has is a loss of confidence in service delivery, but also in a growing financial burden carried by the public, often in the lower income bands. It must be remembered that all municipalities are retailers of water.” He said they bought in bulk from the wholesaler – in this case Umgeni Water – and they made a mark-up when they resold. “Therefore, all leakages (almost 50%) mean a major loss of revenue to the municipality, which then results in cash constraints that in turn trigger billing problems. “Typically, these…

IN ORDER to ensure that residents receive the correct water bills, the eThekwini Municipality has trained more than 150 new meter readers who have been on the ground since December. Gugu Sisilana, the municipality’s spokesperson, said this followed the expiration of an old meter reading contract, which resulted in the city having to rely on estimated readings to bill residents. She said accounts were being estimated based on previous months’ consumption. “Once the actual readings are done, the consumption charges will be adjusted accordingly. Where overbilling has occurred, accounts will be on a credit status if overpayments were done. The credit will cover the next bill, depending on the amount credited, versus the amount billed.” Sisilana said the new meter readers were trained in new capturing technology which allowed the…

As her film Petta completed five years of its release, actress Malavika Mohanan spoke about working with superstar Rajinikanth and how she wanted to share screen space with him. Taking to X, Mohanan shared a post she penned to honour Rajinikanth and photographs posing with the star and a few from the film. She wrote: “A little story for you guys. It was year 2018, and it was the first day of shoot for my first Tamil film. I was playing a supportive role and my main reason for signing the project was because I wanted to share screen space with Rajni sir since the day I’d become an actor. “I was nervous, in an unfamiliar industry, didn’t know a single soul and to add to it all, my first…

SALMAN Khan said that as an actor, his biggest and only job was to entertain people. His latest movie, Tiger 3, is now streaming on a digital platform. Talking about this, he said: “The Tiger franchise got unanimous love right from the first film, be it theatrically, on satellite or on streaming. So it feels amazing to see how the third instalment, Tiger 3, was first a hit in theatres and now on streaming ... “As an actor, my biggest and only job is to entertain people thoroughly and I’m happy that Tiger 3 is being enjoyed by people across the world. Tiger will always be there to entertain people.”…

SOUTH African-born singer Shashika Mooruth has added another feather to her creative cap – performing the song Kaali Maa that features in the recently released Hindi version of the Bollywood blockbuster film Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire. The film, written and directed by Prashant Neel and produced by Vijay Kiragandur of Hombale Films in Bangalore, India, stars Prabhas. Mooruth said she was overjoyed by the movie’s global success and the recent release of Hindi songs from the album. “I am grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with Ravi Basrur and his team. The Hindi and Marwari lyrics eloquently convey the emotional plea of tribal women to Kaali Maa. “While maintaining my regular voice tone, I relish experimenting with my voice; treating it as my instrument, much like a guitarist or…

An open letter to Rihan Richards, the president of Cricket South Africa: Dear Sir I WRITE to you as a fellow South African citizen, a former amateur player, and now a fan and supporter of this wonderful game. I refer to David Teeger being relieved of the SA U19 captaincy. With the utmost respect, I wish to express my view on the matter, as follows: 1. Cricket South Africa (CSA) is treading on dangerous ground when it gives in to individuals or organisations who disagree with an independent outcome or decision. 2. The threat of violence or disruption by the individuals and/or organisations must be immediately reported to the relevant law enforcement authorities for further investigation, charges and prosecution. The necessary risk adjustments must be made and life must…

l Professor John Dugard is a renowned expert in international law. His experience of sitting on the Bench of the ICJ as an acting judge and as a rapporteur of the commission established to determine the human rights and living conditions of people living in Palestine, is particularly pertinent. Dugard has been a member of the Board of Trustees of Law for Palestine since 2020. A professor of international law at the University of Leiden, Dugard has also served on the International Law Commission since 1997. Notably, after the outbreak of the second uprising by Palestinians against Israeli occupation in 2000, the UN Commission on Human Rights appointed him to chair a commission of inquiry into the state of human rights in the Palestinian territories. He is the first and…

THERE are many weightier and pressing issues populating this 71-year-old's mind. But, none are as poignant and resonating as your sub-editorial entitled “Don't Judge” (the POST, January 10-14). Permit me as I want to say this to you. As a laaitjie in my pre-teens and a street survivor in the Warwick Avenue-Old Dutch Road, Grey Street triangle, I often accompanied friends to Sunday School. Its relevance is that I learnt a passage from the Bible where Jesus (PBUH), who Muslims venerate through the Qur’an, said, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged” (Matthew 7:1 ). This goes to show us how to have discernment, empathy and ubuntu. Love is the proper motivation for not judging and for using good judgement. Mahatma Gandhi enshrined this at a time,…

I RETIRED from teaching at government schools over 20 years ago. But, even when I first began my career in education, I had complained numerous times, in this very media, that school uniforms were another colonial import. School uniforms do not figure positively enough to be considered mandatory in a learning environment. Many other writers thought my idea was crazy, pointing to the fact that privileged pupils would use their wealth to convert school into a fashion parade. I argued there were other ways some pupils could show off. For example, by owning better stationary, or being driven to school in flashy cars, or owning costly lunch boxes and maths sets. This is still a capitalist society. Many a schoolboy emerges from a hut, adjacent to a five-star mansion from…

OUR government needs to urgently intervene. As a nation we are overrun by torrential rains that have taken place throughout the festive season into this new year in all the provinces, especially KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, and the Western Cape. Although some places were lucky to receive an upgrade/facelift, the improvements are superficial, and looking at the flooding it is apparent that our local governments need to do a better job in town planning, and fixing and adding drainage systems, gullies, trenches and ditches, instead of fancy walkways, sidewalks and pavements, which fail to endure the extreme weather patterns that are now becoming the norm. Proper underground piping and sewage disposal are critical to help protect our water and our environment. Such pollution can cause a health and environmental hazard.…

EXPERTS have attributed the heavy rain and flooding in KwaZulu-Natal to climate change. Professor Andrew Green, a marine geologist from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), said this type of weather was something we could expect due to the changing climate. “We know that the temperature of the oceans is rising through global warming. “The warming causes the oceans to become large energy producers. The ocean is acting almost like a battery that powers these large storms that we get. A lot of the rain we are seeing is mostly evaporation from the warm oceans. It’s the evaporation that is feeding very large storm cells.” Professor Hope Hangwelani Magidimisha-Chipungu, lecturer in Town and Regional Planning at UKZN, said studies and scientific evidence have pointed to one significant factor contributing to the…

SCHOOL safety has been thrust into the spotlight ahead of the opening of schools this week, following an outbreak of crime in south Durban where one school was robbed and teachers at another engaged in a gun battle with armed robbers. One of the oldest schools, Chatsworth Secondary, became the latest statistic when criminals vandalised and stripped the school of its infrastructure, 11 days before the start of the 2024 academic year. Days before school could close in 2023, teachers at Mawelewele Primary School at Klaarwater, Shallcross, were robbed of their belongings when the school came under attack by gunmen. Police in Chatsworth are investigating cases of business robbery and attempted murder after gunmen opened fire on teachers at the school. A suspect and a teacher were wounded when the…

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 bays and gullies for the best results. The central coast has seen a patchy catch report. There have been some spots…

SPANISH motorcyclist Carles Falcon has died from the serious injuries he suffered last week on the second stage of the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia. “On Monday, January 15, Carles passed away. The medical team has confirmed that the neurological damage caused by the cardio-respiratory arrest at the time of the accident is irreversible,” the TwinTrail Racing Team said in a statement. “Carles was a smiley person, always active, who enjoyed with passion everything he did, especially motorcycles. He left us doing something that was his dream, racing the Dakar,” it added. The high-speed stage over jagged rocks and winding sand dunes in the Saudi desert was almost complete on January 7 when the experienced off-road rider from Tarragona crashed. The 45-year-old was immediately taken to hospital in Saudi Arabia…

GOD created mankind and placed them in a garden not an abattoir. According to the scriptures, humanity was created and placed in a garden, east of Eden. God intended for humanity to thrive on a vegetarian diet. The Christian scriptures teach that man’s original diet was fruit and vegetables. According to the scriptures, all life is sacred. This included animal, plant and human life. Mankind’s original diet was very specific: 1:29 “Then God said: ‘I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food’.” Genesis 1:29. NIV In today’s obsessive food-intoxicated culture, a spiritual discipline like fasting seems foreign. We are programmed into eating more than three meals a day. In…

A ‘schizophrenic’ Verulam man, who flew into a fit of rage when he was told not to use a cup to remove water from their flooded house, allegedly stabbed his grandfather to death with a kitchen knife, and seriously injured his father. Humza Ally, 20, appeared in the Verulam Magistrate’s Court on Monday for the murder of his grandfather, Hajee Goolam Shaik Mohamed, 76, and the attempted murder of his father, Hafez Zameer Ally, 42. Natasha Ramkissoon Kara, spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority in KZN, said the accused would be taken to a district surgeon to assess his mental state. The case was adjourned to January 22. At around 9pm on Saturday night, the Ally family had rallied to try to stop the water which was gushing into their…

eThekwini residents who have been slapped with exorbitant water bills with back charges for ‘free’ water and sanitation for three years, are adamant they will not foot the bill for the municipalities administrative bungle. In December, more than 50 000 residents received utility bills showing they had back charges for water and sanitation from 2020 to 2023. The affected residents were given free water on the premise that their properties were valued at R250 000 or lower. Desmond Willie, 52, of Woodhurst, said: “I am a new home owner and paid the transfer costs of about R4 000 for my property in June 2023. “In November last year, my bill was averaging between R2 800 and R3 500.” He said he shared the home with his wife and their 17-year-old…

THE 2024 school academic year starts today (Wednesday) and according to the Department of Education in KwaZulu-Natal it is “all systems go”. This, despite some school infrastructure being damaged by flooding at the weekend. According to a statement from the department, the storms and floods caused severe damage to school infrastructure, with 59 schools in nine of the 12 districts being affected. But the department said the affected schools were provided with interim measures, including mobile classrooms and ablution facilities. To prepare for the 2024 academic year, Nkosinathi Ngcobo, the HOD of the department, said the Learner Admission Programme started in April and closed in September. While admissions were administered smoothly last year and the province finished the year with no unplaced learner when school closed, Ngcobo said the…

Big B buys land in Ayodhya MUMBAI: Amitabh Bachchan, often referred to as Big B, bought land of around 930m² in Ayodhya before the Pran Pratishtha of the Lord Ram Temple is due to take place on January 22. He bought the plot in the holy pilgrim town in an upcoming scheme of The House of Abhinandan Lodha (HoABL) Mumbai, which plans to build homes in the ‘Global Spiritual Capital’. The property is about 15 minutes from the Lord Ram Temple and 30 minutes from the new Shri Ram International Airport. The 7-star-rated, 20-hectare mix-use posh complex called “The Sarayu”, near the banks of the Sarayu River, is being developed by the HoABL, said a company spokesperson. “I am looking forward to embarking on this journey for The Sarayu in…

SUMO Didi, a film about India’s first professional Sumo wrestler, Hetal Dave, has been winning hearts at some of the most prestigious film festivals around the world. After premièring at the 36th Tokyo International Film Festival, the movie, which earlier screened at the 35th Palm Springs International Film Festival, is being viewed as a groundbreaking film from India that is bringing glory to the nation. Sumo Didi is the only Indian film that has been showcased at these two film festivals this year. Presented by Jio Studios, it is produced by Jyoti Deshpande, national award-winning production house FreshLime Films, and MA&TH Entertainment. Shriyam Bhagnani plays the lead. Sumo Didi portrays the journey of an Indian middle-class girl, who turns her perceived weakness, her weight, into her greatest strength. She challenges…

SONAM Kapoor is ready to explore streaming platforms if she is approached with a tentpole film or series. Kapoor said: “For me, being a part of good content and good cinema is all that matters. The platform where it’s releasing is immaterial because the world has changed. I’m excited to lead a project on streaming that bowls people over. I’m thoroughly loving the diversity of content out there.” She added: “I have always wanted to foray into streaming, provided I’m headlining a tentpole film (a money-generating hit) or a series on a global streaming platform. I have been a binge watcher of the outstanding content that streaming platforms have been creating for years now. The bar that streaming content has set globally, as well as in India, is incredible.”…

GET ready to buckle up for the first Bollywood blockbuster of the year, Fighter, where Hrithik Roshan takes to the skies with the grace of a Greek God and the intensity of a Top Gun ace. Directed by maestro Siddanth Malhotra, the man who delivered the high-octane hits Pathaan and War, Fighter is set to soar to new heights of cinematic brilliance. Channelling those Top Gun vibes, the movie has dropped three tracks that are gaining in popularity. From the energetic dance anthem Sher Kul Gaye to the smooth and vibey love ballad Ishq Jaisa Kuch and the ethereal Heer Asmani, the soundtrack is making waves across Bollywood. In this thrilling tale, Shamsher Pathania, played by Roshan, fulfils his lifelong dream of joining the Indian Air Force. Brace yourself for…

ASIDE from a shrill right-wing minority, South Africans are experiencing a shared sense of pride after the superb performance of our excellent legal team at The Hague. As Nontobeko Hlela argued in an important piece in the Mail & Guardian, South Africa gave global leadership in a time of global crisis. Our country had huge global respect and moral authority during the Mandela Presidency but this began to be squandered with Thabo Mbeki’s appeasement of the brutal regime in Harare, and then his Aids debacle. When Jacob Zuma came to power, our international standing crashed. Our confidence as a people also declined as we witnessed the thieving and lying, and the shameless misuse of the liberation Struggle to try to legitimate an awful kleptocracy. But this week, we saw the…

RACKED nerves and nail-biting will end this week for thousands of matric pupils across the country, when the final IEB and National Senior Certificate exam results are released on Thursday and Friday, respectively. On Monday, the national education quality assurance body, Umalusi, gave the green light for the release of the 2023 matric results. A sound education is fundamental to individual empowerment, societal progress, and the overall well-being of communities. Investing in education has far-reaching positive effects on individuals, economies, and the global community. Education is also a key factor in breaking the cycle of poverty – one of the triple challenges, together with inequality and unemployment in South Africa. It equips individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to secure better employment opportunities, leading to improved economic conditions…

Your lead article in the POST, December 20-24, titled, “They acted in self-defence and defence of their property” was an eye-opener for me. The Phoenix accused faced the worst form of human indignation and violations the world had known. They were incarcerated, humiliated and one person lost his life in prison. A young man was also raped while in prison. Remember, they were not the instigators of the riots and looting. They merely responded to a volatile situation and acted in self-defence. What was quite surprising was the fact that the State and mainstream media made the Phoenix accused out to be the guilty ones. They used their arrests to create a diversion from what started the mayhem that saw hundreds killed and billions in damages. I would like to…

Yoshini Perumal’s front-page screamer in the POST, January 10-14, “Woman identified only by her belly ring”, has brought the community of Chatsworth to its knees and left me in despair and disillusioned. An innocent and vulnerable life has been snatched in the most ruthless and vile manner. The gravity of this heinous crime depicts beastly and unparalleled behaviour. Our elders and forefathers would hang their heads in shame at the callous, inhumane murder committed against Vyakasha Sookdew, which was unheard of during the yesteryears. What is happening to us as a nation? Our sense of morality has plummeted to new depths. These violent acts against women and children have reached a stage that is becoming unbearable and intolerable. Our community is in crisis with no hope in sight for victims…

BEST wishes to all for the new year and beyond. This year, people are urged to spend wisely, avoid debt and non-essentials and shun those who are ungrateful, pessimistic, perpetual moaners and know-it-alls. Getting a good education should be a priority, especially for the youth, as they face rampant unemployment and other adverse issues that still prevail post-apartheid. We have lost icons such as Mbongeni Ngema, Peter Magubane and Franz Beckenbauer. Thanks for blessing us with your wonderful talents. The world is a poorer place without such distinguished persons. Peace is a scarce commodity worldwide. Nations must quickly come to their senses and the savagery, brutality and mayhem of war and accompanying atrocities in the Middle East, Ukraine, Sudan and other hot spots must end soon. A big thank…

FORTY-four families living in semi-detached homes at Pension Cottages in Plein Street, Tongaat, had to evacuate their homes during Saturday night’s heavy rain. All the homes, which comprise a bedroom and kitchen, were flooded and residents’ belongings destroyed. Resident Sandra Manikam said fear gripped her as she watched a wave of water hit her son’s car and come gushing into her home. “I thought I was going to die,” she said. Manikam, 61, a pensioner, shares her home with her son Riccardo, 38, who is employed at the local tollgate. “I went to bed just after 9.30pm. My son was in the house watching a movie on his phone. I received a call from my neighbour who informed me that their house was flooding. As I woke up, I heard…

MI Cape Town coach Robin Peterson is hoping his side can build on their winning momentum against Sunrisers Eastern Cape at Newlands today. It will be the first time this SA20 season that MI Cape Town will be running out at their home ground after two matches on the road. It’s been a mixed bag in terms of results with MICT falling short by 11 runs on the DLS method against Durban’s Super Giants at Kingsmead before bouncing back in style against the Joburg Super Kings with a resounding 98-run bonus-point win at the Wanderers. The Men in Blue have, however, rectified their batting woes of last season with totals in excess of 200 in both matches. In fact, in-form openers Ryan Rickelton and Rassie van der Dussen shattered the…

Lionel Messi may have left the limelight of European football behind, but he remains a magnet to the game’s biggest awards after being crowned Fifa’s best men’s player for 2023 on Monday. The selection of the 36-year-old over pretenders to his crown Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe was a controversial one in the year Messi took what many see as the step down in standard to join Inter Miami in Major League Soccer. Yet, Messi’s pulling power was still in evidence last year as he quickly conquered the United States. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner dragged a hitherto struggling squad to the first trophy ever won by the franchise, which is co-owned by David Beckham, by lifting the Leagues Cup in August. He also racked up another league title at…

BEN Duckett insists England can thrive in their forthcoming Test series in India despite criticism of the decision to arrive in the country at the last minute. Ben Stokes’ side are currently training in Abu Dhabi and are scheduled to travel to Hyderabad just three days before the first match of the five-Test series begins on January 25. Pundits have said that is not enough time to acclimatise to Indian conditions. Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum have opted against warm-up matches for much of their reign. And with the series already spanning seven weeks and no guarantees over the quality of the players they would come up against in warm-ups, England batsman Duckett is confident the decision will prove wise. “There’s training every day and we’re hitting thousands of…

FOR those observing the Daniel Fast, it is a time to reflect on the Biblical scriptures and draw closer to God. Congregants abstain from meat and other luxuries, and maintain a vegetarian diet for 21 days. Brenda Govindsamy said fasting at the beginning of the year brought her peace and helped her grow spiritually. “It is a time for me to get closer to God and while praying, I ask Him to direct my life for the year ahead. I have been doing the fast for the last 15 years but for the past seven years during the fast, I don’t eat anything except for drinking liquids. This is my sacrifice to thank God for all that He has done for me.” Vineshree Velayudam said the fast helped her get…

A MAN who was caught stealing litchis from the property of a well-known Verulam family was allegedly handcuffed to a tree and whipped with a sjambok. A source told the POST that the property had over 10 litchi trees. The “thief” was allegedly assaulted by the family. The owner of the property was not at home at the time. The source said two incense sticks were found next to the man’s feet. “The family said he was smelling so bad that they lit the incense to try and get rid of his body odour.” Prem Balram, spokesperson for Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa), said when officers arrived at the house, they found the man handcuffed to a tree with severe body and facial injuries. “Two incense sticks were found alight…

A RETIRED policeman was forced into the toilet of his home by heavily armed men who ransacked his house in Stardust Close in Brindhaven, Phoenix, on Tuesday morning. The five gunmen stormed the property, while the 58-year-old officer's relative was delivering water to them – due to the water crisis in the area. Prem Balram, spokesperson for Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa), said the robbers forced the former cop and his relative into the residence, and ransacked the home in search of valuables. “Cash, cellphones and a TV were stolen. The suspects locked the victims in the toilet before they sped off in a brown vehicle (model and registration unknown). “The men called out to neighbours for help. Neighbours who went to their aid contacted Rusa at about 8.30am. Fortunately,…

FORMER eThekwini Municipality speaker, Logie Naidoo, who has embraced his dark skin colour, is saddened that some patrons of Club 386 were recently ridiculed on social media for their skin tone and looks. Naidoo, who is also a stand-up comedian, said it was disheartening that prejudice stemming from colourism was still prevalent. “I have always joked about the issue of colour, so people know I am not affected by it. Today, I make jokes about these issues, and when I take ownership of the issue of my darkness, I am not affected by any comments as such. Communities must see people for their humanity rather than their skin colour,” said Naidoo. “When comedian Muthu Murugan said that I was born at midnight, I joked back that he was born…

Mallaya-Pandya is a UK based award-winning intuitive life coach and best selling author. Follow her on www.mysticsisters-uk.com and @mysticsisters ARIES (March 21 – April 19) Look forward to a great start. Focus on new financial opportunities. Use that fiery energy productively. This month also is a great time to look at a new short course. You have felt a bit stuck for a while. Highs: Feeling like your old self again. Travel. Lows: Being mean and spiteful. TAURUS (April 20 – May 20) Your energy and passion will be on fire. This is a time for productivity and profit. Keep going. You need to set plans in motion and quit procrastinating. Work on achievable goals. Highs: Getting assistance you need. Lows: Arguments through stubbornness. GEMINI (May 21 – June 20)…

SURIYA, who stole the show in the last scene of Vikram with his stint as Rolex Bhai, has wrapped up his part for the upcoming film Kanguva. The actor took to his X account and shared the update with his fans. He also shared a picture of himself from the film as a warrior. He wrote in the caption: “My last shot done for Kanguva! An entire unit filled with positivity! It’s a finishing of one and beginning of many! “Thank you dearest @directorsiva and team for all the memories! #Kanguva is huge and special can’t wait for you all to see it on screen! #Family #Missing (sic)”. Kanguva also stars Disha Patani and Bobby Deol and will be released in 10 languages, and in 3D format.…

DIRECTOR Prasanth Varma’s recently released superhero film HanuMan is fast climbing the ladder of appreciation. It has been hailed as the next big Indian film globally after the NTR Jr and Ram Charan-starrer RRR and the Prabhas-starrer Baahubali. The film blends Indian culture and mythology with technically sound visuals and it breaks away from the traditional superhero film norms. Netizens are appreciating the film’s prowess, knowing that it did not start out as a big-budget action spectacle but grew from humble beginnings, evolving at each stage of its creative development. Films like RRR and Baahubali made a mark because of their makers’ vision. Varma does not miss a beat and crafts the compelling story with ingenuity. The audience is lauding the fact that the film has the grandeur of storytelling,…

LADY Superstar Nayanthara’s 75th film, Annapoorani, is a film of flavour that is undercooked. Amateur chefs, home cooks, couch critics and foodies are served a meaningful script soaked in drama, baked in conflict, garnished with controversy and presented on a bed of beauty. Shortly after the film was released on Netflix last week, it was removed from the streaming platform. The movie received backlash for “hurting religious sentiments”. One of the reasons attributed was Nayanthara playing a Hindu Brahmin woman, who aspires to become a chef and is shown going against her family’s religious beliefs by touching, cooking and eating meat as part of her assessments at culinary school. I managed to watch the film and this was my take. The movie is centred on a young girl, who is…

THE People’s Movement for Change (PMC) applauds the exemplary legal acumen displayed by the South African legal team during their compelling presentation before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against the Apartheid State of Israel. Representing South Africa, the legal team courageously confronted the heinous atrocities perpetrated by the Israeli regime, laying bare their inhumane treatment of innocent civilians in Palestine. In resonance with Nelson Mandela’s enduring conviction that “our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians”, South Africa has once again undertaken the responsibility of being a steadfast guardian of the universal application of human rights and justice. To this end, South Africa’s application to the ICJ seeks an interim order for the people of Gaza, aiming to, among others, halt the genocidal actions of the Apartheid…

THE Vishwa Hindu Parishad (SA) (VHP-SA) is on a global drive to bring all Hindus together to observe January 21 and 22 as days dedicated to observing the consecration ceremony of Sri Rama and the Inauguration of the Mandir in Ayodhya, India. The Ram Janma Bhumi (birthplace of Sri Rama) was destroyed by the Mughals over 500 years ago, and the struggle of the citizens of India and globally continued until finally this historic moment arrived to enshrine the deity of Rama at the rightful place. From January 14 to January 22, Ayodhya will mark the Amrita Mahotsavam. A 1008 Hundi Mahayagya (Great Holy Fire Ceremony) will also be held in which thousands of devotees will participate. The Shri Rama Temple (Ram Mandir) stands as a testament to faith, perseverance,…

WE ARE so fortunate to have such a caring government. Load shedding was suspended for the entire festive period. It didn’t want to spoil the fun. We were so relieved. Government and Eskom patted each other on the shoulder for a job well done. They had given the country 18 days of uninterrupted lights, the longest since load shedding made its dramatic appearance. But no sooner had we clinked our glasses and said cheers to the New Year, the dreaded load shedding was back, plunging our lives into darkness again. How we had been fooled. The same thing happened during the Rugby World Cup. We watched the World Cup in Paris without the lights going off. I predict it could happen again during this year’s national election. Government will do…

AS THE elites of the World Economic Forum gather in Davos for their annual junket at which they ratchet up their falsehood about fossil fuels causing global warming, and stoke alarmism about the fate of the planet, the quiet part of their agenda, once again, will go unreported. Successful propaganda requires relentless repetition based on a smidgen of truth. Yes, climate change is a reality attested to over the past 2 000 years. Yes, it may involve warmer temperatures and floods. It may also mean colder times and drought. These vagaries are natural and have nothing to do with human exploitation of fossil fuels or bovine digestive emissions. The records of history prove that. But while claiming that climate-related risk remains a dominant theme, the WEF has identified a “short-term…

COMMUNITIES hit by Saturday night’s floods have been dealt another blow – they have no running water. Don Perumall, the chair- person of the Tongaat Civic Association, said more than 60 000 residents have been impacted by the water outage. “The source of our water comes from the point at which the Emona and Tongaat rivers meet. There is a furrow, a U-shaped brick structure, that channels the water from the river into Tongaat Water Works where it is purified. The water is then pumped to homes.” Perumall said after the heavy rain, the furrow became blocked with rubble and debris. “This has restricted the water supply. At one stage, we were getting slow to medium levels of water and now none. “Teams from Tongaat Hulett and the eThekwini Municipality…

DR ERNA de Lange, head of the school’s Governing Body Forum (GBF) in KwaZulu-Natal, says neighbourhoods play a big role in school safety matters. De Lange, who believes that the community is crucial to preventing crime at schools, said: “In areas where there is an active neighbourhood watch and police presence, crime is contained. Schools in isolated areas are targets and crime has increased in those schools. Copper pipes and taps are taken regularly and the damage is increased by the loss of thousands of litres of water. Most schools have tried to improve their perimeter fences but unless it is solid palisading, it disappears overnight. “Safety of staff and pupils is a concern as schools are regarded as soft targets and quite a few schools have recently reported criminals…

BAYERN Munich coach Thomas Tuchel says Harry Kane is capable of breaking Robert Lewandowski’s 41-goal single-season Bundesliga record with the England captain off to a sensational start at the German champions. Kane scored his 22nd league goal of the season in Friday’s 3-0 win over Hoffenheim, and has now struck in all but three of 16 Bundesliga appearances since his move from Tottenham. He is on pace to shatter the mark set by Lewandowski in May 2021, when the Poland striker broke Bayern great Gerd Mueller’s record that had stood for 39 years. “It is in danger, and no one could ever believe that it would be in danger, but it is,” Tuchel told the Bundesliga website. “We need a bit of luck, we need the team to keep going,…

DANIELE De Rossi who has limited coaching experience was appointed the new Roma coach after Jose Mourinho was sacked, the Serie A club said yesterday. The 40-year-old former Italy midfielder returns to his hometown club where he spent almost his entire playing career. He has been appointed until June. De Rossi takes over at Roma hours after Mourihnho’s sudden sacking, which was announced on Tuesday morning following a disappointing third season in the Italian capital. De Rossi won the World Cup with Italy in 2006 but his trophy haul in nearly two decades as a Roma player was more modest, with just two Italian Cups and the 2007 Italian Super Cup. He finished his playing career at Boca Juniors in early 2020, after less than a season in Argentina. He…