Table of contents for 2024-02-28 in Post

This series focuses on bands of yesteryear and the important role that Indian bands played in the community and the music industry. This month, Jimmy Moodley focuses on the Ranjeni Orchestra. DURING the early 1900s, many Tamil orchestras and musical bands existed in Durban Central. This was partly due to the fact that many seasoned musicians lived in both Magazine and Railway barracks, and the CBD. The band, originally called the Railway Youth Orchestra, was formed in late 1938 by clarinet player KS Naicker, who was also the leader. The founding members included P Naidoo, GS Naicker, AS Chetty, K Govindaraj, SN Chetty, PK Dass, R Ganas, MG Reddy, MM Muthoo, MM Moodley, R Samanathan, S Naidoo, MN Govender, M Gopaul, CN Abbai, P Chinniah, MM George, Narsingh Naidoo, SR…

Actress Sonam Kapoor made it to the UK's Top 40 Best Dressed people list, joining Harry Styles, Kate Middleton, Rosamund Pike and Kate Moss, among others. The UK’s prestigious media house ,The Standard, wrote: “The Bollywood sensation is a Notting Hill girl and international fixture of the couture circuit – not to mention one of Dior and Valentino’s top clients.” According to a recent global report, Kapoor was among the list of celebrities such as Zendaya, Kylie Jenner, Kendall Jenner, Blackpink and BTS, who had the highest impact for luxury fashion brands in 2023. She is now gearing for her next movie, Battle For Bittora.…

Actor R Madhavan, who shares the screen with Bollywood superstar Ajay Devgn in the upcoming film “Shaitaan”, called his co-star the “Real Singham” of the film industry. “The Railway Men” actor lauded Devgn for his selfless nature and said he had been a fan, but after working with him, his respect for the actor soared courtesy of his work ethic. Madhavan said at the trailer launch: “I have been in the industry long enough, and I’m a huge fan of Ajay. The way he plays his characters with subtlety and his giving nature is something I admire the most.” In “Shaitaan”, Madhavan plays the titular character, who controls Devgn’s on-screen daughter with black magic. Madhavan added: “ … He gave importance to my character. He in the true sense is…

1kg frozen corn 1 big onion, grated or chopped fine 1 tsp Aromat or salt 1 tsp green chilli and garlic paste 1 tsp lemon pepper chopped coriander ½ tin cream style corn (1 cup) 1 slice butter 2 cups yellow cheese 1 cup white cheese (you can add more or less) Sauté the onion in a slice of butter until light and golden. Add frozen corn and spices. Allow to steam until the water has burnt out and the corn is cooked. Cool completely. Add the grated cheese, chopped greens (dhania and chives) and cream-style corn. Mix well. Adjust the spices as preferred. Fill in the samoosa pastry. Optional: Add a packet of green onion-flavoured chips to the filling.…

Prepare in advance: Prepare freezer-suitable savouries and meals. These can be baked or reheated, allowing minimal time in the kitchen and more time for prayer. This will allow for maximum benefit out of this beautiful blessed month. Have a balance in terms of eats: Avoid too many oily, fried savouries. Opt for baked or air fryer options. Meze boards consisting of bagels, fruit, dips, dates, etc, are easy to put together, enjoyable and filling. Prepare haleem in advance and freeze in small batches: Haleem is a rich, flavourful barley soup, which is a staple in most homes during Ramadaan. It’s healthy, nutritious and filling. It’s also freezer-suitable. Post Taraweeh (rest and relaxation), desserts are a must: Opt for traditional cooling desserts like falooda, phirni, etc, instead of heavy chocolatey…

1kg chicken fillets washed (6 pieces), cubed and strained 1 onion, chopped fine 4 tbs oil/ghee 1tbs red masala (ginger/garlic) 1 tsp green masala (green chilli and garlic) 2 tsp chilli powder salt to taste pinch of turmeric powder ½ tsp ground jeeru 4 to 5 tbs tomato purée ½ cup peri-peri sauce chopped coriander butter pastry sheets Sauté the onion with oil or ghee until light and golden. Add the chicken, salt, turmeric and green and red masala. Cook for a few minutes. Add the balance of the ingredients except the chilli sauce. Do not dry, or over cook the chicken. Once the chicken is cooked, add half a cup of chilli sauce and coriander. Add more sauce if preferred. Adjust the spices as preferred. Coloured sesame seeds: Separate…

1 litre milk 1½ tsp falooda powder (china grass) 4 tbs milk/burfee powder 1 tsp rose essence 1 tsp elachi powder 2 tbs custard powder 1 tin cream 1 tin condensed milk Heat the milk in a pot. Make a paste with the falooda, milk powder and custard powder. Add to the milk. Boil and add the essence. Lastly, add the cream and the condensed milk. The mixture must reach boiling point. Pour into bowls or a mould. Variations: Omit the Klim and custard powder. Mint: 1 tsp mint essence and green colour Rose and cardamom: 2 tbs rose syrup Refrigerate. Decorate with the cream and coloured almonds before serving. It should have a soft, wobbly consistency when set.…

1 tin chick peas, drained 1 packet of any nachos-style chips 1 small purple onion, chopped 1 cup robot peppers, chopped ½ cup pomegranate rubies ½ cup cubed cucumbers 1 tomato, cubed 2-3 tbs lemon juice 1 tbs vinegar salt to taste pepper ½ cup chopped coriander Topping: yoghurt green dhania chutney tamarind sauce Steam the chick peas in half to one cup of water for 10 to 15 minutes until soft. Strain and set aside. Place the onion, cucumber, peppers and tomato in a bowl. Season with salt, pepper, lemon juice, vinegar and chopped coriander. Add the chick peas to the above and mix well. Assemble as preferred. Top with a drizzle of coriander chutney, tamarind sauce, yoghurt, a sprinkle of pomegranate rubies and chopped coriander.…

RAHUL Vaidya recently shared a photograph of his “world” – his actress wife Disha Parmar and their newborn daughter Navya. The singer, known for tracks like Baaton Ko Teri (Unplugged) and Ek Rupaiya, took to Insta- gram and shared a series of pictures. These show the family in pink. Mom and dad are seen showering love on Navya and kissing her. The post is captioned: “My world”, followed by a red heart and a child emoji. The couple tied the knot in 2021and had their child on September 20. On the work front, Parma was last seen in Bade Achhe Lagte Hain 3.…

A DECISION by a Greenwood Park couple to leave their children with their grandmother after cable theft caused an electrical outage at their home for several days, possibly saved their lives. However, Kaylon, 8, and Tamar, 5, have been left orphaned following the death of Kyle Richards, 31, and Taylene, 28, at their Rosary Road home after allegedly inhaling carbon monoxide fumes from a generator they had borrowed. Their friend, Bongumusa Ngcobo, 31, and puppy were also found dead in the home. Taylene’s mother, Linda Lalsing, told the POST that the couple had arrived home from work last Wednesday evening to no power as the electricity cables had been stolen. “Taylene called me and said she was going to bring the children over to stay until the electricity was…

A WOMAN who claimed her husband had been missing since September 2020 failed in her attempt to get his provident fund to pay out the benefit. This means her spouse’s affairs will continue to be in “legal limbo”. The Mondi Mpact Group Fund Provident Section (fund) refused to pay the member’s fund credit to his wife, the complainant N Krishna, because there was no confirmation whether he was dead or alive. The fund credit was just over R251 000 as at January 31, 2021. N Krishna then sought relief from the Office of the pension funds adjudicator. The adjudicator’s office is a statutory body established to resolve disputes in a procedurally fair, economical and expeditious manner. It investigates and determines complaints of abuse of power, maladministration, disputes of fact or…

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has in accordance with the Constitution determined May 29 as the date for the national elections. On that day, millions of South Africans will head to the polling stations. With Indians making up just over 2.8% of the total population, it is time for us to vote wisely. With our economy spiralling downwards towards crisis and with unemployment rising, the battle to end corruption is a pipe dream. With most of the municipalities in failed status, we have a major problem. It’s cancer and South Africa is terminally-ill. Given the collapse of service delivery, many eligible voters are asking whether it would be worth their while to place their crosses next to parties and candidates. Our hope is that if a new party is elected, hopefully they…

EBRAHIM Essa’s letter, “Have we forgotten?” (POST, February 21-24), refers. No dear Essa, we have not forgotten, nor are we likely to forget, the most brutal, bloody, oppressive colonial history in the world. How can we forget a thousand years of colonial oppression and exploitation, the longest that any nation has been through? It is etched in our memory. We don’t get our history from Bollywood, but from what has been handed down to us through the words of our ancestors, both written and oral, from texts and utterances of the invader colonisers from whichever country they came, and in this day and age, from intense research – despite regular negation and sanitisation from certain quarters, Bollywood included. The left ideologues tried repeatedly to whitewash what has been called the…

THE passing of the Revenue Laws Amendment Bill by the National Assembly last Tuesday was a significant step towards ushering-in a new era of retirement financial security for more South Africans. This is according to Michelle Acton, retirement reform executive at Old Mutual. The Revenue Laws Amendment Bill brings changes to the retirement fund system in the country, specifically the introduction of a two-pot retirement system. According to Parliament, the two-pot retirement system aims to provide flexibility for fund members to access their retirement savings during emergencies, without necessitating resignation. In addition to these developments, Acton said that the industry was awaiting the gazetting of the Pension Funds Amendment Bill to provide much-needed certainty on the final version of the two-pot retirement system regulations. The industry also needed the requisite…

WHEN the ANC was a movement aspiring to non-racialism it had the support of many intellectuals from among the black minorities, and many ordinary people too. But as the progressives in the ANC ceded ground to racial chauvinists, and then outright kleptocrats, it largely lost the support of the black minorities. This was felt most keenly in Cape Town where coloured voters turned decisively against the ANC, allowing the DA to take control of the city. After the frenzied looting and destruction of the Zuma years, the standing of the ANC was in free fall, including with many African intellectuals and professionals and pretty much all the grass-roots activists. Among grass-roots activists, the ANC came to be known as “amasela” – the thieves. A large proportion of the African working…

As part of its fund-raising initiative, the 1860 Heritage Centre is hosting a Heritage Breakfast Festival at the museum in Derby Street, Durban, on March 2 from 9am. Selvan Naidoo, the curator of the museum, said the aim of the breakfast was to remind people of the food enjoyed by their ancestors. “Many of the menu items are no longer served today. “We hope to revive these traditional meals in the daily menu of contemporary times to honour and remember the resilience and hard work of our ancestry,” said Naidoo. He said: “We invite communities to come out to learn about our rich history and heritage through our conducted tours while enjoying a heritage breakfast.” Among the items on the menu are masala dosa served with sambar and chutney and…

NEW DELHI: His career is a testament to the pervasive appeal of ghazal. Pankaj Udhas was among the foremost singers to bring the perceived elitist genre of music into the popular sphere, having mastered the form with dedication and performing it with panache. Pankaj Udhas, who passed away on Monday aged 72, is usually – and erroneously – seen as a purveyor of the ghazal’s “maikhana” tradition. This is chiefly due to his famous renditions of Mujhko yaaron muaaf karna, main nashe mein hoon, Thodi thodi piya karo, Sharab cheez hi aisi, Ek taraf us ka ghai ek taraf maikada, Sabko maloom hai main sharabi nahi and several other vintage melodies, but there was more range to his velvet-rounded voice. Recall the ebullient Chandi jaisa rang hain tera, the pensive…

LEAP year occurs on February 29. It is a unique phenomenon that happens every four years. A leap year falls within the Pisces season. In numerology 29 (2 + 9) = 11, which means awakening and spiritual enlightenment. Women can propose to men in the leap year and it’s a good year for tying the knot. Lucky colours: yellow and emerald green. Aries (March 21 – April 19) The leap year is about blessings in disguise. Trust the redirections. The universe is making you strong. You’re being given the opportunities and tools you need to make your life easier for the future. Keep an open mind and choose to see things from a different perspective. Invest in yourself. Taurus (April 20 – May 20) This is a powerful time…

YOU may be used to hearing that it takes the Earth 365 days to make a full lap of the sun, but that journey actually lasts about 365 and a quarter days. Leap years help to keep the 12-month calendar matched up with the Earth’s movement around the sun. After four years, those leftover hours add up to a whole day. In a leap year, we add this extra day to the month of February, making it 29 days instead of the usual 28. The annual catch-up dates back to ancient Rome, where people had a calendar with 355 days instead of 365 because it was based on cycles and phases of the moon. They noticed that their calendar was getting out of sync with the seasons, so they began…

THE offshore fishing has been very productive of late, with plenty of bottom fish and game fish coming to the boat. The North Coast has been the most consistent spot for those targeting the game fish. Couta and tuna have been the main targets on the hit list. The couta have been enjoying a frisky live mackerel down-rigged with about a 6oz sinker (depending on the depth you are fishing). The bonnies have been around but the sharks have found these too tasty to leave alone. Speaking of which, the shark tax has been extremely high this past week. The sharks are in the mood to feed so this is the right time to bring out the heavier tackle to try to get the fish in as quickly as possible.…

Mallaya-Pandya is a UK-based award-winning intuitive life coach and best-selling author. ARIES (March 21 – April 19) Get ready for a bout of positive energy and renewed faith. Be open to embracing new challenges and having deep discussions in love. Sitting on the fence is going to feel uncomfortable. Make those decisions. You will be happier for it. Highs: Realising your potential. Lows: Ignoring your health. TAURUS (April 20 – May 20) March will be a good time for you if you are looking at self-employment. Jupiter has left some good energy. Taking on a new study or project would also be positive. Highs: Feeling determined. Lows: Procrastination. GEMINI (May 21 – June 20) You often think things but struggle to say it until it flies out like a spear.…

Samantha Ruth Prabhu, who acted in Super Deluxe, Eega, Rangasthalam and others, recently spoke about the difficult year she has had. The actress, who swayed the nation with her moves in the song, Oo Antava, recently dropped the first episode of her health podcast titled “Take 20” on her YouTube channel. During the episode, she spoke about her struggle with the autoimmune condition, myositis. “It was an extremely difficult year for me. I specifically remember the day I think my friend/partner/manager Himank and I were travelling back from Mumbai. And this was in June of the year before last, and I remember telling him that finally I feel calm.” Prabhu said she had not felt this way in a long time. “I finally feel I can breathe and I…

1kg chicken fillet, cubed 1 big onion grated, chopped fine 1 tsp lemon pepper 1 tsp Aromat 3 tbs to 4 tbs lemon juice 2 tsp green chilli garlic paste crackle of black pepper 3 tbs chilli sauce 1 bottle jalapeño sauce 2 cups white cheese 2 cups yellow cheese ½ cup chopped jalapeños, optional chopped dhania samoosa pastry Sauté the onion until soft. Add the chicken and the spices. Adjust the spices and chilli as preferred. Once cooked, set aside to cool. Add the grated cheese, chilli sauce and jalapeño sauce when the chicken is cool. Mix well. Lastly, add a handful of coriander. Fill into the samoosa pastry, and dip in egg and breadcrumbs. The samoosas are ready to freeze. Fry in shallow oil and serve with chilli…

4 soft cooking potatoes 1 tsp green masala juice of half a lemon 1 tsp ground jeera handful of chopped coriander ¼ tsp of turmeric ½ a purple onion, chopped ½ cup robot peppers salt to taste Boil the cubed potatoes until soft. Strain and place in a large bowl. Mash the potatoes and add all of the above ingredients and spice. The mixture does not have to be smooth. Adjust the spices as preferred. Separately boil the chickpeas with salt, strain and set aside. To assemble: In a bowl or containers, layer the potato. Top with the chickpeas, a drizzle of green coriander chutney, yoghurt and tamarind sauce. Garnish with crispy samoosa pur and a sprinkle of pomegranate.…

A prayer meeting to honour the memory of Kasturba Gandhi, who died on February 22, 1944, was held on Thursday at the Phoenix Settlement. At the event were ……

1kg fillet steak, cubed 1 tsp lemon pepper 1 tbs green chilli garlic paste 2 tbs red chilli garlic paste crackle of black pepper ½ tsp turmeric 1 tsp dhania power 2 tsp chilli powder 1 tsp salt 1 big onion ½ tsp jeera 1 big curry spoon oil / slice of butter 2 potatoes, cubed and fried Sauté the onion in butter or oil with the jeera, until soft and golden. Add the cubed steak along with all the spices. Cook on low heat for about 45 minutes. Add a few tablespoons of water if necessary. Once the steak is soft and tender, add the fried potatoes along with the following: 2 tbs tomato paste 4 tbs chilli sauce 2 tbs Worcester sauce 1 tbs lemon juice 1 tbs…

3 chicken fillets, cubed 2 tsp chilli powder 1 tsp dhania powder squeeze of lemon salt to taste 1 tbs tikka masala ½ cup tikka chilli sauce chopped dhania 1 big spoon of oil Mix the chicken and spices well, and cook in a frying pan or a flat pot. Once cooked, add a few more tablespoons of sauce and chopped coriander. To assemble: I used tortilla wraps. Top the tortilla with a spread of mayo, chopped lettuce, chicken filling, salad (chopped peppers, cucumber, carrot and onion. Season with salt, vinegar and lemon juice) and a generous sprinkle of cheese. Spread mayo on the cover and place over the tortilla. Fry in a non-stick frying pan. Brush either side with garlic butter.…

4 cups flour 1 tsp salt 1 tbs fennel seeds 3 tbs sugar 30g butter 1 packet yeast 1 cup warm water 1 egg for brushing poppy or sesame seeds for garnish (optional) Mix the dry ingredients with the butter. Dissolve the yeast and warm water. Add the water mixture to the flour and form a soft dough. Leave to rise for an hour. Punch down and form into flat rounds. Brush the tops with egg, a sprinkle of poppy seeds and sesame seeds. Allow to rise for 15 minutes. Bake on 180°C for 15 to 20 minutes. Makes 4 mini naan. Preparation time: 1 hour Cooking time: 30 minutes…

AFTER actress Anushka Sharma and her cricketer husband Virat Kohli welcomed their second child – a boy whom they named Akaay – congratulatory messages poured in for the star couple. Taking to Instagram to make the announcement, the couple wrote: “With abundant happiness and our hearts all of love, we are pleased to inform everyone that on 15 February, we welcomed our baby boy Akaay & Vamika’s little brother into this world. “We seek your blessings and good wishes in this beautiful time in our lives. We request you to kindly respect our privacy at this time. Love & Gratitude. Virat & Anushka.” Actress Alia Bhatt took to the comments section and wrote: “How beautiful. Congratulations.” Bhatt’s Gully Boy co-star, Ranveer Singh, dropped heart emojis. Actor-producer-director Farhan Akhtar commented:…

A PIETERMARITZBURG GBV (Gender Based Violence) activist was stabbed to death and had her throat slit by her partner, before he ended his life. The bodies of Shereen Mathey, 55, and Mohammed Azad Ebrahim, 63, were discovered by Ebrahim’s son Shazeer at their Brixham Road, Orient Heights home, on Monday afternoon. Neighbours said they had heard the couple arguing and screaming on Saturday night. The son went to check on his father at around midday when he failed to reach him. Police sources said Ebrahim’s son called for assistance after he jumped over the remote controlled gate and gained entry into the home. “He found the door and gate closed but unlocked. When he went inside, he noticed blood on the floor in the passage. He then saw his father…

FAKE social media posts claiming that people were dying as a result of the Covid-19 vaccine and that an unregulated, natural over-the-counter product was a solution to prevent such deaths, are just a “quick money making scam”. Epidemiologist and virologist, Professor Salim Abdool Karim, has warned the public not to be taken in by fake adverts with his photographs that are being used as a “marketing tool”, for products claiming to prevent alleged Covid related deaths. Karim, who chairs the South African (SA) Ministerial Advisory Committee on Covid-19, said he had been tasked to investigate the fake posts and misleading advertising claims. He reassured South Africans that the Covid-19 vaccines were not causing deaths, and warned people not to fall prey to scammers. He warned that unregulated products were…

DUBAI: A 43-year-old Indian-origin investment banker quit his high-paying job in Dubai last year to serve as a full-time volunteer at the Baps Abu Dhabi temple, which was inaugurated by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently. Vishal Patel, a second-generation expat from Gujarat who was brought up in London, was working with the Dubai International Financial Centre and previously held positions at prominent investment banks and hedge funds. Patel spoke of his close association with the Baps Swaminarayan Sanstha since childhood, adding that its mandir in London had been a guiding light in his life. “Supporting this (Abu Dhabi) mandir allowed me to make a meaningful impact on society and engage in endeavours that contribute to the greater good. This opportunity was too significant to pass up,” Patel, who has…

ON WEDNESDAY, February 21, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana presented his third Budget speech in Cape Town, revealing a challenging fiscal landscape. The government, grappling to balance its books, displayed a mix of caution and optimism about the nation’s public finances. South Africa’s economy is precariously poised, with growth estimates from analysts and researchers pointing downward. In a crucial move ahead of the May 29 elections, the government has outlined a plan aiming to address macro-economic stability. The Treasury anticipates a potential easing of power cuts as new energy projects come online, coupled with lower inflation supporting household consumption and credit extension. Godongwana’s Budget, while keeping expenditure in check also targets reducing the government’s escalating debt. The Budget proposes no direct hikes in personal income tax or corporate tax rates, aiming…

THE lack of jobs and low salaries are pushing many young South Africans to pursue teaching English as a foreign language, either online or abroad. According to the latest statistics, South Africa’s unemployment rate, especially among the youth, is at an all-time high. On February 20, Statistics South Africa released its quarterly labour force survey (QLFS) for the fourth quarter of last year, which indicated that the official unemployment rate was 32.1%. The QLFS indicated that the number of employed persons decreased by 22 000, to 16.7 million in the fourth quarter. The number of unemployed persons increased by 46 000 to 7.9 million during the same quarter. According to the report, youth aged between 15 and 34, remained vulnerable in the labour market. The total number of unemployed…

THE ANC duplicity and hypocrisy refers. It condemned Israel in the conflict with Hamas, but refrained from condemning Russia in their uncalled-for brutal assault on Ukraine. It supports Russia under the pretext of ‘neutrality’. This, we are told, was in the interests of South Africa. The ANC is selling its democratic birthright for a mess of Russian pottage. Vladimir Putin has banned political opponents for fear of defeat at the presidential elections and the dire consequences for him. Now the tragic (not unexpected) death of Alexei Navalny in an Arctic penal colony has landed Putin in hot water. He is the object of worldwide criticism. He cracked down on protesters and imprisoned mourners. The Russian nation is stripped of its democratic rights to free expression. The world is indignant. There…

EARLY in 1984, when I was in the final year of my PhD studies in the UK, I received an invitation from Bishop Trevor Huddleston (1913 – 1998) to attend an Inter-Faith Colloquium on Apartheid outside London, at Windsor (March 5 – 7). My wife, Geeta, joined me for this meeting which was held in co-operation with the UN Special Committee against Apartheid. Bishop Huddleston was a vigorous campaigner against apartheid. He served as an Anglican priest in South Africa during the years 1943 –1955 and witnessed its brutality. He worked alongside Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, and other South African leaders to end apartheid. Huddleston was an inspiration and mentor to Archbishop Desmond Tutu who acknowledged Huddleston’s impact on his life from childhood. When the government’s clampdown against apartheid protesters…

A FEW days before the end of the last school term of the year, my primary school teacher would spring-clean her cupboard. Items confiscated from pupils during the year would be returned. Like a lost pet seeing its owner again, I was thrilled to reunite with one or two matchbox cars that were taken away from me because I dared play with them in class. Tennis balls, water pistols, yo-yos, packs of playing cards, spinning tops, marbles, comic books, whistles and dolls were some of the items returned to fellow pupils, who had long forgotten about them. Confiscation of items was a common practice when I was a pupil. It was an easy way of removing a dangerous or distracting item from the classroom. Our teachers were in loco parentis,…

A SCAMMER who is allegedly drugging elderly women in Phoenix with high doses of sleeping tablets mixed in turmeric water before robbing them, has struck again. The latest victims are sisters Sabira Shaik, 88, and Sugra Said, 79, from Grove End. Shaik’s daughter-in-law, Femida Shaik, said the sisters were having breakfast last week when the woman came to their home offering them massages and grocery vouchers. “She told them that she was sent by a non-profit organisation to treat them with massages. “They let her into the house and thereafter into their bedroom where she wanted to do the massages. “The woman asked my relatives to take off their jewellery. She then soaked my mother-in-law’s feet in water and then proceeded to give her sister a massage while she lay…

IT IS OFTEN a double celebration, presents, and tons of excitement for those born in a leap year, with some describing it as a “magical and unique” feeling. The POST spoke to some “leap year babies” on how they usually celebrate the day and what they will be doing on their special day this year. Every four years, there are 366 days in a year – with February 29 being an extra day. l Ashika Moodley, 47, was born in 1976. She will be turning 48. However, in leap years, she will be celebrating her birthday officially for the 12th time. “Being born in a leap year is actually a magical feeling. I love the attention and excitement, it is overwhelming.” The mother of one, said every other year was…

JURGEN Klopp hailed Liverpool’s League Cup final triumph against Chelsea as the “most special” trophy of his career as the German learned he can win with kids. Virgil van Dijk clinched Liverpool’s 1-0 win with a dramatic header two minutes from the end of extra-time at Wembley on Sunday. Liverpool’s victory was especially sweet for Klopp as it came during an injury-hit period for his club that forced him to field a remarkably inexperienced team. The Reds boss started with 20-year-olds Conor Bradley and Harvey Elliott in his side and brought on Bobby Clark (19), James McConnell (19), Jayden Danns (18) and Jarell Quansah (21) from the bench. Injuries had deprived Klopp of Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander- Arnold, Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez, Alisson Becker and Joel Matip among others, while…

CHOREOGRAPHER Bosco Martis has talked about working with Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff in the title track of Bade Miyan Chote Miyan. Martist said: “It is commendable how they managed a massive crew of more than 100 dancers. “Shooting in unique locations added to the excitement. Working with Akshay and Tiger was a joy. “Their energy made it feel more like fun than work.” He said Kumar’s humour kept the entire team entertained. “Kudos to the whole team for pulling off this project seamlessly. I hope audiences enjoy what we’ve created for them.” Filmed in Jordan and Abu Dhabi, the song promises to be a visual spectacle. Bade Miyan Chote Miyan will be released on Eid.…

1 onion, chopped fine 8 onions Magimixed fine and left overnight to strain 2kg chicken mince/mutton 2 tbs green chilli garlic paste 2 tbs red chilli garlic paste 1 tsp jeera 2 tbs rough salt 2 tbs dhania powder 1 tbs fine jeera few cinnamon sticks lemon juice greens (coriander and spring onion) Sauté the 1 chopped onion in ghee or oil with the jeera and cinnamon until golden. Add the washed and strained mince. Braise the mince with the strained onion water and half a cup of lemon juice. Continuously break up the mince to avoid lumping; once the water has burnt out and the mince mixture is dry and separated. Add the spices and the Magimixed onions. Mix well. Cook for a short while longer until the onions…

AFTER her fourth son was born, Reez-wanah Seedat decided to take a break from teaching and spend more time with her children. This is when her journey as Treetz_by_reez commenced. She now has more than 109 000 followers on Instagram and over 8 000 on TikTok. The 38-year-old digital content creator, recipe developer and food blogger was originally from a small town in Mpumalanga called Lydenburg. She now lives in Port Shepstone. The mom of five boys – Uzair, 17, Azhar, 15, Muhammad, 12, Yusuf, 7, and Zayd, 12 months – is married to businessman Ahmed Seedat. “I absolutely love creating quick and easy recipes. I find pleasure and enjoyment in recording new recipes for my socials, styling my creations and then photographing them,” said Seedat, who remembers basting hot…

1 roll puff pastry 4 potatoes, cubed pinch of turmeric salt to taste 2 tbs mayonnaise 1 tbs sour cream 1 tsp green chilli garlic paste 2-3 tbs lemon juice garlic butter chopped coriander Boil the potatoes with turmeric and salt until they are soft. Add half a tablespoon butter to the potatoes and mash well. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well. Adjust according to preference. Allow the filling to cool. Roll out the puff pastry slightly and spread the potato filling evenly. Fry on a hot tawa pan until nice and crisp. Brush both sides with garlic butter.…

3 slices chicken fillets, cubed 1 big onion, grated or chopped fine 1 tsp Aromat or salt 1 tsp green chilli and garlic paste 1 tsp lemon pepper 2-3 cups boiled spaghetti/noodles, washed and strained 2 green chillies chopped coriander 1 kg mixed veg (reduce if you prefer) 1 slice butter springroll sheets Sauté the onion in a slice of butter or oil, with the green chillies until light and golden Add the chicken fillets and the spices. Cook slightly and then add the mixed vegetables. Once the vegetables have cooked well, add the boiled spaghetti. Mix well and set aside. You can add a white sauce at this stage if you prefer. White sauce: 1 tbs butter 1 tbs flour 1 to 2 cups milk 1 tsp Aromat crackle…

2½ tbs semolina 500ml milk 1 tsp cardamom powder 1 tsp rose water ¼ tsp china grass powder (optional) 2 tbs cardamom or rose syrup 1 tbs dessicated coconut ½ tin cream (1 cup) ½ to ¾ tin condensed milk (adjust according to preference) Toast the semolina and cardamom powder for a few minutes. Add the milk and whisk well. Add the cardamom powder, and rose and elachi syrup. Make a paste with the china grass powder using 1 to 2 tablespoons of water, and add to the milk. Stir continuously on medium heat. Add the condensed milk and cream. Whisk well. The mixture should reach boiling point. Avoid lumps and scorching by stirring continuously. Replace with pistachio essence or pistachio paste. Replace with saffron essence or saffron strands.…

Step 1: 2 cups 4-in-1 soup mix 4 tbs chana/oil dhal Soak the above overnight, then boil the mixture and set aside. Step 2: 1 chicken or 1kg mutton 1 onion 1 tsp jeera (cumin) 3 tbs ghee a few peppercorns a few cloves 2 cinnamon sticks 2 tsp green chilli garlic paste 2 tbs red chilli garlic paste 1 tsp green chilli garlic paste 2 tomatoes coriander spring onions 1 tsp garam masala Sauté the onion in ghee with the cinnamon stick, jeera, cloves and peppercorns. Add the washed chicken or mutton. Once the meat has been cooked, add the tomatoes and spices. Allow to cook slightly. Add the liquidised barley mixture. Top with dhania, spring onions and 1 tsp garam masala. Leave on low heat for about 45…

1 litre milk 1 tsp caramel essence 3 tbs custard powder 1½ tsp falooda powder (china grass/gelatine). Add ½ tsp more for a firmer texture 1 tin condensed milk 1 small tin cream ½ cup golden/caramel syrup (make your own syrup by using sugar and water. Allow it to dissolve in a pot until liquid and golden) Heat the milk in a pot. Make a paste with the custard and falooda powder. Add this to the milk along with the condensed milk, cream and caramel essence. Stir well. You can use a whisk. Bring to boiling point (be careful as it burns easily. It must reach boiling point or else it won't set). Pour the golden syrup to the bottom of your mould (I used bowls and tilted them over).…

Dr Steve Naidoo, an independent forensic pathologist, said fuel-driven generators, including the small domestic-use and portable units, could generate a significant amount of exhaust fumes including carbon monoxide – one of several toxic gases. “I am not sure of the levels of the gas required to be dangerous, as these details are very technical. But if in a confined space with a lack of adequate ventilation, it is quite likely that sufficient gas can accumulate within a period, which can overcome persons within a space, such as a room or even living quarters of moderate size. “In forensic experience, we have regretfully had many cases of persons found dead in such circumstances where carbon monoxide poisoning was the cause,” he said. Naidoo said carbon monoxide was particularly highly toxic. “Perhaps…

THE South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) said consumers should use complementary medicines with care. Melanie Govindasamy, the spokesperson, said that when a complementary medicine was used, people should seek professional advice to ensure it was the correct product for them. “Consumers must remember that ‘natural’ does not necessarily mean safe. Herbal remedies can interact with other medicines. This could result in the other medicines having reduced or enhanced effects, including side effects. When consulting your health-care providers about your health, always tell them about any complementary medicines you are taking. “As with all medicines, keep complementary medicines out of the sight and reach of children,” she said. According to research at Sahpra, adverse reactions could also occur as a result of taking complementary medicines, as was the case…

PENSIONERS and child support recipients are not impressed with the government’s increase of a R100 and R20 respectively on their grants. They say that 30 years into democracy, the government could have done better to ensure the grants were aligned to the rising cost of living. Many were two-minded about whether they would cast their vote on May 29. Lizzy Padayachee, 77, of Eastbury, in Phoenix, said that when the country had embraced democracy, there had been promises of better housing, improved social grants and job opportunities for all. “But today, all we see is corruption. I collect a grant of R2 090. After I pay my utility bills, there is nothing left for food for the month. “I am one of those lucky pensioners who have children who assist…

THIS is an earnest plea to God. Thank you for blessing me super-abundantly. Forgive me for being selfish for I kindly need, desperately, a little more. What I urgently need by your divine grace and favour is to save and preserve my precious eyes and ears. This plea could be that also of thousands of sane and prudent persons. The plea is because with the watershed 2024 national elections on May 29, there is so much, mainly hogwash, lies and false and empty promises, that we are seeing/hearing primarily emanating from a host of mainly has-beens, rejects, sell-outs and deadwood, that it would indeed be a “blessing” to be deaf and blind. Even one-person-bands, those risen from political grave and persons with no integrity or credibility – that could be…

THERE is a need for the reopening of the Seaview station. As users of public transport, we are struggling as it is becoming more and more difficult to afford the ever-increasing taxi fares. I used the train during my high school and now after having employment. Many other people who are employed as housekeepers and in other jobs in the area have also used the train over the years. We are pleading for the train to please stop at Seaview on its way to the Bellair station. Housekeepers are having it the worst as they have to travel by taxi on weekdays and weekends. The community is a mix of statuses – rich, middle- and low-income, as well as the unemployed. There is also an informal settlement in the area…

WE ALL thought former president Jacob Zuma would disappear into oblivion, spending his remaining years quietly in Nkandla. But he had other plans. No one expected the old warrior to make a dramatic comeback to politics in the twilight years of his life. Politics was his life and passion and he wasn’t going to go away so easily. Once the face of the ANC, he’s become the face of his new party, the Umkhonto we Sizwe Party (MK), and threatens to derail the ANC in the coming elections. Although Jacob Zuma has a large following in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, his name remains a popular brand name across the political and social spectrum with a strong pulling power in various sectors – political, traditional and tribal leaders, business executives,…

THERE is no fuel and no food in Gaza. At the beginning of the invasion of the territory, the Israeli defence minister expressed the government’s genocidal intent when he said: “There will be no food, no electricity, no fuel. Everything is closed.” Indeed, Israel has actualised the genocide. The Gaza Strip is a mass concentration camp with more than two million people starving. It is a place where children injured in the war are having their limbs amputated without anaesthesia. Imagine for a moment if it were your child in this situation. Would you accept it? The people of Gaza are eating grass and grinding barely edible animal feed to make flour. The leading international authority on food insecurity, the IPC Famine Review Committee estimates that 90% of Gazans, some…

A COUPLE this week recalled how they were hijacked, stabbed and held for hours until their bank accounts were cleaned out by the notorious blue light gang, terrorising motorists on the N3 near Heidelberg and Vosloorus. Earlier that day, a doctor travelling from Newcastle to Johannesburg suffered a similar fate. The gang comprises three bogus policemen and two men dressed as civilians. On Monday, crime activist Yusuf Abramjee supplied the POST with voice notes from the victims, in which they detailed their ordeal. The gang’s first victim was the well-known doctor who was hijacked near Heidelberg. He said he unfortunately stopped when a white Toyota double cab, with blue lights pulled up behind him, just after the toll gate. At the time, the doctor believed the men to be real…

Jerald Danasekera Vedan, born in Mayville, takes readers on a nostalgic journey through the alleys and hidden corners of his hometown with the release of his latest book, Mayville Mosaic. A compelling collection of short stories, this literary work artfully blends fiction with the historical backdrop of Mayville. The book was launched on February 17 at the Goodwill Manor in Reservoir Hills. For two decades, Vedan experienced the rhythm of life in Mayville, dwelling in a house with a tin roof that echoed the essence of the place. The tales in Mayville Mosaic delve into the fabric of the area interwoven with Cato Manor, creating a fusion encapsulated in the moniker “Mayville/Cato Manor”. The author reminisces about childhood games and laughter, invoking the joy of innocent times. He hopes…

“YOU’RE a leap year baby, so when do you actually celebrate? So you’re only like 10 years old?” These are the questions I get all the time when someone discovers my birthday. I don’t mind at all and I can fully appreciate the interest in such an unusual birthday. So here’s my story … My mother went into labour on February 28, while she and my grandparents were preparing to observe Shivaratri. My mum went to the hospital (RK Khan) for what would be her second child birth; no pain management whatsoever but ready to welcome me into the world. She said she had asked me to arrive on February 28 because she didn’t want me to have a birthday once every four years but I didn’t budge at all.…

AFTER four years, a Pinetown couple will have the opportunity to celebrate their 24th wedding anniversary on the day. Sharen, 48, and Yogan Reddy, 49, legally registered their marriage on February 29, 2000. Sharen said they were looking forward to celebrating the day. “While we do celebrate our anniversary on February 28, this year will be extra special as we will celebrate our 24-year union on the actual day,” she said. Sharen, of Phoenix, said she met Yogan, of Hammarsdale, in 1995, while he was visiting a friend who lived in the same block of flats as she did. “I think it was love at first sight for both of us. He was a gentleman, he had come up to me and introduced himself and after speaking for some…

The Sharks might be out of the race for the United Rugby Championship playoffs but that makes them all the more determined to end their agony, starting with Saturday’s visit to the Lions.___ That is the view of Joey Mongalo, the Sharks defence coach and former assistant at the Lions and the Bulls, who laughed off a suggestion that the Sharks had little to play for and were concentrating on winning the Challenge Cup. “We are in the rugby business, this is our life, and we know that you are not going to be rated highly if you don’t win things,” he said. “We are very aware of that, hence the desire to win as many games as we can from here on… This is a proud rugby region and…