Table of contents for 2021-07-07 in Post

IF YOUR family is stuck at home during the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak, it’s likely your children are spending a lot more time online. School, chats with friends and grandparents, and even music lessons have shifted online. Being connected helps children and teenagers reduce the negative impact of this new normal and encourages them to continue with their lives. But it also presents new challenges for every parent. How can you maximise all that the internet has to offer, while minimising the potential harm? It’s not an easy balance to strike on a normal day, let alone when facing a health crisis such as Covid-19. Tips to help: 1. Open communication: Have an honest dialogue with your children about who they communicate with and how. Make sure they understand the…

Charlene Somduth charlene.somduth@inl.co.za RESIDENTS in Asherville say heavy-laden trucks are damaging the roads and pavements, and are reducing property values. Jody Chetty, the chairperson of the Asherville Ratepayers Association, said: “There are about 10 trucks of varying sizes that travel on our roads every day. They collect cardboard from people living in the nearby informal settlement. “The weight of the goods being transported cause potholes and cracks on the roads. We reported our concerns to the councillor, the municipality and metro police, but we don’t get proper feedback. “We have tried to get answers from some of the truck owners, but we are ignored. “Who will be held responsible for the damage? If the municipality intervenes, we might find a resolution.” Sacha Singh, 40, added: “I grew up in Asherville.…

Nadia Khan nadia.khan@inl.co.za IBRAHIM Asmal was delivering a takeaway order on his bicycle last Wednesday when he was allegedly knocked and killed. The incident happened on Sastri Road in Clairwood. Asmal, 19, of South Coast Road, sustained internal injuries. He died in King Edward VIII Hospital later that day. The driver of the vehicle that knocked him allegedly fled the scene. Jarrod Baker, a family friend, said Asmal recently returned from the Darul Uloom Zakariyya in Johannesburg, an Islamic learning centre, and was assisting in the family business. “Ibrahim was hands-on in the business. “He did everything, from cooking and taking orders to delivering the food. There is generally a lot of traffic in Clairwood, so he preferred to bike. “His family, especially his mother, wants to know what happened…

Burt Rodrigues WHEN we first heard the words Covid-19 coming out of Wuhan in December 2019, subsequently named Sars-CoV-2, the world never dreamt of the pandemic that would emerge from what seemed to be a local Chinese virus. It wasn’t long before we saw this deadly disease move swiftly across the globe, with the Alpha variant first being identified in the UK in early December 2019 showing a 50% higher transmission rate than the original Wuhan strain. The Delta variant was first detected in India in late 2020, where it is thought to have contributed to the extremely high number of cases during the country’s second wave of Covid-19. As of June 14, it had spread to 74 countries worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). By March 2020,…

AFRICAN Democratic Change welcomes the decision by the Department of Home Affairs to extend Smart ID and passport collection points to KwaZulu-Natal. But we caution that limiting the service to only FNB customers will cause an uproar. We have always maintained that some of the services offered by Home Affairs offices can be outsourced to private and other government sectors. Today, you can renew your vehicle licence at the post office. I have witnessed the chaos at Home Affairs offices where people wait for hours before they can process simple applications. We wrote to the minister, requesting that municipal offices, the post office and banks be used to provide the same service for renewals. This will reduce the burden on Home Affairs. VISVIN REDDY ADeC…

AMID the despair and gloom unleashed by the Covid-19 pandemic, it is heart-warming to learn of the generosity of local retailers. Spar and Pick n Pay, both in Chatsworth, should be commended for their social responsibility initiatives to alleviate hunger among those in need. Spar's soup kitchen, which serves a hot, nutritious soup twice a week, as well as Pick n Pay's affordable sandwiches, have been a ray of hope in these times of unprecedented economic distress. Job losses and the dearth of job opportunities have contributed significantly to the growing poverty levels in many communities. These initiatives, therefore, serve as a tangible and effective way of relieving hunger. In the case of Pick n Pay, its sandwiches provide individuals the opportunity to give a meal to indigent members. The…

EVERY now and then, when we switch on the television news channel, there is news of a normally dormant volcano erupting in some faraway land. But the heat was nearer to home recently as Nyiragongo erupted in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It caused a mass evacuation in the town of Goma. Not much is known about how long the volcano has been erupting, but since 1882 it has erupted about 34 times. One of the world’s most beautiful and active volcanoes, it erupted on January 17, 2002, and the lava lake drained from fissures on its western flanks, destroying the city centre of Goma. About 200 000 people were left homeless. Also, in 1977, a huge lava flow poured out, killing hundreds of people. What is causing the…

NIKITA CHINIAH nikita.chiniah@inl.co.za MAGANLALL Ramdutt, the owner of Art Printers, died after a heart attack last Tuesday. He was 67. According to Ramdutt’s son, Pranesh, his father started working at the family printing business at the age of 12. “The business was started 113 years ago by my grandfather, Gainchund Ramdutt. “My dad was one of the very few successful and leading printing pioneers in South Africa, who always invested in the latest technology. “He was also a part of the Broadway Shooting Club. My dad enjoyed playing golf and spending quality time with his family.” He said his father and his sibling, Venosh, were involved with the underground free printing of banned material during apartheid for the ANC, Cosatu, the Natal Indian Congress, and the United Democratic Front, among…

Chanelle Lutchman chanelle.lutchman@inl.co.za TRUCK yards in eThekwini is a growing concern, says Senior Superintendent Parboo Sewpersad, the spokesperson for the metro police, “We receive numerous complaints from residents about trucking in their areas. The issue is a growing concern and it needs to be dealt with in the right way,” he said. “Residents can call 031 361 0000 to lay a formal complaint against trucking companies. They will be given a reference number. When metro officers go out to the companies or trucking yards, we can only fine as per the by-laws (for example noise disturbance, illegal parking and the National Road Traffic Act). “What is needed is a multidisciplinary team. Residents, via their community police forums (CPF), can deal with the truck yards. The chairperson of the CPF needs…

Latoya Newman latoya.newman@inl.co.za IF EVER there was a time for us to protect and boost our immunity, it is now. As we traverse living in the Covid-19 pandemic and are in the thick of the third wave, Dr Ela Manga, an integrative medical practitioner in Gauteng, said supporting our immunity was a proactive approach to supporting the body’s ability to heal itself. “The immune system is an intelligent system that is designed to protect us. It is dependent on our nutritional status and the health of all our organs. Chronic stress has a big impact on the health of our immune system which is often disregarded.” Manga said we could start with the basics, which were also cost-effective. “First, we need to ensure that we stay away from foods that…

FOLLOWING the level 4 announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa, eThekwini Municipality released a statement on the closure of its public facilities until further notice. Libraries and heritage sites: All libraries, museums, art galleries, theatres and heritage sites are closed. The due date for loaned books has been extended until the end of this month. Botanic Gardens and fenced parks: A maximum of 100 people will be allowed in at a time. No picnics, braais, photo shoots, group exercises, alcohol consumption or social gatherings are permitted. The walking of pets, individual exercise, jogging, walking or trail biking are allowed. Umgeni Bird Park and Mitchell Park Zoo: A maximum of 100 people at a time are allowed. There are no bird shows. No groups or tours are permitted. Beaches: Are open…

Janine Moodley janine.moodley@inl.co.za A FEW days after completing her husband’s one-year death ceremony, Ormilla Samdath was beaten and stabbed to death in her home. Days later, her 38-year-old son, Shalendra Samdath, was arrested and charged with her killing. Ormilla Samdath’s brother, Manoj Ramkussia, said he became concerned when he was unable to get a hold of her over the phone. He called the private security company, Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa), to check on her. When they arrived at her home in Everest Heights, her body was lying on the kitchen floor. It is believed she had six stab wounds and injuries to her head and face. Prem Balram, the spokesperson for Rusa, claimed Shalendra had a history of drug abuse. “On Sunday, he forced his mother to hand over…

Janine Moodley janine.moodley@inl.co.za BEING a man of the law for 28 years, Warrant Officer Nivi Lutchminarain puts his life on the line every day. But when he contracted Covid-19 in December, he feared losing his life. Lutchminarian, who works in the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit in Phoenix, said he never wanted to experience symptoms of the virus again. “I struggled to breathe, lost my sense of smell and taste, and had a fever. It was one of the worst moments in my life. I never want to go through that again, and I thank God that He has spared me.” He said friends, family and colleagues have succumbed to the virus. “That is why I look forward to getting the Covid vaccine this week. If taking…

ON TUESDAY, India recorded 34 703 new Covid-19 cases and 553 deaths. It was the lowest infection rate since March 17, said the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry. This comes four days after the country crossed the 400 000 death milestone due to Covid. On May 23, India witnessed the highest fatalities, with 4 454 deaths in 24 hours at the peak of the second wave. The first death in the country due to the pandemic was reported last March. India is the second country after the US to record more than 30 million cases, adding 10 million cases in just 50 days during the second wave. Tuesday was the 28th consecutive day that India reported less than 100 000 new coronavirus cases. The country has over 30 million…

Janine Moodley janine.moodley@inl.co.za A LONGSTANDING issue with trucks operating at the corner of Gablemanor Road and Palmview Drive in Phoenix has left residents feeling frustrated. They say they are unable to sleep or go about their daily lives as the trucks create noise, air pollution and traffic congestion as well as damage to the road infrastructure. The residents said the property was rented to a trucking company. Rakesh Singh, a resident, said he lodged complaints with his ward councillor but the issue remained unresolved. “This has been going on for five years. The land was bought by the owner of a hardware company and he has been renting the plot to trucking companies.” He said there were about 10 horse-and-trailers on the property and that the noise was unbearable. “They…

Chanelle Lutchman chanelle.lutchman@inl.co.za JOENEL Raja heard gunshots as she showered at her home in Mariannhill. But she did not expect that her partner of seven years was under attack. On Friday morning, Raja and Kevin Naidoo, 44, had breakfast and they planned to spend the day together. “He always wanted to scuba dive, so that morning he insisted I book a lesson, which I did. I then went into the shower. “He normally waits until I am out so he can shower next. But, for some reason, he went to his car wash business which is about a minute’s drive away from our home. “While showering, I heard gunshots. I wrapped a towel around me and ran to lock the gate and the front door. I began shouting for Kevin…

THE body of a factory cutter, who was allegedly beaten with a hammer and stabbed, was found in a shallow grave 15 minutes away from his home. Before leaving his home on June 25, Leon Govender told his parents he would buy stock for their tuckshop and return early thay day. The 36-year-old lived in Malundi township in Umkomaas. “But my son never returned home,” said his father, George Govender. “When he was not home by 5pm, I walked around the area. “A woman at one of the shops said he had just bought groceries and left. “So I returned home. “While on my way, another man told me he also saw my son carrying packets. But when I arrived home, Leon was not there. “My wife and my other…

Yogin Devan THE days are numbered for religions – and their followers – who preach intolerance of other religions. Religious fanatics who denigrate other faiths will find themselves in the crosshairs of a bill aimed at amending laws that promote equality and prevent unfair discrimination. Religious leaders will do well to start scrutinising all religious texts in their collection. The idea is to dump any matter reflecting adversely on persons because of their race; colour; creed; national origin; ancestry; sex or occupation. The Gita Govinda may have to undergo some censoring. The work, composed by the 12th-century Hindu poet Jayadeva, describes Lord Krishna and his paramour Radhika as being dark-skinned. If the amended laws are to be taken to their logical conclusion, lots of Tipp-ex must be used to expunge…

RESIDENTS will always be the cash cow to fill in the gaping cracks caused by corruption and incompetence. The auditor-general found that municipal finances were not used efficiently for the betterment of communities around the country. The common trend over the years is wastage of money by the municipalities. The auditor-general found R26 billion wasted in irregular expenditure and R14.4bn in unauthorised expenditure. In simple terms, irregular expenditure and unauthorised expenditure can be construed as watered-down terminology for the now-famous overused words of fraud and corruption. Further to this, R1bn was paid to consultants to compile financial statements, which is the delegated task of the treasurer. These reports come out every year with almost similar amounts being devoured by fraud and corruption yet accountability is as rare as hen’s teeth.…

I WAS outraged and saddened by the decision at a eThekwini full council sitting, where R2.5 million for the Annual Durban Tourism Awards was approved despite calls for it to be scrapped. The ANC voted to throw a series of events leading up to the awards ceremony. What a waste of money! Do you think the ANC councillors care? I call on all ratepayers to ensure the full council, who approved the money for the Annual Durban Tourism Awards, answer for their actions. Our municipality was supposed to help drive growth and development and tackle unemployment. Sadly, with the third wave upon us, lots of businesses will collapse and this means more retrenchments or salary cuts. We now have the municipality, who decides to have a thamasha (celebration) and approve…

THE manner in which Jacob Zuma is being treated is malicious. Since the beginning of his career in democratic South Africa, he has been a target. He is an old man and he is a hero to me. Zuma fought and sacrificed his life for my freedom. I also admire the former president because, in 2017, he championed that antiretroviral (ARV) drugs be made available to people infected with HIV. Many people see the bad that always surrounds him. Let us also take a look at the good he has done. Have we forgotten the apartheid cops who killed people? They were forgiven and got off free. Who has Zuma really killed? I assure you that in a pandemic, he would have made decisions that people got vaccinated, and saved…

Charlene Somduth charlene.somduth@inl.co.za TRUCKS transporting goods to a hardware store in Verulam have become problematic, say residents. “They are superlink trucks and weigh at least 30 to 40 tons. These trucks have created potholes and they have cracked the pavements and manhole covers. Some of them have even damaged the street light poles,” said Rayseelan Naidoo, a resident. He said about five trucks passed through the suburb daily to get to the hardware store. “These superlink trucks deliver timber and cement. There are also smaller tip trucks that deliver sand and stones. Since they use the road so often, it cracks. “When they park at the roadside, they damage the pavements and manhole covers, and cement falls on to our verges. When they reverse, there is a loud beeping noise.…

Nadia Khan nadia.khan@inl.co.za THE DA’s bid to have a fibre by-law implemented, following complaints from residents in eThekwini, has been rejected. Nicole Graham, the party’s eThekwini caucus leader, brought a notice of motion during the council meeting last week, to have a coherent by-law to govern the conduct of fibre network operators. Graham, who is a member of the city’s executive committee, said certain fibre network operators have created problems across eThekwini during the installation of their infrastructure. She said that led to the damage of municipal and private property and infrastructure, and the look and feel of residential communities. “There’s no mechanism for the city to claim back costs for people who have damaged infrastructure and not repaired it,” said Graham. “There’s also no structural framework as to how…

Charlene Somduth charlene.somduth@inl.co.za FAMILIES of political activists killed during apartheid are hoping the specialised unit being set up to investigate and prosecute apartheid crimes will give them closure. The unit is being created by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (DPCI), Hawks. The decision came after the recent judgment by the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) in the Joao Rodrigues matter. Rodrigues, an apartheid-era police officer, is facing a charge of murder related to the death of Ahmed Timol at John Vorster Square police station in Johannesburg in October 1971. The SCA recently dismissed Rodrigues’s application for a stay of prosecution. He has to stand trial in the Johannesburg High Court. The unit will look at cases that were previously investigated by the…

Duff is a psychic medium, Sharron Duff ARIES (March 21 – April 19) This week is about alchemy for you and making things happen. The universe is paving the way forward for change, so try to embrace what comes your way. A new business opportunity may present itself but be aware of the small details. Lucky colour: lilac. TAURUS (April 20 – May 20) Change is in the air for you this week, as is the beginning of a new cycle. There is nothing to worry about but just be aware that change is good. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. A new relationship is in your space, so be open to this. Lucky colour: lime green. GEMINI (May 21 – June…

Latoya Newman latoya.newman@inl.co.za IT IS no secret that screen time is an effective tool to engage children. Under lockdown level 4 and with increasing Covid-19 infections, many families are opting to stay at home. This also means that in many homes the TV, smartphones, tablets and other devices have become easy tools to keep children occupied. Some guidelines on how to use screen time positively: l How much is too much? According to www.kidshealth.org, children younger than 18 months should have no screen time at all, except video chatting with grandparents or other family/friends. It suggests that toddlers (18 to 24 months old) start to enjoy screen time with a parent or caregiver. By ages 2 and 3, children should watch no more than an hour a day. l Content…

Nadia Khan nadia.khan@inl.co.za IT’S going to be a cold winter for consumers and businesses alike as a number of increases come into effect. Residents of eThekwini and other municipalities around the country will see their bills go up this month. Owners of properties will see their rates rise by 4.9%. You will be charged 4.9% more for your black bin bags to be picked up, 8.5% more for water and 14.59% more for electricity. With infrastructure around eThekwini crumbling, the city has decided to further tax residents by introducing a water and sanitation infrastructure levy. Consumers will be charged an additional R1.50/Kl for water and R1.50/Kl for sewage disposal. The levy will run for three years and hopes to raise about R1 billion to upgrade the city’s water and sanitation…

NIKITA CHINIAH nikita.chiniah@inl.co.za COVID-19 infections in Gauteng remains a concern for health-care workers and communities. The province has more than 709 000 confirmed cases and more than 13 600 deaths. The active cases are more than 91 460. According to iol.co.za, most of the infections are from the Johannesburg district, followed by Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, Sedibeng and the West Rand. The Gauteng Department of Health reportedly said just under 8 000 people were admitted into public and private hospitals in the province. This accounted for more than 56% of SA's hospital admissions. More than 736 300 people were vaccinated. Vikash Makan, a general practitioner in Lenasia, said the Delta variant of the Covid-19 virus was the worst. “I don’t think doctors imagined the third wave would be so disastrous. This time…

Chanelle Lutchman chanelle.lutchman@inl.co.za THE charges against five men, who were arrested after firearm and ammunition were found at premises in Mayville, have been withdrawn. Last week, the POST reported the men were allegedly found with 6 050 rounds of ammunition, an AK47, jewellery and counterfeit goods. The accused, aged between 23 and 47, appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court last week. It emerged in court that two of the accused were among 12 suspects previously arrested in October 2018. This was in connection with a knife attack at a mosque north of Durban and orchestrating several bomb scares in the city.Two of those were at Woolworths stores. This matter was, however, provisionally withdrawn in the Verulam Magistrate’s Court last year. In the recent incident, a portion of the investigating officer’s…

Ram Maharaj THE South African Hindu Dharma Sabha has made a comprehensive submission to the Department of Justice supporting proposed amendments to the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act (Pepuda). The amendments are consistent with the Hindu vision of oneness and unity of all life in its rich diversity. Discrimination on the grounds of race or religion is antithetical to Hindu ethos. The apex lodestar philosophy of Hinduism is: “The whole world is one family.” (Sama Veda, Maha Upanishad, Chapter 6, Verse 72) Equality is a cardinal principle of Hinduism. We all are equal children of one God. The holy Rig Veda, which dates back about 6 000BC clearly states that “God is one. People call him by many names.” The Dharma Sabha submits that the following…

WHENEVER July comes around, I remember Richmond. It was during the winter of 1998 that I was deployed by the SABC to cover the violence in that little town outside Pietermaritzburg. I remember it being cold. But it was not just the weather that gave you the chills. Death was alive in the hills and valleys around the town. Every day, but especially at night when a thick fog engulfed the area, people were being killed. Most were innocent men, women and children who wanted nothing to do with the politics of power that was at play. KwaZulu-Natal has a long history of warlords. They were generally aligned to either the ANC or the IFP. Sifiso Nkabinde, who was the strongman in Richmond at the time, belonged to the newly…

THE third wave is upon us because of our botched vaccination programme, our visionless strategy, and complacency. This new, Delta variant of the Covid-19 virus has the potential to kill a lot of people and threaten our way of living. In addition to the Delta variant and a sluggish uptake of vaccines, social events were the cardinal factors that propelled the third wave. The third wave reminds me of our arrogance of ignorance. Warnings and knowledge existed, but they were largely ignored and too little was done to prepare our economy and society for the potential impact. The number of daily infections and deaths has become horrifying and numbing. We become more vulnerable to the virus because of the colder weather and drier air. We need to enforce the use…

IMPOSING tariff increases at a time when thousands of people have become unemployed and pensioners are barely surviving, is unacceptable in a society where poverty is prevalent. At the full council meeting debating against the high tariff increases proposed in the budget, the Democratic Liberal Congress (DLC) expressed that ratepayers were cash strapped. The party said Covid-19 had imposed unprecedented financial and social hardships on citizens and that the public participation processes were merely a canvassing roadshow without due consideration being given to the inputs and concerns of the public. The DLC debated that unemployment, economic hardships and social inconveniences had become the order of the day. The tariff increases proposed will be doing more harm in the pockets of the pensioners and the unemployed. People are losing their houses…

Kailene Pillay kailene.pillay@inl.co.za A YOUNG boy with big dreams of a better South Africa, Smithy Pillay joined the activist movement in the 1970s as a teenager and died a hero to many he served and saved. From Greenwood Park, a suburb north of Durban, Pillay made his way from a young activist fighting for freedom during apartheid to an esteemed senior intelligence and security operative. Friends, comrades and family paid tribute to Pillay, who died in a Durban hospital on Sunday night. Pillay, who turned 60 in May, died of a lower respiratory lung infection. Close friend Ashwyn Govind, who was 11 years his junior, said he first met Pillay during the ANC conference at the University of Durban-Westville in 1991 – the first since its unbanning. “We actually worked…

Charlene Somduth charlene.somduth@inl.co.za ILLEGAL electricity connections remain a challenge for the eThekwini Municipality despite their attempts to electrify more than 500 informal settlements. Last week, the POST reported on residents living in Canelands, Verulam, who have had frequent power outages because of illegal electricity connections. They said despite informing the municipality, no solution was found. Geoff Pullan, the councillor for the area, said after consulting with residents, he put forward possible resolutions to the municipality. “We asked that the municipality block access to the substations by either placing steel cages over the substations or placing them on poles,” he said. “I also suggested residents be connected to the substation used by a nearby industrial area. We asked for security around the substation.” Pullan said he suggested the municipality provide electricity…

Chanelle Lutchman chanelle.lutchman@inl.co.za WAGE negotiations between municipal worker unions and the South African Local Government Association (Salga) have reached a deadlock. Salga represents 257 municipalities in the country. It has been in talks with the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) as well as the Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Workers’ Union (Imatu) since April this year to discuss wage negotiations for the 2021/22 financial year. The talks are being held under the South African Local Government Bargaining Council (SALGBC). The current wage agreement (6.25%), which was agreed to until 2020, expired in June. This means the unions have to negotiate with Salga again. However, negotiations have reached a deadlock as both unions have declined a 4% salary increase offered by Salga. This would be for the first year of…

THE Hollywoodbets Dolphins have been forced into a pre-season break following the enforcement of level four lockdown regulations as they prepare for the new season despite not knowing when that will start. It’s another season where there are still many unknowns for all the sides taking part, and Dolphins coach Imraan Khan has encouraged his players to take it all in their stride as they were in the process of ramping up their preparation. “It is what it is I guess and we have to make the most of what we are dealt with,” Khan said. “The lockdown wasn’t ideal but the guys came back in pretty good shape but no matter what shape you are in that first block is always a difficult one. “The players responded well…