Table of contents for 2022-08-03 in Post

At just 13 years old, Tanesha Ramphal is on a mission to fuse her Hindi roots with the sounds of Western classics. From Radha on the Dance Floor to Snoop Dogg’s Drop It Like It’s Hot, this teenage DJ has a masterful way of mixing music. The Grade 8 pupil at Queensburgh Girls’ High School is from Kharwastan, Chatsworth. She began her career at the age of 12. “Watching other DJs mix music really fascinated me.” She said she enjoyed mixing R&B, pop, hip hop and bhangra. Tanesha, who goes by the stage name of DJ Tish, said she was grateful that her passion for DJ’ing had already made her a young entrepreneur. “I play at car show events, birthday parties, engagement parties, weddings and charity shows. I get an…

THE Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in KwaZulu-Natal has declined to prosecute Sagren Madhevan Moodley on allegations that he violated an interim protection order. A letter to this effect was sent to Moodley, who is also known by his stage name, Karou Charou. It was dated July 13. Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, spokesperson for the NPA in the province, confirmed the decision. In March 2021, an Estcourt businesswoman sought a protection order against Moodley. She claimed Moodley used social media to incite hate speech against her and encouraged his followers to commit crimes against her. She was granted interim protection in terms of the Protection from Harassment Act during March 2021. Moodley was ordered: Not to harass the woman and her child Not to incite hate speech against her or encourage followers…

CORRUPTION and the employment of young, inexperienced drivers are killing the trucking industry. This is according to retired truck drivers, who each have more than 40 years of experience in trucking. They believe matters can improve if the Department of Transport regulates the industry. George Pillay, a retired driver and driving instructor, said the lack of training was behind the high number of accidents. Pillay, 67, of Chatsworth, retired in 2019. “The bigger companies like Shell, BP and Total invest in training their drivers so they can learn discipline and how to handle their trucks. They ensure that whichever company is contracted to them, the driver works a 6am to 6pm shift and is able to rest and prepare for the drive the next morning. “Some smaller companies are not…

OLD-age grant recipients lined up inside the eThekwini municipal offices in Chatsworth on Friday to query the amounts owed on their July utility accounts. The pensioners said despite requests, their monthly statements had not been delivered and they were forced to go to the municipal offices as they were worried their electricity would be disconnected. When they received feedback on the amounts owed, some of them were shocked at the high bills. They told POST they did not know how they would survive financially. Tariff increases came into effect on July 1. In eThekwini, electricity increased by 7.47% and water by 5.9% (domestic). Hawa Bibi Dawood, 65, of Moorton, said her water and electricity account was just over R3 300. She usually paid about R3 100 . “The government pension…

IN HER latest book, Mala Lutchmanan, a radio presenter and teacher, hopes to enlighten readers on the history of a child martyr, who fought for democracy in South Africa. Lutchmanan, 59, of Yellowwood Park, will launch Valliamma: A Child Soldier of South Africa’s Freedom, on Women’s Day. The launch will be held at the MTSS Hall in Merebank. Lutchmanan, an English teacher at Damorosa PreVocational School, said the book encapsulated the history of Valliamma Munuswami Mudliar. She was born in South Africa to indentured parents in 1898. Lutchmanan said the 209-page historical book included chapters on Valliamma’s life from birth and her fight for freedom from the age of 10, to her imprisonment and death at the age of 16. The Lotus FM presenter started writing the book in 2019.…

Keri Miller, a presenter on East Coast Radio (ECR), says if she could have a magic wand, she would transform all women into fans of other women. “We are our own biggest enemies, constantly sizing ourselves up against each other as if another woman’s beauty takes away from ours. It runs deep in women and from all walks of life. For me, that’s the challenge women face.” Miller, 40, attended Manor Gardens Primary, then Durban Girls’ High. She spent a year as a Rotary exchange student in St Louis, Missouri, US. “I then went to the University of KwaZulu-Natal where I completed my Honours degree in isiZulu linguistics in 2004.” Miller knew from a young age that she wanted a career in radio “I’m just one of those lucky people,…

THE FF Plus requests President Cyril Ramaphosa and the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Ebrahim Patel, to abandon the specific regulations driving black economic empowerment (BEE). This is to ensure that the most effective procurement policies and expertise are made available on merit to sustainably address the country’s power crisis. A lack of expert officials and engineers as well as middlemen who unduly benefit from BEE in the value chain – from coal supply to general consumables – by asking extortionate prices have over time dealt Eskom's cost effectiveness a blow and ultimately resulted in load shedding. Authoritative research by Solidarity’s Research Institute indicates that Eskom suffered a loss of R9.1 billion in 2021, and that BEE most probably cost the utility more than R12bn. If all racial requirements…

South Africa moves to have Guptas extradited: Shilina Ishwar: The truth is that the Gupta matter should never have escalated if the proper protocols were followed and, until today, the ANC has failed every citizen in this county. Our infrastructure is poor. There are no jobs, no housing, no salary increases, and there is an escalation in the price of fuel, food, household rates and interest rates. The leaders of this country are not for the citizens and this needs to change to a democratic, honest South Africa that is for the people. Noushad Farouk: It won’t happen. The Guptas won’t set foot here again. Dennis Naidoo: Firstly, it's a cover-up to say the Guptas have been arrested. We just hear this from the media. How true is this? The…

THE Minority Front (MF) has spearheaded the fight for widows from as far back as 2000 at the Commonwealth Africa region conference in Joburg. I had obtained consensus on a resolution for all African countries to quantify the number of widows in their countries with reasons. Many African countries have been historically prone to wars, famine, disease and foreign occupation. Women lost their husbands to these challenges and had become vulnerable. At the time, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), was willing to fund programmes to empower widows but countries had to have a database. I then pursued the empowerment of widows in KwaZulu-Natal through the Quality of Life and Women’s Caucus committees in the legislature and many outreach programmes were held. Widows…

AN ANC ward councillor's son was among three men arrested for being in possession of stolen property worth about a R1 million. Ashlaine Govender, the son of ward 28 councillor Doeshiee Govender in Shakaskraal, was arrested on July 22 with Thembinkosi Khumalo and Mohamed James. Lieutenant Colonel Nqobile Gwala, a provincial police spokesperson, said officers received information about an illegal scrap metal dealer operating in Shakaskraal. “A multidisciplinary joint operation was put in place. Police had conducted a preliminary reconnaissance of the identified premises. The team swooped on the scrapyard and an inspection was conducted. It was established that the business was indeed operating illegally.” Gwala said copper cables that belonged to Transnet, weighing 614.5kg, were recovered. “A further search was conducted and 18 cellphone tower batteries were found…

THE South African Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) has launched a campaign aimed at protecting school infrastructure. This comes in the wake of a recent spate of vandalism at schools resulting in the destruction of tools needed for teaching and learning. Nomarashiya Caluza, Sadtu’s spokesperson in KwaZulu-Natal, said the union wanted to ensure school infrastructure was protected so the school environment was conducive to teaching and learning. “Hence, the birth of the ‘I am a school fan campaign’," said Caluza. She said the campaign aimed to mobilise learners, parents, teachers and the community at large to make a conscious effort to protect their schools from vandalism or other forms of damage. “Schools are often targets of armed robberies, burglaries and hijackings. For years, the Department of Education has tried to move with…

THE Tongaat Hindu Unity Forum will host a Shakthi pooja and sathsangh on Women's Day. Nuthan Maharaj, the convener from the SA Hindu Maha Sabha, said the prayer was aimed at easing the pain of devastation, loss and trauma, and helping communities to rebuild and recover after the April floods. The prayer will be hosted in association with the Sabha and the Shree Sanathan Dharma Sabha of South Africa. It will be held at the Vishwaroop Temple and Dharmshala, in Plein Street, Tongaat, from 8.30am to 12.30pm. “Mother Shakthi is considered by Hindus as the spiritual feminine epitome of strength, righteousness and wisdom. In Sanathana Dharma, female deities are worshipped because revering and respecting the female aspect of the divine is a commanding spiritual principle, which is paramount in our…

CAROL Ofori is inspired by women from different walks of life, from her sister to a mother catching a taxi with a baby on her back. “Women humble and inspire me,” said Ofori, who was born in Mafikeng, in the North West and raised in Johannesburg. She is an award-winning radio presenter with a weekday radio show on East Coast Radio. Ofori moved to Durban with her family in November 2020. Besides being a mom and a wife, she is also a voice-over artist, TV host, keynote speaker, MC and writer. She recently released a six-part children’s book series, The African Adventures of Sena and Katlego, right. Ofori said it was important for women to be ambitious. “It doesn’t have to be career- oriented. You can be ambitious about your…

Siyazithanda Sisonke Development Foundation (SSDF), a family foundation created by Andeep Investment CC and the HD Maharaj family (HDM), are offering an exciting opportunity for young people aged 16 to 21 to participate in the Volleyball South Africa (VSA)-SSDF National Junior Beach Volleyball Tour, 2022-2023. VSA and SSDF are calling for application from players interested in playing beach volleyball on the lucrative National Beach Tour and to simultaneously choose a career on offer from SSDF. The SSDF offers the opportunity to study one of the following academic courses through bursaries offered to the top players: medicine and sports medicine, engineering, information technology, business management ma rketing, accounting, law and sports science. Courses in trade, including electrical, plumbing and building, are also on offer. In addition, top players have the opportunity…

THE sardines might be absent for the most part, but the fishing has been fantastic along the KZN coast. Plenty of game fish, bottom fish and a host of inedibles have been landed this past week. The offshore fishing has been good too, with a lot of good bottom fish and game fish being caught. Skirts and flashers are a great way of drawing attention to your bait. They work for shore and offshore fishing. Generally, the brighter colours work better in clear conditions and the darker colours in dirtier water; the exception is pink, which works in all water colours and conditions. Try adding skirts to your trace if you haven't before and see how your catch rate goes up. The North Coast has been a snoek hotspot.…

AFTER a hiatus of almost three years, South Africans can once again enjoy a live Bollywood event when Sony TV’s Indian Idol winner and finalists perform in two cities this month. Pawandeep Rajan, the season 12 (2021) winner, and finalists Arunita Kanjilal and Mohammed Danish have since won the hearts of fans around the world. They have featured in back-to-back sold-out concerts, and will perform in a musical extravaganza on August 20 at The Globe at Suncoast Casino (Durban) and on August 21 at the Centre Court at Emperors Palace (Johannesburg). The Dynamic-3, as they are being referred to, will tour South Africa courtesy of Blu Blood and Showtime Promotions. Accompanied by a live band from Mumbai, they will serenade the audience with Bollywood songs, including Deva Shree Ganesha…

Singers Shay Shainul Ramji, Jani Punjab and Zeeshan Shani are among the artists who will perform at the Music Spectacular Night on August 27 in Newcastle. The event will be held at The Status Hall. Ramji said she had performed at a few shows in Newcastle in 2019 and looked forward to returning. “This time, we’ll have a live band. Rehearsals start next week and patrons can expect a rocking show.” She said one of her most requested songs was a cover version of Mausi Rasoye Halwa in 2017/2018. “It’s a dance song generally played at weddings and fun gatherings. It’s chutney music, which is popular in KwaZulu-Natal. “The song went viral on YouTube, raking in more than a million views. As long as I’m singing Mausi Rasoye Halwa,…

Duff is a psychic medium, soul coach, spiritual mentor, healer and animal communicator. She has been connecting with spirit for more than 20 years and runs her business, Quantum Soul, from Waterfall in KwaZulu-Natal. Watch her weekly predictions on GlowTV on Sundays after 8pm with Denver Naicker on the Get Real Show. She can be contacted at 072 986 5514 or email sharron@quantsoul.com ARIES (March 21 – April 19) There is harmony in the relationships around you this week and this could be in both personal and at work. Enjoy the good vibes and make this energy work for you by healing past relationships or letting them go. Lucky colour: peach. TAURUS (April 20 – May 20) Take action towards an idea that has been waiting for completion. Try and…

A 27-year-old man appeared in the New Hanover Magistrate’s Court this week for allegedly killing his father. Jagatheesan Perumal’s body was found at his home in the suburb of Cool Air, in Dalton, on Saturday morning. Dalton police investigating the murder, arrested the son, Yubeshan Perumal. According to Muniamma Reddy, Jagatheesan Perumal’s sister, he died after sustaining gashes and wounds to his head. “We were informed of my brother’s death by police on Sunday. Police told us he was apparently hit with a heavy object. “The police also informed us that my nephew was arrested on charges of murder. This is shocking news to us. Everything seemed normal between father and son. My brother was divorced and his son, Yubeshan, lived with him.” Reddy said her brother was their youngest…

ANIRA Pather has put the spotlight on social injustices facing post-apartheid in her latest book, The Land of My Father. Pather, 47, of Morningside, said the 185-page fiction drama followed the journey of two siblings as they fight for survival amid corruption, betrayal and murder and their desire to rebuild against the odds. “The book is steeped in South African history without losing focus on human emotion,” said Pather. The book will be launched at the Durban International Book Fair at the Imbizo Conference Centre at Sibaya Casino on Friday. Pather, a finance business partner in the legal tech environment, said she started writing the book last January. “Early one morning, I typed out the prologue and epilogue as I always knew how I wanted it to end. However, it…

Zakia Ahmed Siddiqi, a presenter at Lotus FM, wants to change the perspective that women are the weaker sex. “This has been repeated so many times that we say it without thinking. Changing this perception is one of the challenges that is faced more often than not,” said Ahmed Siddiqi. “When it comes to coping with trauma, having a higher pain threshold, talking about their problems, solving problems and making the right decision, who do you think comes out on top? It is women.” The mother of two children, Safee-Naaz and Bashaarath, is also a producer, compère and event co-ordinator, and a believer in spreading smiles and laughter. “Being a woman means I’m strong, powerful, a mediator and a juggler – which makes me a leader, I guess. I am…

WITH reference to the story “Gay imam slams religious decree” (POST, July 13-17). Imam Muhsin Hendricks is courageous. He is realistic and not governed by traditional prejudices. The Muslim Judicial Council should learn from his understanding of same-sex issues. To talk of fatwa in a world that sees the LGBTQI+ community increasing daily is to expose incredibly warped thinking. Same-sex relationships are a matter for deep and compassionate thinking. No human being has a right to pass a fatwa on another, more especially in our present world where justice and fair trials are part of civilised behaviour. Muslims need to give serious thought to same-sex relationships and not just condemn people for activity about which many of us know little. What Islam should explain to the world is its…

THE saying goes that “respect is earned but votes can be bought”. Okay, the latter addition to that saying was just a smidgeon of poetic licence on my part. We have witnessed it in the past where providing groceries, T-shirts, houses and even cash were part of electioneering campaigns in a thinly veiled guise of philanthropy but always in the presence of a media entourage. The double whammy for the ANC leading up to the 2024 general election is the diminished trust of the voters and their financial handicap, seeing that the party is even struggling to pay its own staff. So what happens when you have lost the respect of the people and you cannot buy votes? You need to be innovative. I foresee summits, imbizos and campaigns being…

SUSPECTS are, and continue to be, traced in the Krugersdorp gang rape. However, the lives of the eight women involved as victims in this case will never again be the same. We agree that there is a serious shortage of manpower and vehicles but SAPS can live with the current available resources, if they plan their activities properly. If SAPS listened when we first called for audit reports for both material and human resources of the SAPS, who knows, maybe we could have prevented some of these horrible, premeditated organised crimes taking place in our country. Criminals are acting with impunity and law-abiding citizens feel terrorised by the absence of SAPS. The Independent Policing Union of South Africa (Ipusa) has been calling on the current leadership of SAPS to do…

THE family of retired school teacher Premla Moodliar who was killed two years ago, are disappointed by delays in the murder trial. On May 3, 2020, Moodliar’s body was found in her flat in Thanama Daya Mansions in Sparks Road, Overport. She was bound and gagged. Two suspects, Mandlakayise Gumede, 36, and Bhekokwakhe Magubane, 32, were arrested a month later and charged with murder and robbery with aggravated circumstances. They were remanded in custody. Last Wednesday, the suspects appeared in the Durban High Court and the case was adjourned to February 23 next year. “It’s frustrating that the legal system has delayed this case to February 2023. The police explained that there was a backlog of cases and they would only proceed with this case after other cases,” said Moodliar’s…

Twelve Isipingo SAPS detectives have stopped investigating cases because, they said, their head of department was intolerable to work with. The individual was appointed four years ago and numerous attempts by the team to resolve their issues have failed. Bheki Radebe, a spokesperson for the aggrieved detectives, said they were fed up. “The individual is authoritative and is verbally abusive to us. The individual does not communicate and our work is scrutinized to the point that we cannot work properly.” According to Radebe, several members had left and because of this, each detective had up to 440 cases to investigate. Recently, the DA raised the issue in parliament of detectives leaving the service. Andrew Whitfield, an MP and DA spokesman on the police, said there were 1 300 fewer detectives…

ONE of the world’s most highly regarded scientists, Professor Quarraisha Abdool-Karim, believes women should use Women’s Month as a time for reflection and celebration. “It’s a time for celebrating the progress we have made in the past year globally, nationally, within our institutions and personally. But it is also a time to take stock and prioritise the next set of issues that we need to be addressing,” said Abdool-Karim. She is the associate scientific director of the Centre for the Aids Programme of Research in South Africa (Caprisa), which is dedicated to research aimed at HIV prevention. Abdool-Karim said while she believed the government had done a lot to empower women since democracy, more needed to be done. “Women have been empowered in terms of political representation, science and…

Trisha Chetty, a South African cricketer, believes it is important for young women to set goals. Chetty, 34, of Johannesburg, joined the national team when she was 18 and debuted against Pakistan. The wicketkeeper and right-hand batsman said: “I feel it’s important to set yourself goals and achieve them no matter how difficult it may be. Goals make you stronger as a person. It also keeps you motivated in improving yourself.” She said women should work hard, work smart and take care of themselves to stay healthy and fit. “I started playing cricket in the backyard with uncles whenever we had a family get-together. As I got older, I developed a passion for the game.” At the age of 7, Chetty played in the boys’ division for the KFC Mini…

IN a stunning fight for the ages which saw the ring being raised off the ground by a tractor, a battered Roman Reigns defeated Brock Lesnar to continue his reign as the undisputed WWE Champion. Reigns needed the help of his cousins – the Usos – and a lot of furniture and production equipment to cage the Beast Incarnate. The close to 50 000 fans at this main event at SummerSlam at the Nissan Stadium, Nashville along with millions around the world, witnessed total carnage. The end of the rivalry between the Beast Incarnate and Reigns will remain in the minds and hearts of sports entertainment fans forever. A no-brainer especially with a tractor involved – this will never be matched. Lesnar gave Reigns the worst beating of his…

DURBAN actor Razeen Dada made his first major break as an actor and producer during the recent Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) with the screening of his short film, Identity. The former Mr India South Africa (2016), who was born and raised in the city, is a qualified chartered accountant. He studied at UCT and did his articles at Investec Bank in the UK and South Africa between 2013 and 2015. Between 2017 and 2020, he studied acting at various institutions, including in Mumbai for a year and then in Los Angeles for another year. During this time, Dada did voice-over work, TV adverts and he acted in a few films, His film work included Business of Love/Zindagi As We Know It (2017, romantic comedy), Eden – Where it…

THE mother of slain actress, Ashrika Seeripat, has been charged with her killing. During July this year, Seeripat, 42, was killed during what appeared to be a robbery at her family home in Umzinto. At the time she was at home with Bongi Mbili, 53, who was employed as a domestic worker. Mbili initially told police that a group of men had held them at gunpoint and demanded cash. During the incident Seeripat was allegedly suffocated and her body was found on the side of her bed. Shortly after the incident, police arrested Mbili. She appeared in the Umzinto Magistrate’s Court and initially indicated she would apply for bail. She then changed her mind. Last Tuesday, police arrested Devika Seeripat, 72, Ashrika’s mother. She was charged with murder and conspiracy…

ROBYN Kimberly Moodaly has fulfilled a childhood dream – representing South Africa in women’s soccer and winning the country’s first Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. Moodaly was part of the Banyana Banyana squad which recently defeated hosts Morocco 2-1 at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. The 28-year-old, who grew up playing soccer for boys’ teams, said her hard work had paid off. “Winning the cup final has been an amazing achievement. If you have seen the statistics, we always came second or third. To finally get that gold cup means the world. It is not only for the players that are currently on the team but it is a win for the previous players who could not get it,” said Moodaly. “Soccer has always been my number one passion.…

“Am I next?” That was the question posed on a poster held up by a woman outside the Krugersdorp Magistrate’s Court in Gauteng. On Monday, she was among a group of women’s rights activists who protested outside the court when more than 80 people appeared on several charges including the alleged gang rape of eight women. The survivors were part of a film crew who were attacked while shooting a music video at a disused mine on Gauteng’s West Rand. The question posed on the poster was a fair one given that 11 000 rapes were reported in South Africa during the first three months of the year. It highlights how vulnerable women are in South Africa. Ironically, the court appearance coincided with the first day of Women’s Month. Sahlulele…

THE James Webb telescope is all the craze among scientists and astronomers around the world. It’s a new toy and an expensive one too. And like children excited about their new toys, all the men and women who worked on the James Webb telescope are overjoyed with the success of the world’s most advanced telescope. How powerful could it be that it can peer into the beginning of time when the cosmos was merely an infant? It’s incredible! It’s beyond words and our imagination. But I feel sorry for the Hubble. It’s place in the sky has been usurped by the newcomer, the bigger and more powerful James Webb. But even though Hubble is much smaller, less powerful and less advanced than James Webb, it has surprised the scientists at…

RECENT protest action by long-distance taxi operators – in response to a clampdown by KZN’s Transport Department on non-compliance within the sector – are nothing but lawlessness. While everyone has the right to protest, there is a fine line between exercising this right and breaking the law. The crackdown, dubbed Operation Shanela, was recently hailed a success by Peggy Nkonyeni, the KZN Transport MEC, who also reaffirmed her department’s commitment to vigilance in terms of the programme. What the MEC still needs to address, though, is the inconvenience caused as a result of recent illegal demonstrations. It is the law-abiding people of our province who had to endure alleged stoning of vehicles and major traffic jams throughout the metro. Most shocking, however, is that not a single person has been…

THE recently held Durban International Film Festival (DIFF), at CineCentre Suncoast (and online), continues to reject inclusivity and ideals of international dialogue and co-operation. DIFF is organised by the Centre for Creative Arts, which banned the showing of Israeli films at the festival last year and continues its stance to exclude films from Israel, a democratic state with an open society in 2022. Yet it includes films from notable human rights abusers, Russia and China. Banning films from any country is contrary to the freedom of expression. Artistic expression, in particular, should know no such boundaries. We believe that such action is not in the interest of promoting dialogue and peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Supports of boycotts of Israel have also been found guilty of anti-Jewish hate speech by…

VANESSA Tedder believes that the world loves the idea of a strong woman until she stands up and speaks out. Tedder, 45, a mother of three, studied journalism after matriculating from Kharwastan Secondary School. She has since left the industry and is the co-owner of an antique business. “It’s a women-owned and run business. I may have quit journalism, but I have never stopped being a journalist,” said Tedder, who wrote The Selfish Shongolo and Beaten Not Broken. Tedder, who has spoken out about the alleged abuse she endured, said speaking out even after years was the ultimate show of self-respect. “If I could give one piece of advice to my younger self, it would be the same I would give to any other woman, young or old, that you…

While South Africa has progressive laws for empowering and protecting its women, in practical terms women are not able to access this protection, says Dr Devi Rajab, a psychologist. “We can see this in so many ways in their daily lives from the unacceptably high numbers of women who are subjected to gender-based violence to physical and emotional abuse, and secondary victimisation when they attempt to report these abuses. “It also extends to the lack of proper economic and financial support for women, who alone support families on small to no income,” Rajab said. She said it was also concerning that women were still victimised in the workplace, where they earned less than men. Rajab said creative thinking was needed to ensure women were empowered in meaningful ways so that…