Table of contents for 2022-10-19 in Post

TAZZ Premrajh has a collection of vehicles that will make any car fundi drool. At the age of 44, he has built up a fleet that spans several decades and includes classic, antique and vintage models, all in mint condition. Classic cars are those over 20 years old, antique cars are over 45 years old, and vintage cars were built between 1919 and 1930. Premrajh’s passion was sparked by his uncle, Heera Salligram, also a collector with whom he spent a lot of time as a youngster. “It rubbed off on me,” he said. Premrajh, a businessman from Pietermaritzburg, acquired his first car at the age of 20. He saw an advert for a 1980 450 SLC Mercedes-Benz in a newspaper and knew that he had to have that set…

TONY Outar’s love for classic cars and their restoration started when he was 8 years old. Today, the 66-year-old, of Isipingo Hills, has a collection of cars that includes Chevrolets, Fords, a Volkswagen and a Pontiac. Outar grew up on a farm in Malagazi, south of Durban. He used to watch his late father, Mohan, and his employee restore cars and bakkies. When he turned 8, he worked alongside them. “My dad was a landscaper. He used to buy Toyota, Ford or Chevrolet vehicles from customers who wanted to get rid of them. These vehicles were manufactured from the 1930s to the 1950s and he used to pay anything from R20 to R50 each. “He and his employee restored these vehicles, many of which were still in running condition. I…

Nerina Rangasamy won the Kader Asmal Lifetime Achievement for teaching excellence at the KwaZulu-Natal National Teaching Awards on Friday at Northlands Primary School. The 53-year-old, who lives in Park Rynie on the South Coast, said the award was a culmination of her commitment to changing the lives of South African children. “I would say this is my greatest achievement in my career thus far.” Rangasamy is married with two children. In 1991, she obtained a teaching qualification at Springfield Teachers’ Training College. She then went on to study for a BEd degree at Unisa in 1995. In 2005, also at Unisa, she achieved a BEd Honours degree cum laude. Her teaching career began in 1992 at Port Shepstone Primary School. She now teaches English at St Patrick’s Primary School in…

The Festival of Lights will not be celebrated this year by the Chetty family of Phoenix in Durban – and it might never be. This is because their 26-year old daughter, Kershnie Chetty, lost her eyesight on her left eye following a fireworks accident last year. On Diwali Day, November 1 last year, the Chetty family, like most families world-wide, were celebrating Diwali with the lighting of fireworks. It was a double celebration as they had just found out that the first grandchild of the family had been conceived. “We were just so excited because we found out that my sister was pregnant. So I said, ‘Life is short, let’s have some fun’,” said Chetty. Chetty recalls that she lit a fountain firework and was about one metre away…

Entertainer Theshan Naicker will present his first pantomime production, Sunda-rella, at the Globe at Suncoast on October 29. The show, which features his alter ego, Aunty Sheila, draws inspiration from Naicker’s favourite fairy tale, Cinderella, but with an Indian twist. “The difference with Sunda-rella is that it is about women empowerment. Sunda-rella makes it very clear that she doesn’t need to be saved from a Prince Charming because she can save herself.” Naicker was inspired to create this story for his two nieces, who are aged 11 and 7 and are very important to him. “In every fairy tale it seems the princess has to be saved by, and her happiness is reliant on, a prince. I wanted to change the narrative for my nieces.” He said it was…

Peak tourist season under threat President Cyril Ramaphosa must think we are gullible. On Monday he sent out Vincent Magwenya, his chief praise singer, to announce that those who serve in the Cabinet would now have to pay for their lights and water. Interestingly, there was no public announcement when Ramaphosa signed off on the perks a few months ago. Had it not been for the DA, we would not have known that our taxes were being used to pay for the lights and water that ministers and deputy ministers used in their homes. These are people who earn salaries of about R200 000 a month but have done little to address the many problems our country faces. Magwenya said the president had listened to the public outcry and had…

THE past few years will be remembered as one of the most difficult times, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. With a positive mindset and determination, the Merebank Tamil School Society (MTSS) is in the news – and for all the right reasons. The society, which promotes local south Indian talent, must be commended for promoting culture. The society recently held a Tamil Festival. Th capacity and enthusiastic crowd was entertained by Jayandran Moodley, the Luxmi Stars and various other artists. We, as south Indians, must be proud of our talents in our country. It is a foregone conclusion that the MTSS enjoys an undisputed leadership in organising such an event. I must be forthright in my contention that the festival is best presented by Morgan Nadasen, who seeks the…

The benchmark of a good debate lies in “playing the ball, never the man”. I generally try to maintain this ethos in underscoring my views. However, I cannot help but feel that in his article that conflates the Maha Sabha’s decision to host its Diwali festival in the parking area of Suncoast Casino as absolute hypocrisy when juxtaposed against their stand taken on the erstwhile Holi Cow saga, that our erudite Rajesh Gopie simply “missed the proverbial forest for the trees”. Anecdotally, I use myself as an example. I am, perhaps, a loudmouthed vegetarian. I find the fact that some humans can consider sentient beings as a food of choice to be quite abhorrent. However, does my view restrict me from going to a non-vegetarian restaurant? Does it stop me…

A teenager is among the suspects charged with Tiven Ganesh’s killing. Ganesh, 38, an e-hailing driver from Phoenix, was shot multiple times during a robbery in August. Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo, a provincial spokesperson, said Ganesh received a request to pick up four men at a tavern in Phoenix and transport them to Cornubia. “On arrival at Cornubia, the four men turned on him and robbed him of his firearm. They also attempted to put him in the boot of the vehicle, however, he managed to run away. While fleeing, one of the suspects shot him in his leg and he fell to the ground. The suspects then approached the victim and fired several shots, fatally wounding him. The suspects fled in Ganesh’s vehicle which was later found crashed in Ndwedwe.”…

Please remember that the shad season is closed. This means you are not allowed to catch or keep shad. The rock and surf fishing along the KZN coast has improved with a lot of edibles being landed and a mix of the summer inedibles coming through. The North Coast has been the place to be. Any of the deeper points will be a good bet. The lighter tackle has produced a lot of grey sharks. Those looking for bigger fish have done well with mackerel and redeye baits on fmj traces. Look for an area where you can get into the deeper water. This can be off a rocky point or if you can clear the sandbank on the beach. The central coast has seen a drop in number of…

COLLECTING cars is a lifelong passion for Shane Khan. The 48-year-old, of Reservoir Hills, owns three vintage models – a 1973 Ford Escort with a Chevy V8 engine, a 1966 V200 Valiant manufactured by Chrysler, and a 1984 Fox Body Mustang. Unlike other collectors, who tend to keep their classic cars locked in a garage until the occasional car show, Khan hires out the Valiant for weddings, prom nights and photoshoots through his part-time business, Classic Car Hire. The others are for his and his family’s enjoyment. He works full-time at the family-run gearbox business, Khan’s Transmission. “I have driven then mayor, Zandile Gumede, in the Valiant, to the Durban ICC. The car has also been featured in the movie “Three Days to Go”, as well as music videos, advertisements…

WATCHING his father restore classic cars inspired a Hillary architect to do the same. Tashlin Poovan, 27, and his dad, Denny Poovan, 58, own seven classic cars. “Our collection includes a 1966 MK1 Ford Cortina two-door with a V6 Essex engine. It has triple carbs and has been owned by my dad for more than 30 years. We also have a 1971 MK2 Ford Cortina with a two-litre turbo Pinto engine. This was my first car," said Tashlin. The other vehicles are a 1965 Mustang 2+2 fastback Mustang with a 289 V8 engine; a 1966 Valiant Barracuda with a Lexus 1uz V8 engine; 1968 Camaro RS with a 327 V8 engine; a 2010 backdraft AC Cobra with a 350 Chevy V8 engine; and a 1983 Gold MK 1 two-door. The…

JAYA and Phillis Shunmugam will spend their first Diwali without their son this year. Megan Jeremy Shunmugam, 41, was killed while protecting the couple during a robbery at their home in Gledhow, KwaDukuza, in December last year. Shunmugam, an operator at the Gledhow Sugar Company, was staying with his parents so it would be easier for him to travel to work. His home was in Stanger Heights, and he shared it with his wife, Sarika, and their three children. On the night of the robbery, Jaya woke to go to the toilet when he heard a noise in the yard and his dogs barking. In the toilet, Jaya opened the window and saw the robber standing underneath the carport in his yard. Jaya shouted at the robber, wanting to know…

Aurets is a healer, psychic medium, intuitive mentor, masseuse and regression therapist who also teaches meditation and breath work. She practices in Upper Highway. Contact her at 079 356 4657 or email theeternalbreath@gmail.com ARIES (March 21 – April 19) You have faced turbulent times. Now it’s time to rest, recoup and re-energise yourself. Meditation and contemplation in stillness will rebalance your space and give you the clarity that you seek. Trust the process. Magic number: 1. TAURUS (April 20 – May 20) Everything is working out as it is meant to. Stop worrying about what you have no control over. It will only delay the process and cause you anxiety. All is well and you are guided by intuition if you choose to embrace it. Magic number: 3. GEMINI…

Mahatma Gandhi has been widely acknowledged and celebrated for his fight against social injustice in South Africa. Still, many of us have overlooked the essence and purport of the resurrection of the Phoenix Gandhi Settlement, which the Mahatma purchased in 1904. This initiative served not just himself and his family but the community too. It was a place that fostered fraternal relationships between people of different races, and in particular, “Whites and Indian Workers”. Today the settlement forms part of the Inanda Heritage Trail. On October 2, 2022, a Gandhi Memorial event at the Phoenix Gandhi Settlement was held to commemorate the 153rd birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Professor Vinay Lal, from the Department of History and Asian American studies at the University of California, delivered the guest lecture. He…

In all fairness, I would like to create an awareness, About an issue in our society, Affecting minds of variety. Some call it a disorder, some call it insanity, Chosen words from those who love to increase their vanity. Day-to-day dealings, like a ticking time bomb, When does the mind trigger let loose? Sending us into a hailing storm. Depression, anxiety, confusion and pain, Haunting us like a monsoon, never-ending rain. Overwhelmed, unhappy, nervous and insecure, With nowhere to run or hide, our minds cannot endure. Session after session, waiting for progression Waiting for succession, to avoid all aggression. Why me, we ask, How do I go about completing this task? Mental health, can be calming like a yacht about to set sail, Oceans are flowing, wind blowing through your…

THE letter by T Markandan, “Everyone has a price as ‘turncoat’ Visvin Reddy shows” (POST, October 12-16), cannot be left unchallenged. Markandan is yet another armchair critic whose only acts of activism are confined to writing letters to the media. Amichand Rajbansi warned me about characters like this. He said they would always criticise those who do work and it was best to ignore them. Markandan is feigning ignorance of my contribution to society. I led the charge against exorbitant fuel prices in this country. For the first time in our history, ordinary people challenged the government on its determination of fuel prices. I did not just write letters to the press but actively led protests and marches that put the spotlight on fuel prices. But this is just one…

THE South African Local Government Association (Salga) is shocked by reports that ministers and their deputies do not have to pay for water and electricity. Salga views the payment of such services as the national duty of every responsible citizen. While media reports mention that the handbook grants ministers a R5 000 monthly subsidy for electricity and water at the taxpayers’ expense, the media does not highlight many other extremely inappropriate benefits that ministers get. Regarding the most recent version of the Ministerial Handbook, ministers and deputies get security at their official residence/s and one other private residence (maximum of three residences). Yet a Salga report released in October 2022 showed that, on average, one councillor is killed in KZN per month. KZN has the third highest number of…

CHATSWORTH Community Projects have launched The Clean Up Sunday Programme to keep the area clean. The programme started recently and will continue to take place on the second and fourth Sunday of every month. Kay Govender, founder and chairperson of the initiative, said communities have to take care of their suburbs and townships themselves. “We can’t wait or rely on the municipality to always do it for us. Not everyone can live in uMhlanga, Durban North and other places, but what is stopping us from cleaning our own spaces? “One of the reasons we decided to embark on this project is because service delivery in Chatsworth is non-existent. We have a number of businesses that are supporting this initiative.” These include Budget Blinds, Leepat Poultry, Ubusisiwe Logistics, Auto Panel Beaters,…

SWEREEN Govender has been charged with fraud after investors said they were swindled out of about R18 million in 2021. Hawks spokesperson Captain Lloyd Ramovha said it’s alleged that in March 2021, Govender, 55, pretended to be a director of Aurum Line Pty (Ltd), a supplier of personal protective equipment. The company exists but Govender has no ties to it. “It is reported that through the use of this company, she lured and misled potential investors to invest in her venture. She promised high monthly returns on investments made, which never materialised. It is alleged that she swindled investors of R18m. “The victims grew tired of empty promises as she did not keep her end of the bargain. It became apparent that she falsified her documents for the sole purpose…

Earlier this year, enthusiasts of the 1980s met at the Made in Chatsworth market, where KITT from the television series Knight Rider made an appearance. It was also the first step in bringing the Chatsworth 1980s Club to life. The club is spearheaded by Yolan Moonsamy and Kiru Naidoo. Moonsamy is a local collector of all things, from vintage toys to models. He also deals in antiques. Naidoo is an author who works in local government and oversees the market. “The market is for the people of Chatsworth. It provides a place for the community to mingle and sparks the local economy. The stallholders sell everything from food and fresh goods to books, collectables and clothes. Now we will have the club, which is a celebration and safe space,” said…

Aara Gounder is taking her debut novel, No Nuts Nani, on an international tour to the Netherlands and Canada this festive season. The 7-year-old author, who lives in Johannesburg, said the book was a story about a squirrel named Aara who is allergic to nuts. “Aara is excited to attend a party and her granny is scared that there will be too many nuts. The book documents their journey to the party and how they manage her allergy.” She said the book was based on her fears as a young girl allergic to nuts and was aimed at creating awareness among other children that being different is special. Aara’s book was published in June by her mother, Bhavna Gounder, and was launched at her school, Roedean School in Johannesburg. She…

LOCAL rapper Taragan Moodley, also known as Tiger, will release his latest song, Girls, on Friday. Moodley, of Chatsworth, said he had a predominately male following and decided to cater to a female audience with this song. “I decided to make a song for girls and about girls who were fun and happy, something to be celebrated,” said Moodley “I did most of the production myself. I wanted an old school R&B feel.” Moodley, a qualified teacher, credits Eminem as the artist who made him realise his passion for rap. He started recording songs at home in 2010. He then collaborated with singer Oli Milne, who featured on the song Hold On, which got airtime on Lotus FM and Durban Youth Radio. Moodley said he was inspired by rappers…

RALPH Lawson, a multi award-winning playwright and director, will debut his first self-produced theatre show this week. Sthandwa And The Nature Thieves will be staged at the Playhouse. He said the edu-tainment production was aimed at enlightening young audiences, while at the same time giving them a taste of live theatre. Lawson said Sthandwa And The Nature Thieves was a tale of adventure which invited audiences to enter a magical world. This world highlights the goals of sustainable and healthy living, rights and responsibilities, and the inter-connectedness of all living things. “Intent on finding out why she is no longer able to communicate with the natural world, Sthandwa, our heroine, sets off on a journey of discovery. As the story unfolds, she is entrusted with a secret formula that will…

THE Merebank Tamil School Society (MTSS) hosted its 32nd annual Tamil Festival at its premises recently, where a huge audience was treated to a feast of song, dance and food. The function was compèred by veteran Jugga Pillay and Ashley Kisten of Luxmi Stars. It was a spiritually uplifting, exhilarating and hearty experience, given the negativity we have become accustomed to since the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic. During this period, the festival was held virtually and the MTSS lost one of its founding fathers and stalwarts, Moon Govender. It was encouraging to see the number of youth participants from all parts of KwaZulu-Natal and, as stated by Professor Karthy Govender in his closing remarks and vote of thanks, we experienced entertainment of the highest quality. For me, it was…

Begging is a societal problem in this country. Every intersection, parking lot or business area is scattered with these panhandlers playing their well-rehearsed sympathy cards. While it’s understandable that everyone is affected by tough economic times, handouts are not the answer. Neither should it be seen as an expectation or obligation. Clearly, the growth in the informal economy is an indication that there are many South Africans trying to eke out a living by whatever means possible. These are the people who deserve our support not pavement free-loaders expecting something for nothing. RIKESH ISHWARLALL Pietermaritzburg…

IN A FEW months Ashleigh Jaers would have completed matric and pursued a career as an au pair. But on Sunday, Ashleigh and Lee-Ann Jaers, her aunt, were found dead in an abandoned parking lot near a warehouse in Isipingo Rail. Lee-Ann’s body had been placed over Ashleigh’s and they were both naked. Lee-Ann, 30, a call centre agent, was strangled to death. She had bruises on both her thighs, knees and abdomen. Ashleigh, 17, a matric pupil at Bechet High School, had a wound to her right temple. She also had bruises on her abdomen, breasts, chin and lips. Lisa Monjaing, Ashleigh’s mother and Lee-Ann’s sister, last saw the women on Saturday. “We received a call from a friend who told us two bodies had been found near the…