Table of contents for 2022-12-07 in Post

CUDDLING a teddy bear brings joy and comfort to children. But for those who come from disadvantaged backgrounds, a teddy bear cuddle is a luxury they may never experience. The Pietermaritzburg and District Community Chest is trying to change this with its Teddy Bear Project. Angie Narayanan, the spokesperson for the organisation, said: “The Teddy Bear Project was started by Sarah Pennington, one of our patrons. She is now 96 years old. The project earned her the title of Bear Lady. She began knitting teddy bears for underprivileged children about seven years ago. She went on to recruit other young and older ladies to do the same.” Narayanan said Pennington was able to get a donation of wool from a company in Cape Town. “We have been using that wool…

AS THE festive season approaches, metro police and road traffic authorities have implemented plans to curb accidents on KwaZulu-Natal’s roads. Boysie Zungu, metro police spokesperson, said the heavy traffic days included December 24, 25 and 31 as well as January 1. “These are the days that people shop for Christmas or celebrate New Year’s Eve at the beach. We will see visible policing on freeways with an increase in deployment of highway patrol. “The motor and foot patrol will be increased because of high traffic and crime rates during the festive season. There will also be police patrols at intersections, controlling and assisting drivers at the robots. “We will conduct roadblocks for drinking under the influence of alcohol and speeding, for overloading of public transport and unroadworthy vehicles. Most importantly,…

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, KwaZulu-Natal. Watch her weekly predictions on GlowTV on Sundays after 8pm with Denver Naicker on the Get Real Show. Contact her at 072 986 5514 or sharron@quantsoul.com ARIES (March 21 – April 19) Your load feels like it’s heavy at the moment. Remember that God makes the back for burden, so you can do this. Relief is coming for you but you also need to look for the lessons in this, so that you get closure and end the cycles that are repeating themselves. Lucky colour: turquoise. TAURUS (April 20 – May 20) There are a lot of…

WITH reference to the story “Indian languages are dying” (POST, November 23-27). Yes, Indian languages are dying. As our elders pass on, so do the languages they and their predecessors who came to South Africa spoke and passed on to us. The problem is that in my formative years, I attended Hindu Tamil Primary School where the vernacular languages were taught, including Urdu and Gujarati. Pure languages like Tamil, Hindi and Urdu hardly appear as spoken languages, even in commercial radio and television programmes. Lately, in certain schools, Chinese or mandarin appears in the curriculum. So why don’t languages such as Urdu, Tamil and Hindi? I admire what Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the president of Turkey, has done. To get Turks to continue speaking and communicating in Turkish, the government has…

THE 61 alleged instigators of the July 2021 unrest and public violence could face terrorism charges. The group appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court last Wednesday. They face charges of conspiracy to commit public violence, incitement to commit public violence and incitement to commit arson. Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in KwaZulu-Natal, said: “The State advised the court of its intention to apply to the national director of public prosecutions to charge the accused in terms of the Protection of Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorism Act.” She said the matter was adjourned to May next year for further investigations, and the accused remain on bail or warning with the following conditions: Not to post any information regarding the case on social media. To inform the investigating officer…

“A death trap. That is what this hole in the ground is,” said Ish Prahladh, a resident and security business owner in Reservoir Hills. He was referring to the damage caused by the April floods along the M19 slipway leading into Reservoir Hills and Clare Estate. He said the area had a sunken hole and they feared that vehicles travelling along the road would fall into the rubble. “About a month ago, during the early hours of the morning, a taxi went into the wide open space created by the floods. Fortunately, there were no passengers in the vehicle. But what if the taxi had children inside? “The floods took away many lives and washed away homes on the riverbanks of the informal settlement. With the damages not attended to,…

Australia midfielder Cameron Devlin did not play a minute of the World Cup, but left Qatar with one of its biggest prizes after exchanging jerseys with Argentina’s Lionel Messi after their round of 16 match. Devlin, who plays for Hearts in the Scottish Premiership, swooped after the Socceroos were knocked out 2-1, with Argentine talisman Messi scoring a goal in his 1 000th match. “I went on (to the pitch) and consoled all the boys first and then shook Messi’s hand,” Devlin told reporters at Sydney airport after arriving back from Qatar. “No one had said anything so I just tried my luck and he said, ‘I’ll see you inside’, and that's what happened.” Video shared online shows a shirtless Messi handing his jersey to Devlin and embracing the fringe…

RARELY would you find a person of colour at the head of a golf club’s greenkeeping staff in times past. But Robin Naicker, who will celebrate 40 years at the prestigious Umhlali Country Club next year, is the chief superintendent and is rated very highly among his peers. Even the club’s general manager, Derick Rieinke, talks volumes of Naicker’s ability and knowledge of the Umhlali Country Club layout. Reinke says that Umhlali Country Club will struggle without his smiling face around their premises. Naicker goes about his job at Umhlali without being seen – he’s in at 5am each day and is gone by midday – leaving the course in a fresh, sparkling condition for the players. And he loves what he does best – making it a beautiful place…

THE Muslim Students Association (MSA) is fighting attempts by the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) to convert its prayer room into a multifaith facility. Maryam Mahomed, the chairperson of the MSA, said she was informed of the decision last week during a meeting with Ncoza Dlova, the dean of the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine. She said she was told the decision was final because students of other faiths had also requested a room to pray. “The decision was upsetting to Muslim students because there was no consultation with us before the decision was taken. “About 25 years ago, a group of Muslim students asked the dean at the time if they could have a permanent venue to pray at the university. The dean allocated the current space.” Mahomed said…

NEW regulations have been introduced by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition as well as Public Enterprises to curb metal and cable theft. Minister Ebrahim Patel and Minister Pravin Gordhan recently jointly announced a six-month ban on the export of scrap metal. They were joined by Minister of Police Bheki Cele and Mondli Gungubele, minister in the Presidency. According to Patel, the theft of public infrastructure for resale as scrap metal caused more than R47 billion in damage annually to the economy. “The measures involve the prohibition of the export of scrap copper and ferrous metals for a six-month period, which will be followed by a system to regulate trade in such metals. “In future phases, new measures will be introduced, including prohibiting the use of cash in copper…

CHRISTINE Anne McVie died a few days ago on November 30 after a short illness. She was a vocalist and keyboard player for the British-American band Fleetwood Mac. One of the many songs she wrote and performed was Little Lies. The lyrics in the chorus go: Tell me lies Tell me sweet little lies Tell me lies, tell me, tell me lies On the same day McVie died, an independent panel handed over a report to Parliament which found President Cyril Ramaphosa had a case to answer following the theft of a significant amount of American dollars from his private game farm, Phala Phala. Parliament appointed the panel which was made up of: Sandile Ngcobo, a former Chief Justice, Thokozile Masipa, a retired judge and Mahlape Sello, an advocate. Ramaphosa…

I NOTE with curiosity that the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) is assessing the matter of Belinda Migor, the woman who made horrific and uncalled for racist remarks against our black compatriots in a WhatsApp voice note, with the intention of pursuing the matter further. That is highly commendable. A cursory preview of her comments warrant censure and legal action as they definitely constitute prima facie hate speech. What concerns me about the action by the SAHRC is that during the July 2021 unrest, especially in KwaZulu-Natal, where many racist remarks were made by black citizens on public platforms against the Indian community that constituted both hate speech and an incitement to commit violence, the SAHRC remained docile, stoic and silent by virtue of inaction. In particular, there was…

THE front page article, “Play on, says Supreme Court of Appeal” (POST, November 30-December 4), is good news and an excellent decision by the appeal court. The principle of co-existence and practising one’s religion with due respect for the religious practice of another religious group is essential. I therefore welcome the judgment and support the call to prayer. We are a country of diverse language and cultures, and built on the principles of ubuntu. We, as South Africans, have to practise acceptance and social cohesion. With communities comprising various religious groups who have harmoniously and always supported each other over the years, it is distressing that we still find pockets of intolerance and bigotry within our rainbow nation. Selfishness is a cancer that has enveloped us. The fear of God…

THE family of Poobalan Mari want the eThekwini Municipality to take action against its lifeguards at Brighton Beach. This comes after they allegedly refused to rescue Mari while he was drowning last Tuesday. Mari, 59, from Welbedacht, was employed at Durban Solid Waste (DSW). Dave Govindasamy, his brother, said Mari went to the beach with friends that afternoon. “The friends told me he decided to go for a swim in the tidal pool. They all saw him dive into the pool. After a few minutes, they grew concerned because his head did not emerge from the water. “They screamed out his name and still there was no sign of him. Realising he may have drowned, his friends ran to the lifeguards on duty for help. “His friends claimed that the…

Shashikant Pedwal, Amitabh Bachchan lookalike and impersonator, will perform in Durban at the weekend. With an Instagram following of almost 600 000, Pedwal has been featured in leading media platforms in India, including The Hindustan Times, India Today and Entertainment Times. Born in Lasalgaon, a town in India’s state of Maharashtra, Pedwa was raised in Dhule and now lives in Pune – both cities are in the same state. The 52-year-old teacher and actor is married to Sharmila. They have two children – Siddhi, 23, and Venktesh, 21. Pedwal is a diesel mechanic teacher by profession at the Government Industrial Training Institute in Pune. He has been performing stage shows as Bachchan for more than a decade. In an interview with POST, Pedwal said: “I like to teach students,…

After starting the World Cup in the shadows, Jordan Henderson has emerged as England’s unsung hero ahead of their heavyweight quarter-final clash with France on Saturday. While England captain Harry Kane and teenage sensation Jude Bellingham are expected to deliver the headline moments against France, Henderson will provide the foundation for his more high-profile teammates to flourish at the Al Bayt Stadium. Henderson has been a divisive figure among England fans, who have often preferred to see more glamorous options in the midfield engine room. But critics of the Liverpool captain’s international form have been forced to eat their words over the last two weeks. Although Henderson was among the substitutes for England’s opening two games in Qatar, Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate has turned to the midfielder in a…

Peer pressure is often an underrated element, but Proteas interim coach Malibongwe Maketa claims his team won’t lose focus of their primary goal of returning to winning ways in Australia. The Proteas are placed second on the ICC World Test championship standings and are still well-placed to secure a spot in next year’s final at The Oval, but they are coming off a 2-1 defeat to England in September. However, it is not just the series defeat that will be hovering in the minds of the Proteas, but the fact that England under coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes are revolutionising the way the five-day game is played. England’s thrilling victory over Pakistan in Rawalpindi on Monday only further entrenched this exciting and entertaining brand of positive cricket, that…

This Sunday will mark 40 days since the death of Pradhil Thakur Rajbansi and his fiancée, Priyanka Nunkumar, who were killed in a collision on the N3 near the Mariannhill Toll Plaza. For Shameen Thakur-Rabjansi, it has been an emotional period as she tries to come to terms with the death of her only child and of Nunkumar, who was not just a future daughter-in-law but also her personal assistant. “It’s very hard, but I try. The amount of work I have to do keeps me occupied, but at the back of my mind I know there is something missing – something that is just not right. It is difficult to get simple things done, but I try. I do whatever is in front of me and that’s how the…

NewCo, a grower-led consortium of Tongaat Hulett suppliers and growers, has submitted an expression of interest in acquiring the company’s South African mills, refinery, animal feeds subsidiary, and other brands and trademarks. An expression of interest is one of the initial transaction documents shared by a buyer with a seller to indicate a serious interest in a potential takeover. NewCo is a grower-led consortium made up of growers who supply Tongaat Hulett. Simon Cleasby, NewCo’s spokesperson, said: “The offer is made on behalf of growers delivering more than 5 million tons of sugar cane to the Tongaat Hulett mills in the North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal in order to ensure the survival of these farming operations, the thousands of livelihoods they support, and socio-economic stability for the greater region.” The consortium…

PAVERSHREE Padayachee is at the forefront of fighting for human rights in South Africa. Padayachee, 43, from Pietermaritzburg, is a senior legal officer for the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC). She is also the acting provincial manager for the commission’s KwaZulu-Natal branch. The SAHRC is an independent organisation that aims to support constitutional democracy by promoting, protecting and monitoring the attainment of everyone's human rights in South Africa. The commission has led investigations into the July 2021 unrest and more recently, the April flood disaster in KZN. In 1997, Padayachee matriculated from Heather Secondary School in Pietermaritzburg and enrolled at the then University of Natal, now known as the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). In 2001, the mother of three completed a Bachelor of Social Science Degree and in 2003…

FORGET about the shame of Phala Phala, the changing fortunes at the World Cup and the kaput air fryer you thought was the jackpot on Black Friday. It has hit me that we face a worldwide dilemma – the loss of a cherished accoutrement that completed the daily dressing ritual of men and women. Many among today’s younger generation might not know that long before Spotify or Apple Music, we had to rewind tapes on a cassette player if we wanted to hear our favourite songs again. They might also not know about transistor radios, Yellow Pages, telegrams, paper road maps and, wait for it … handkerchiefs. Yes, handkerchiefs, or hankies for short. They have become near extinct. Does anybody carry a handkerchief anymore? I ask this not as a…

WITH reference to the story “Indian languages are dying” (POST, November 23-27). Although many of the so-called leaders in the community are blaming everything on the slowly dying Indian languages, a lot of the blame rests with Indians themselves. Most had concentrated on English as, admittedly, it was the bread- and-butter language. It enabled them and their children to seek education, employment and a better life for themselves during discrimination in the apartheid era. Learning, practising and keeping Indian languages alive was put on the back burner. Despite some organisations making efforts to teach the Indian languages to keep them alive, the people themselves did not play active roles in promoting these languages among their children and the subsequent generations. It would be appreciated if the POST could play a…

THE announcement by mayor Mxolisi Kaunda that all Durban beaches would open on December 1 took me by surprise. For a start, I am a councillor in the same council as the mayor. Records will confirm that the poor condition of the city’s waste treatment plants is contributing to high E coli levels found in the water on beaches. In September, Talbot, an independent water treatment company issued a similar warning. E coli is a faecal bacteria commonly found in the intestines of animals and humans. Its presence in the water is an indicator of sewage contamination. The main contributor of E coli contamination in Durban is due to the deplorable state of the city’s water treatment plants. Despite various warnings issued by city officials over the years, the…

A 73-year-old man who went missing from his home in Chatsworth was found at the Phoenix Mortuary following an alleged hit-and-run accident in Merebank. Patrick Kommireddi was last seen by his family on November 7 when he left his home to go to the Moorton Shopping Centre in Chatsworth. His niece, Charlotte Ryan, said the family had been looking for him ever since. “Every day, whoever was available looked for him. Whenever we heard that he may have been spotted somewhere, family members drove around the area trying to find him. “We checked the hospitals, but we did not think of checking the morgue. “We heard that he was seen at the Merebank shopping centre, so I sat there whenever I had the time, hoping to find him.” Ryan said…

WITH all the dirt and debris plaguing our waters for the last few weeks, the fishing has not been fantastic. That being said, there have been a few great catches all round. Water colour and lures. First, lure action and profile is more important than colour. If the water is coloured you need to fish with something with a solid silhouette. Colours for this include purple and black. These stronger colours provide a fantastic silhouette for the game fish to zone in on. Other great choices for lures include noise and vibration. These are key when the water gets very dirty. Look for lures that vibrate on their retrieve and/or have rattles inside. The offshore fishing has been slow but those putting the time in have managed to get fish…