Table of contents for 2023-09-20 in Post

500g minced lamb 100g caul fat (ask your butcher for some) 1 small onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 tsp each of ground coriander, cumin and paprika salt and black pepper to taste Soak the caul fat in cold water for 15 to 20 minutes to remove any excess salt and to make it pliable. Rinse well and pat dry with a paper towel. In a mixing bowl, combine the minced meat, chopped onion, minced garlic, ground coriander, ground cumin, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Mix well. Lay a piece of the soaked caul fat on a clean surface. Take a small amount of the meat mixture and shape it into a small patty. Place the patty in the centre of the caul fat. Fold the caul fat…

Chimichurri is an Argentinian “after-cooking marinade”. Add to chops, steak, chicken, vegetables or seafood after braaing for a fresh, yet tangy flavour. 1 cup fresh parsley leaves ¼ cup fresh coriander leaves 4 cloves garlic ½ red onion 1 tsp red pepper flakes 2 tbs red wine vinegar ½ cup olive oil salt and pepper to taste Blend the ingredients in a food processor until it becomes a vibrant green sauce. Taste and adjust. Add more chilli for more bite. You are looking for a balance between the acidity and freshness from the herbs.…

For a Braai Day feast to remember, this year, I will be doing tomahawk steaks and braaied apple and custard slice for dessert, but making sure to make it extra special with a few simple tweaks. Because it’s a holiday I want to balance a great meal with time with the family. So just a main and dessert. For Heritage Day, it’s worth treating the family to a show-stopper steak. I love a tomahawk (ribeye on the bone). A thick cut lamb chop will also work. steak/chops: 1 steak of your choice (serves two, so double up if you will be feeding the family), or thick cut lamb chops 2 tbs olive oil 2 tsp salt 1 tsp black pepper 4 cloves garlic (crushed) a handful of fresh rosemary sprigs…

The abuse of the elderly in the Indian community is not being reported to the police because the victims are afraid of being humiliated and embarrassed. This is according to the lawyer representing Devika Rani Seeripat, a 73-year-old woman who was found guilty of murdering her daughter, Ashrika Seeripat, 42. Her co-accused, Patrick Mkula, 42, who worked as a gardener for the family, was also found guilty of the murder. At the time of her death in July last year, Ashrika was unemployed but had previously worked as an actress. She was strangled to death at her home in Kadville Heights, Umzinto, in what was made to appear a robbery. However, in the days thereafter, police arrested her mother, Mkula and their domestic helper, Bongi Mbili, 54. Mbili subsequently…

Lawrence and Rebecca Naidoo have advised couples to speak to their elders before considering marriage. The couple, who were born and raised in Umbogintwini on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary last week. “We have known each other since childhood. We were raised in Umbogintwini Barracks. It was an Indian barracks for families and employees of AECI (African Explosive and Chemical Industries). “The barracks consisted of long white buildings in rows. It had a sports ground, temple, church, hall, boxing arena and drive-in. Rebecca and I lived about a five-minute walk from each other, yet we did not play together when we were younger, nor did we attend the same school. We met in our twenties when we were both working,” said Lawrence, now 85. On September…

SEPTEMBER is Public Service Month in South Africa, a month that provides a reminder of what it means to serve communities, and to also look at the impact the government has, especially around issues of service delivery. The country is faced with a complex problem in the local government sphere, which has become an elephant in the room. This elephant is the dismal and declining state of service delivery in some municipalities, and the urgent need to restore their service-delivery systems and public administration before we face a collapse of the municipalities. Such a collapse would be detrimental to the communities the municipalities are supposed to serve. According to the South African Government website, as part of Public Service Month, public servants are expected to roll up their sleeves and…

“Let them eat cake.” This is a line attributed to Marie Antoinette, the queen of France. She didn’t say it but the attitude insinuated in the line reflected the feelings of the monarchy and the filthy rich towards the downtrodden and poverty-stricken masses of France. It was, to quote a well-worn cliché, the straw that broke the camel’s back. What happened thereafter is history. It gave rise to the mother of all uprisings against the aristocracy and the well heeled, the French Revolution. Revenge against the nobility and the monarchy was bloody, callous and swift. The revolution had a domino effect in Europe where the downtrodden finally claimed their rights to a better life (sound familiar?). History is probably the most hated school subject, yet it is a prescient indicator…

OUR country needs excellent leaders. I was elated to read about the launch of the National Independent Congress of South Africa (Nicsa). It will be led by a man who in many ways has been the tireless and unrelenting voice of the voiceless and marginalised, Narendh Ganesh. We have reached a crossroad in political terms. The current leadership of the country shows no sign of improving. The time has come to get new leaders who have the interest of the people and country at heart. Some of them have now become political opportunists. This must stop. Ganesh has become a consistent fighter for the rights of the people for decades – irrespective of race, religion or ethnicity. He is unafraid of taking on the highest office in the land. Ganesh…

THE police are adamant that the implementation of the five-year National Rural Safety Strategy (NRSS) in urban and rural areas will help combat farm attacks. In October 2021, General Khehla John Sitole, the national commissioner of the SAPS, engaged with Agri SA, TLU SA and AfriForum to develop a plan on rural safety. At the meeting, they formed national and local Joint Rural Safety Command Centres. The centres are responsible for implementing the operational plan of the rural safety strategy with the ultimate objective of reducing crime in rural areas. Colonel Athlenda Mathe, the national police spokesperson, said the strategy was currently in the third year of implementation and by the end of the 2022/2023 financial year, a total of 830 of the 906 urban and rural police stations would…

THE judgment in the matter between the eThekwini Municipality and the Westville Ratepayers Association’s (WRA) rates dispute was reserved last Thursday. This was after five residents, who took part in the Westville ratepayers boycott, recently had their municipal services cut by eThekwini Municipality. The ratepayers association had applied for an interdict in the Durban High Court against the municipality, which was meant to be heard in November. The interdict was aimed at preventing the municipality from disconnecting the water and electricity of residents participating in the payment boycott of their rates and utility bills. The WRA is disputing the tariff hikes by the municipality, which came into effect on July 1. The increases were imposed despite concerns by ratepayers groups that they were too costly. Rates went up by 7.9%…

AUTHORITIES in India are trying to contain a rare outbreak of Nipah, a virus which is spread from animals to humans that has a high mortality rate. The first Nipah outbreak was recorded in 1998, after the virus spread among pig farmers in Malaysia. The virus is named after the village where it was discovered. Outbreaks are rare but Nipah has been listed by the World Health Organization (WHO), alongside Ebola, Zika and Covid-19, as one of several diseases deserving of priority research for their potential to cause a global epidemic. Nipah usually spreads to humans from animals or through contaminated food, but it can also be transmitted directly among people. Fruit bats are the natural carriers of the virus. Symptoms include intense fever, vomiting and a respiratory infection, but…

THE offshore fishing has been a bit slow this past week. Most of the guys have been making trips far down south for the bigger bottom fish but local waters have had fish. The North Coast has seen most of the “popular spots” busy with launches. Some of the spots have fished better in the deeper spots than normal, so don’t be afraid to paddle or drive a bit further out with your fillet baits or lures. Always fun when a couta or tuna jumps on that snoek tackle ... The Durban coast has been busy. The shallow reefs around the beachfront have seen some light tackle action for the guys but most of the better fish have been targeted out deep. The tuna are around in patches. Live bait…

LOCAL radio presenter Lance Nayager, formerly of Megazone Bollywood 104.8FM, recently started at Durban Youth Radio, 105.1 FM DYR, presenting on Saturdays. Born and raised in Phoenix, Nayager, 30, has been working in radio for 13 years. “Megazone opened many doors for me, such as being nominated by Liberty Radio Awards in the category Best Breakfast Show alongside the owner of Megazone, Vishal Maharaj. “I’m grateful to the Megazone team for believing in me at the start of my career, and I wish them the best. “This new journey has paved the way to a new audience and the opportunity to motivate and assist younger presenters and local talent within the greater Durban area,” said Nayager. His full-time day job is with the Hollywood Foundation, under Hollywoodbets, as a social…

Nothing beats a juicy, smoky chicken done on the rotisserie. You need an attachment for the braai, but it is well worth the investment. 2 whole chickens salt and pepper smoked paprika olive oil garlic powder Light a fire on one side of the braai for indirect cooking. Meanwhile, rub the chicken in olive oil and the dry ingredients. The chicken will be very smoky, so keep the rub simple to accentuate that. Set up the chicken on the rotisserie and braai for about 45 minutes to an hour, with the lid on to capture the smoke. The chicken should be served at 74ºC at a minimum.…

4 apples, peeled and sliced 5 tbs butter 1 tbs brown sugar ½ tsp cinnamon 10g gelatine powder 1 litre custard 200g Tennis Biscuits Combine the apples, butter, brown sugar and cinnamon, and heat on the braai. Once softened, remove from the pan and char the apple slices. Dissolve the gelatin in 3 tablespoons of cold water. Add to the custard and mix thoroughly. Cover the base of a greased baking dish with crushed Tennis Biscuits. Add half the custard and refrigerate to set. Once done, add the apples in an even layer and cover with the remaining custard. Finish with another layer of crushed Tennis Biscuits. Leave in the fridge to set, until ready to serve.…

Aurets is a healer, psychic medium, intuitive mentor, masseuse and regression therapist. She also teaches meditation and breath work. She is passionate about holistic care and offers a small range of holistic products. Aurets practises in the Upper Highway, KZN. Find her on https://www.facebook.com/healing 1920. Contact her at 079 356 4657 or theeternalbreath@gmail.com ARIES (March 21 – April 19) You are back on track, making decisive decisions. Do not falter. You are heading in the right direction, aligning yourself with your true life purpose. Be brave in taking action. More information will be gathered to support all decisions. Magic number: 8. TAURUS (April 20 – May 20) It is time to come in from the cold, rejoin your tribe, work, community, family and friends. For each it is different.…

THE KwaZulu-Natal Pakistan Association is concerned about the safety of their nationals in South Africa after the death of two businessmen in the city centre last Wednesday. Sohail Amal and Mudassir Iqbal from North Beach owned Shabir Motors. They were shot multiple times and died at their showroom in Hunter Street. Zafar Mehdi, the chairperson of the association, said the men, who were from Pakistan, had been running the showroom for about nine years. “We are not sure about the motive for the killings. As an association, we are concerned about the safety of our nationals in the country. This is one of many incidents whereby our nationals have been killed. “These men left their country to come to South Africa to set up their business. Their aim was to…

HUSBAND and wife, Kiran Singh and Dr Alyssa Ramdass, will travel to Barcelona to represent South Africa in the World Bodybuilding Championship. Earlier this month, they represented KwaZulu-Natal in a national body-building competition in Mpumalanga. It was hosted by the International Federation of Bodybuilding South Africa. Singh, 37, a firefighter, was placed first in the muscular physique category under 178cm. Ramdass, 29, was placed second in the women’s physique category, open line-up. She is a dentist, doing her final year post-graduate diploma in oral surgery at UWC. The couple are from Pinetown. Singh said: “The national win was surreal. I went in with a mindset of placing in the top 3, but to win my division was mind-blowing. “With the disability of my left leg, using a prosthesis makes it…

NESTLED along the picturesque sea shore on one side of Durban South and the puffing refinery towers on the other, the vibrant community of Wentworth exudes a rich cultural tapestry. It proudly reflects the resilience of its residents for more than five decades. Throughout its history, this township, initially established as a result of apartheid’s separate development policies, has nurtured freedom fighters, sports people, academics, professionals, and artists who have defied all odds. In commemoration of this heritage, the Wentworth Heritage Festival will take place at Transhaven on Treasure Beach Road from September 22 to 25. The festival aims to celebrate the diversity of the Wentworth community, while promoting unity, understanding, social cohesion, and appreciation for the shared struggles and triumphs experienced by its residents. Recognising the cultural, artistic, sporting,…

“Israeli forces attack Palestinian worshippers at Al-Aqsa Mosque,” read a recent headline of a story published by Al-Jazeera, the media outlet in the Middle East. It was the latest development in a saga that spans decades. It happened on the eve of Rosh Hashanah, when Israeli forces pushed out Palestinians worshipping at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, so that Jewish settlers could celebrate their new year. Recently, Amnesty International referred to Israel as an apartheid regime because Palestinians were treated as an inferior racial group and systematically deprived of their rights. Not too far away lies Qatar, a country that recently hosted a soccer World Cup tournament. A few years ago, the UN released a report that highlighted “serious concerns of structural racial discrimination against non-nationals”. Those who felt the full brunt…

LAST week, I delivered the keynote speech on the topic of economic justice at ActionSA’s inaugural policy conference. To borrow the painful words that the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu once said: “Our Rainbow Nation that so filled the world with hope is being reduced to a grubby shadow of itself. The fabric of the nation is splitting at the seams…” This is certainly the reality South Africa finds itself in. Our country’s legacy of racial division remains unresolved. Instead, we are starting to see other divides and prejudices starting to manifest. We are becoming an intolerant nation and further divided. The current ruling government’s failure to address socio-economic injustices over the last three decades has contributed to the increased marginalisation of many South Africans. ActionSA is striving towards a South…

THE death of Muthulutchmee “Girlie” Pillay of Pelican Park, in Cape Town, last month has been a shock to members of her large family in Durban and Cape Town, as she was in good health. The family had celebrated her 90th birthday two weeks earlier. Girlie, as she was known, was admitted to the Victoria Hospital in Wynberg after falling two days earlier. She died peacefully on August 19 surrounded by her children and grandchildren. Girlie was the third daughter of the late Mr and Mrs Jimmy Veeran formerly of 126 Trimborne Road in Cato Manor. Before her departure to Cape Town in the early ’60s, she lived next to the Mayville State Aided School in Grammar Road. She married Pat Pillay in 1957 and they had two children, Gregory…

THE recent statistics in the latest Governance, Public Safety and Justice Survey, showing that crime is rising, came as no surprise, said Mary de Haas, a crime expert. “It will remain high until something is done about policing in the country,” she said. According to the 2022/2023 survey, which was released by Statistics SA, about 1.1 million households experienced housebreaking/burglary in 2022/23 – the most common crime experienced. In addition: 57 000 households experienced murder in the past five years. 49 000 households experienced a sexual offence in the past five years. Murder increased by 43% in the last year. Sexual offences increased by 53% in the last year. When it came to individual experience of crime, about 1.2 million people over the age of 16 experienced theft of personal…

leftover mac and cheese 1 egg per cup tomatoes, liquidised with herbs and garlic toppings – braaied sausage, bacon bits, hot sauce, more cheese, etc. Light the camp fire and let it burn down to produce a good bed of hot coals. You want a small, controlled fire for cooking. Place the tin cup over the hot coals or on a grill grate above the fire. Add the cooked macaroni, some liquidised tomato, and crack an egg on to the top. Cover with foil and slow cook on the embers. Once the egg is cooked, uncover and add the toppings of your choice.…

Most of these tips will also work for lamb chops. The cut: Start with a high-quality cut of meat. My favourites include ribeye, Denver and sirloin with a good fat cap. My family loves fillet, but it does not have enough fat for me. The breed: If it’s a special occasion, try to find Black Angus. The age: If you can, go for an aged steak. “Wet aged” involves ageing the steak in the bag, to develop flavour while retaining moisture. “Dry aged” is when the meat is hung for about 30 days. This is the gold standard for flavour. The seasoning: Do it liberally, and refrigerate overnight. Leave it uncovered in the fridge. The rack will allow the cold fridge air to circulate around the steak. This will “dry…

KIRUBAN Naidoo was born on October 28, 1942, and transcended the boundaries of athleticism. As we celebrate his life, we uncover a story of resilience, triumph and inspiration. Naidoo, now 81, lives at Mount Edgecombe Estate. He defied categorisation. He was not confined to a single sport but ventured into athletics, cricket and golf. As a pupil at Gandhi Desai School, he balanced his academic pursuits with sports. His talent was undeniable. Naidoo’s journey began at the Rosebank Sporting Club of Durban and led him to England’s Hernhill Harriers. One of his achievements was his victory over Harry Jerome, a joint world record holder in the 100 metres in the Interstate Championship in 1973. Naidoo’s reign as the Natal champion in the 100 and 220 yards from 1959 to 1969…

THERE won’t be Indians anymore. They will be called Bharats. If some mad politicians have their way, India would disappear and Bharat would be its name. There is a push by some political circles in India, especially the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), to change the country’s Anglicised name to Bharat. At the G20 summit in New Delhi, the placard in front of where Narendra Modi, the prime minister of India, sat did not read “India”, but “Bharat”. Adding more fuel to the speculation that a name change could be imminent was that the invitations to the dinner did not say they were from the prime minister of India, but the prime minister of Bharat. Also, the officials at the summit had badges with “Bharat” written on them. While “Bharat”…

THE DA in eThekwini has written to the public protector and auditor-general to request that they protect the residents from the ANC/EFF coalition of corruption, which seeks to see the continued rise in fruitless and wasteful expenditure by funding banquets and parties in the city. This comes after two reports from the July/August eThekwini council meeting that saw the city approve R1.7 million directed to the City Stars Awards and R10.9m for other parties. These amounts were in addition to a ludicrous proposal made by the city earlier this year to lease an exclusive cigar lounge to host official meetings. The continued pillage of the city’s resources by the ANC-EFF doomsday coalitions speaks to a bigger problem. The ANC and EFF are hell-bent on securing as much funding as possible…

WITH the South African economy contracting year on year and food inflation being buoyant, one wonders how those at the tail-end of life’s totem pole are coping. With the relentless calculations on how to provide for their families, it is a miracle how many still wake up in the morning after going to bed with crumbs. They seemingly have the ability to satiate their hunger but their pleading eyes tell a different story. Urban starvation is alive and well. It is a leading catalyst for crime. Unemployment is a key driver of poverty. Look daily at the pavement archaeologists who dig into the black bin bags and the grim reality hits home. Wherever you see a queue, free meals are being served at the other end. For many it will…

THE Muslim community has objected to the Department of Health’s new policy preventing nurses from wearing headscarves during working hours. According to the health department, a virtual meeting held in March to which the public was not invited, had resolved, among others, that headscarves would not be allowed on duty. It was also resolved that moustaches and beards should be neatly trimmed. A circular was later sent out informing nurses of the policy. The Islamic Medical Association of South Africa (Imasa), with bodies such as the Jamiatul Ulama of SA (Council of Muslim theologians) have lodged objections and requested exemption for Muslim nurses. Dr Mohammed Irshad Moosa, the Imasa president, wrote to Dr Sandile Buthelezi, the Health Director General, in August. He said the organisation represented more than 2 000…

A 15-YEAR high in rice prices, prompted by top exporter India’s restrictions on overseas sales, should be a wake-up call on how climate change can disrupt food supplies, experts say. Rice prices rose by 9.8% last month, bucking decreases in other staples, the Food and Agriculture Organization said. That followed the July decision by India, which accounts for 40% of global rice exports, to ban the overseas sale of non-basmati rice. The government cited soaring domestic prices for the staple, caused by geopolitics, the El Niño weather pattern and extreme climatic conditions. This year is expected to be the hottest in human history, and the impacts of the seasonal El Niño weather pattern could make conditions harsher. Despite severe flooding in parts of northern India, August was the country’s hottest…

SOUTH African director of rugby Rassie Erasmus describes himself as “a quiet, uncomplicated person” and far from the extrovert many perceive him to be. The 50-year-old divides opinion, his supporters as forthright in their defence of him as those in the opposing camp are in venting their spleen. And the critics will be especially watchful this week. They will assess with a fine tooth comb how he talks about referee Ben O’Keeffe in both the lead-up and after Saturday’s Rugby World Cup pool game between his defending champions Ireland, the world’s No 1 ranked team. His rants against referees, allied with sarcastic remarks in tweets about them, has landed him in trouble. World Rugby banned him for 12 months after he savaged referee Nic Berry in the first Test with…

MIKEL Arteta expects Declan Rice to play a pivotal role in Arsenal’s return to the Champions League as the England midfielder prepares to make his debut in the tournament against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday. The Gunners are back in the Champions League for the first time since 2016/17, giving Rice his first taste of Europe’s elite club competition after his close-season move from West Ham. Arteta splashed out £100 million on the midfielder precisely for occasions such as PSV’s visit to the Emirates Stadium in Arsenal’s opening Group B fixture. The 24-year-old has made a confident start to life with Arsenal, scoring his first goal for the club in dramatic fashion against Manchester United on September 3. Rice’s finish deep into stoppage time put Arsenal on course for a 3-1…

SPANISH tennis star Rafa Nadal reiterated on Monday that finishing his career in 2024 remained his sgoal, while admitting he had had two operations for his hip injury. “I said that possibly 2024 was my last year, I maintain that, but I can not confirm it 100 % because I do not know,” Nadal told Movistar. The 37-year-old announced in May that the hip injury he suffered at the Australian Open in January meant he had to step away from the sport to try to come back stronger. Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam winner, said on Monday that he “would like to play again and be competitive again”. “My hope is not to return to win Roland Garros or win (in) Australia. So that people are not confused, all that…