Table of contents for 2024-04-10 in Post

THERE was something magical in the air in Pretoria on the night of March 16 – a Bolly-Jazz Symphonic Encounter. The title was inviting yet enigmatic. This concert, hosted by the Tshwane University of Technology’s (TUT) Faculty of Arts and Design, was a first. Over 600 guests were treated to a programme of jazzy greats with an African twist, Bollywood hits, township jazz, classical Bharatanatyam dancers and sparkling African contemporary dancers. The fusion of different genres of music, song and dance – and costumes and colours – proved to be a heady cocktail. The Faculty of Arts and Design at TUT embarked on an ambitious project to create a groundbreaking event that would showcase the diverse artistic offerings within the faculty and address the crucial issues of creative industries and…

Mallaya-Pandya is a UK-based intuitive life coach. For more information, visit www.mysticsisters-uk.com or find her on social media @mysticsisters ARIES: March 21 – April 19 This is a time of reawakening and healing. There are a few things that you feel that hurt you. The time to let go is now. The solar eclipse, Mercury retrograde are on your side. Just go. Highs: Feeling loved. Lows: Destroying happy moments. TAURUS: April 20 – – May 20 It’s time to do a spiritual cleanse. An emotional and cosmic cleanse too. Unrealistic dreams have derailed you. Get back into the driving seat and sort your life out. Highs: New connections in love. Lows: Intense arguments. GEMINI: May 21 – June 20 This is a time for grounding. The Mercury retrograde is…

THE film, Kaam Chalu Hai, which stars Rajpal Yadav in the lead, is based on a real-life story and showcases the impact of potholes leading to road accidents. It follows the story of Yadav’s character, of a father inspired by Manoj Patil whose world revolves around his daughter, Gudiya, and wife, Radha. Fulfilling his daughter’s dream to become a cricketer is his mission in life. Gudiya gets selected for a cricket tournament. His life takes a tragic turn when Gudiya’s dreams and life are shattered in an accident. The crux of the story is how the father turns his mourning into a mission and does something exceptional to protect another daughter from dying the same death as Gudiya. Yadav said: “Kaam Chalu Hai is a deeply moving, inspiring and heartwarming…

EXCITEMENT is reaching a fever pitch as Pooja Entertainment’s latest offering, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, releases today (Wednesday) – as an Eid release – promising a blend of action and camaraderie. Starring Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff, alongside Prithviraj Sukumaran, this larger-than-life spectacle is poised to set screens ablaze with its heart-racing thrills and laughter-inducing moments. Producer Jackky Bhagnani and director Ali Abbas Zafar have joined forces to craft what looks to be a cinematic extravaganza, combining adrenaline-pumping action sequences with rib-tickling comedy. Kumar reportedly said: “The combination of action and comedy, coupled with real stunts, makes this project close to my heart. In this film, I have tried to raise the bar, working with a wonderful team and performing real stunts is what I shall remember for a lifetime.…

250 g butter ½ cup sugar 2 tbs oil 1 tsp vanilla essence a pinch of salt 2 eggs 3 cups cake flour 2 level tsp baking powder Cream the butter and sugar very well. Add the oil and beat. Add the eggs and vanilla essence, and beat. Lastly, add the sifted flour and baking powder. Mix to a nice, not too stiff, biscuit dough. Roll out the dough on to a floured surface. Use the biggest scone cutter to cut out rounds. Press it into a prepared muffin or cupcake pan. Bake at 180°C for 12 to 15 minutes or until light browned. When it is cold, place a spoonful of caramel in the centre and then pipe fresh cream around it.…

250g butter 1 cup sugar 2 tbs oil 1 egg (slightly beaten) 1 tbs vanilla essence 2 cups coconut 1 cup pecan nuts, chopped 1½-2 cups cake flour, sifted 2 level tsp baking powder a pinch of salt cherries, sprinkles or nuts for decor Beat the butter well. Add the sugar a little at a time until all is used up. Beat well. Add the oil and beat well. Add the egg and vanilla essence, and beat. Add the coconut and pecan nuts, and beat again. Add the sifted dry ingredients, a little at a time until the dough is soft and workable. If you have added too much flour, add a little oil to soften it. Roll out the dough on a floured surface; not too thin or…

4 eggs 2 cups sugar 250g butter, melted 2 tbs oil 2 tsp vanilla essence 240g milk chocolate, cut into pieces 1 cup cake flour 1/3 cup cocoa (use less if the cocoa is very strong) ½ tsp bicarb 1 level tsp salt 1 cup pecan nuts Heat the oven to 170°C. Mix the melted butter and cocoa. Let it cool. Sift the dry ingredients and set aside. Beat the eggs well. Add the sugar and beat until creamy. Add the cooled butter, oil and vanilla essence. Add the dry ingredients and mix carefully until well incorporated. Fold in the chocolate and pecan nuts until just combined. Line 2 baking pans (30cmX20cm) with parchment paper. Spoon the mixture into the trays and smooth the top. Bake for 25 to…

A WOMAN who spent 17 years as a businessman’s life partner has failed in her bid to lay claim to a share of his death benefit totalling R21.3 million. Fathima Sayed complained to the Pension Funds Adjudicator that the Old Mutual Superfund Provident Fund should not have paid A Singh’s full death benefit only to his two biological daughters. Sayed was aggrieved that she had been excluded as a beneficiary of the death benefit, although she had received R7 million from a life policy at Singh’s death; was bequeathed immovable property estimated at R1.7 million; and receives R35 000 each month in terms of Singh’s will. Singh was a member of the fund until he passed away on July 24, 2021. He was survived by Sayed, her son, his (Singh’s)…

SOARING food prices, coupled with the recent fuel and electricity tariff hikes, will exacerbate the struggle of South Africans to put quality and nutritious food on their tables. Last week, the fuel prices increased, while Eskom’s 12.74% electricity price hike for the 2024/25 financial year came into effect on April 1. The Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity (PMBEJD) group’s household affordability index for March 2024, revealed that an average household food basket costs R5 277.93. This was an increase by R311.72 (6.3%) from R4 966.20 in March 2023. The food basket is made up of basic foods varying from carbohydrates to proteins, which are vitamin-enriched and add nutritional value to one’s diet. The cost of the Durban household food basket increased by R372.71 (7.7%) from R4 871.40 in March 2023…

TRACY Chapman’s catchy lyrics: She’s got her ticket, I think she’s gonna use it …came to mind when we got news that the Chatsworth to Merebank railway line might be chugging again. There is such nostalgia about the trains. In the euphoria of South Africa’s hosting of the 2010 Fifa World Cup, we both travelled with our children on the Westville, Malvern to Durban railway line, disembarking at the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium to get a glimpse of the world’s finest footballers. It was a magical time for South Africans; it was our time to shine on the world stage, 16 years after we became a democratic nation in 1994. The staging of the Fifa World Cup heralded First-World developments that led to a revamp of ailing apartheid-era infrastructure, originally…

ASHTI Juggath, who grew up in Verulam and is a pharmacist in Johannesburg, recently clinched the Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) award for the best emerging author, for her debut novel, Peaches and Smeets. Sponsored by the National Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences, the HSS Awards spotlight outstanding contributions from higher education institutions within the humanities and social sciences domain. The novel offers the younger generation, especially, valuable insights into the past, into Hindu traditions and practices in South Africa, and into the struggle for emancipation of women from past generations. “South Africa has such a rich and diverse population but the history of minorities is not very well known. The Indian diaspora is quite vast globally. In each country, this community has its own unique experiences, while…

THE terrorist attack in Moscow and the Baltimore bridge incident in the USA have resulted in a tsunami of conspiracy theories enveloping the world. These incidents gave birth to and spawned a tsunami of conspiracy theories, from the bizarre to the mundane and from the outlandish to the plausible. People gravitate toward conspiracy theories that affirm or validate their political views. The scope and massive widespread distribution of information on the Moscow attack blurs its origins, in a world enveloped in deception, disinformation, misinformation and strategic concealment. Conspiracy theories reinforce a belief that nothing in the world happens through coincidence. This refusal to recognise the role of chance leads many to develop a global view in which sinister and top secret conspiracies permeate all layers of society. Deluged with massive…

As South Africa marks 30 years of democracy, it stands at a crucial juncture; reflecting on its journey of liberation, challenges and the path ahead. The dawn of democracy in 1994 was a beacon of hope, not only for South Africans but for the world, showcasing the power of resilience, forgiveness and unity. The nation, described as a “rainbow nation” by Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, emerged as a symbol of diversity and reconciliation. However, as we navigate through the complexities of the present day, the sheen of this rainbow seems to be fading under the cloud of various challenges that question the very essence of democracy and governance in the country. Accountability, or rather the lack thereof, has been a glaring issue that has eroded the public’s trust in institutions…

THANK you, Yogin Devan, for providing us with the wonderful opportunity in your column, “Stopping religious sacrifice must be a personal decision,” the POST, April 3-7, to reflect on our childhood memories of Isipingo Temple. The temple does not draw the crowd between Good Friday and Easter Monday like the 1970s. The reason being various temples have now used the Amman prayers as a draw card. If my memories serve me correctly, a local temple is concerned more about self-enrichment through the family-owned temple. Even the priests are drawn from the family circle, some of them have no experience, just a dhoti and he becomes a guru. There has to be a change of thinking from our devotees as well. Many temples, including the Cato Manor Temple, allowed animal sacrifice.…

CRIMINOLOGIST Niven Naidoo says creating propaganda and inciting violence is much easier now, because of social media. According to Naidoo, who specialises in data analysis for safety and security, police did not have a method of investigating online crimes, which he said was widespread. “Requirements preventing such crimes are lacking. Social media gives an ‘instigator’ an option to broadcast thoughts to the entire country. One can also target the post to a specific audience or persons via social media websites. This is the age of propaganda. It takes 10 hours to investigate a post, but if Facebook thinks it’s according to the guidelines, they don't remove it,” he said. Naidoo added that creating division was a tactic commonly used by political parties to break up the voting groups, allowing the…

THANK you, Yogin Devan, for providing us with the wonderful opportunity in your column, “Stopping religious sacrifice must be a personal decision,” the POST, April 3-7, to reflect on our childhood memories of Isipingo Temple. The temple does not draw the crowd between Good Friday and Easter Monday like in the 1970s because various temples have used the Amman prayers as a draw card. If my memories serve me correctly, a local temple is concerned more about self-enrichment through the family-owned temple. There has to be a change of thinking from our devotees too. Many temples, including the Cato Manor Temple, allowed animal sacrifice. Thankfully, they became enlightened and stopped. Our Tamil scriptures do not endorse the slaughtering of animals for God. It is man-made. However, times have changed, life…

HELLO Jozi, we’re back! POST is thrilled to announce it is again appearing on newsstands in Johannesburg following a flood of requests for the country’s oldest Indian newspaper to again circulate outside KwaZulu-Natal. With the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic resulting in dramatic declines in advertising revenue, POST cut back on print publication in Johannesburg. However, we did not reckon the impact the withdrawal of the print edition would have on our loyal readership in the City of Gold. Although POST was available online, many readers preferred to hold a physical copy of their favourite newspaper, alongside a cup of hot tea, and sev and nuts, rather than subscribing to the e-edition. The good news for our Johannesburg fans is that print copies of POST will be re- turning…

British-Indian actress Fagun Thakrar, who shares the screen with actor Rohit Roy in the film Irah, plays the role of the chief of the British Intelligence Agency. The film delves into artificial intelligence and its ethical dilemmas. Thakrar highlighted the gravity of her role, sharing that when a major crime involving artificial intelligence fell into the wrong hands and remained unsolved, she was called in to address the crisis. Describing her role, she said: “It’s akin to being the head of the MI6, surrounded by numerous bodyguards. Playing this role is fantastic. It’s somewhat reminiscent of James Bond 007, but from the perspective of the top leader.” When asked if her role resembled that of Judi Dench, who played the MI6 boss, Thakrar said: “In the film, any resemblance to…

SUNNY Leone, who was last seen in Kennedy, is joining forces with music composer Himesh Reshammiya and choreographer-director Prabhudeva for a new film. Leone is heading to Muscat to start shooting for the film. The project marks her second collaboration with Prabhudeva. They previously collaborated for a song in a movie titled Petta Rap. Leone and Reshammiya will share screen space for the first time. Leone is hosting the 15th edition of the dating show, Splitsvilla. She said the show was a true reflection of the evolving dynamics of love, staying genuine and connected with the changing trends in relationships. She said: “It resonates with the modern perspective on dating and how the rules have transformed.” |…

Mrunal Thakur is over the moon as film-makers are envisioning her in more complex, layered roles. Thakur also shared her happiness over the quintessential love stories coming back to the silver screen. She said: “I am thrilled that film-makers are envisioning me in roles that are not only soft and gentle but also layered, allowing me to hone my craft as an actor. “Romance as a genre is so beloved, and over time, we have somewhere lost the touch of quintessential love stories, say what the ‘90s Bollywood films were about. “It’s amazing to see that not only are such films coming back, but I definitely feel lucky that I’m getting to work with such varied film-makers and their vision of how romance is played out on the screen.” Thakur…

125g butter or margarine 1½ cups water 1 tsp oil a pinch of salt 1½ cups cake flour (sifted) 6 medium sized eggs (I used 4½ XL eggs) 500ml fresh cream 1 big slab of Cadbury milk chocolate 1 slab Milkybar chocolate Beat the eggs and refrigerate for a few hours before making the eclairs. In a saucepan, bring the water, butter, salt and oil to a boil until the butter has melted. Take it off the heat and add the flour all at once. Mix it quickly with a wooden spoon, then put it back on the heat and let it cook for about a minute while mixing slowly. Take it off the heat and cool slightly. Dish the mixture into a mixer and start beating on medium speed,…

Sponge cake: 5 XL eggs (separated) 1½ cups sugar ¾ cup oil ¾ cup milk 2 tbs plain full cream yoghurt 1/5 cup boiling water 2 tsp vanilla essence 2 cups cake flour ½ cup corn flour 4 tsp baking powder Sift the dry ingredients and keep aside. Beat the egg whites until stiff. Add the sugar a little at a time and beat well. Mix the yolks, oil, yoghurt and vanilla essence. Beat well. Add the milk mixture and mix well. Fold in the dry ingredients but don’t over mix. Pour into a rectangular oven tray and bake at 170°C for 30 to 35 minutes or until done. Chocolate dip: 1½ cups icing sugar 1 cup boiling water 1 tsp vanilla essence 60g butter 3 tbs cocoa Place…

250g butter ½ cup icing sugar ½ cup castor sugar ½ cup cornflour 1/3 cup oil 1 drop elachi essence ½ cup sliced almonds 2 heaped tbs milk powder ½ cup rice flour ½ cup almond flour about 2 cups cake flour 1 level tsp baking powder Beat the butter well until white. Add the icing sugar and castor sugar, and beat well. Add the cornflour and beat. Add the oil and essence, and beat. Add the nuts. Mix well. Add the milk powder, rice flour and almond flour, and mix. Sift the flour and baking powder three times and add it to the butter mixture, while beating until a soft biscuit dough forms. Take ¼ of the dough and roll it on a piece of wax paper. Shape it…

WHEN Monowara Mohamed Bhamjee entered the world of social media in 2009, she joined the Facebook group Grey Street Casbah Recipes, and began posting her recipes. She gained a following as she provided step-by-step pictures of the baking and cooking process. Her personal social media pages took flight. “According to the feedback I received, all my recipes are easy to follow and flop-proof,” said Bhamjee, 58, of Gqebera. The mother-of-six said she was versatile in the kitchen. “I cook, bake and make pastries. I am home-grown and self-made. “I run a business called Nuna’s Delights Foodie Boutique, and work from my home in Malabar. “Last April, I began making butter biscuits. From there, I had a cake sale in my home. I then began selling cakes and pastries at the…

WORKING on an anonymous tip-off, police raided a flat in Oaklands, Verulam, alleged to be linked to Anthony Gounden, where drugs and cash was seized. The raid was conducted by the Verulam Crime Prevention Unit, Verulam Detectives and the District Protest Team on Monday. Jasmin Pillay, 24, was arrested and charged with possession of drugs. She appeared in the Verulam Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday and was released on R10 000 bail. A police source said the Verulam SAPS Crime Prevention Unit received information of drugs being stored at the flat. “We were tipped off that the premises was linked to the notorious Tatu Gang. A large quantity of drugs was found – 290 pieces of rock cocaine valued at R 29 000 and 150 heroin capsules valued at R5 000.”…

EXPERTS predict that climate change will have an impact on the country’s economy, food security and health. Scientists at the South African Weather Service (Saws) said extreme weather – including floods, droughts, heatwaves and veld fires – were the result of an increase in the global surface temperature. Nosipho Zwane, the lead scientist for climate change and variability research at Saws, said the temperatures in the first two decades of the 21st century (2001 – 2020) were about 1ºC higher than in pre-industrial times (1850 – 1900). She said the increase in average temperature had also been linked to intensified extreme weather events. “Agricultural production and food security are dependent on the weather and climate. Climate change also poses a big threat to agriculture and food security. It is…

THE SARVAVIDYA Natyaalaya – run by three “wildly passionate” feminist dancers and artists – has just won the Humanities and Social Sciences award in Best Public Performance for the production Bhumi|Earth. The dance production, which was staged at the Lesedi in Johannesburg and brought awareness of the effects of the climate crisis through Bharatha Natyam, was choreographed, produced and directed by Anusha Pillay, Reshma Chhiba and Panna Dulabh, and performed by their performance wing – the Sarvavidya Dance Ensemble. “We come from a long legacy of Bharatha Natyam training,” said Chhiba, who, together with Pillay and Dulabh, opened the school in Gauteng in 2010. “We are spiritual gangsters, who love all things dance, music, art, spirituality and activism. We are also passionate about womanhood, education, healing and saving our planet.”…

The two greatest legacy promises of the ANC were giving back long-lost freedom and democracy to all South Africans, especially the previously-disadvantaged black people (which at one time meant African, coloured and Indian). But, today we have the largest number of poor people, with a lower education and many living off government grants. We are notorious for having the highest youth unemployment in the world, with adult job seekers living in hopelessness for 30 years. Jobs are reserved now using affirmative action, reverse apartheid, where Africans are disproportionately employed by the government and the private sector based on skin colour and not education, experience or competency. This has resulted in poor or slow service delivery in many sectors. Apartheid has been applied indiscriminately to Indians and coloureds for the second…

I WRITE with mild curiosity and gentle interest but without prejudice. Whether fact, conjecture or scuttlebutt, any post on social media platforms spreads like fire at the click of a button. The hungry public will swallow any hyperbolic nectar despite its poisonous essence. And so the winds of gossip fan the flames for whoever the intended recipient is – in this case Chatsworth attorney Nolan Naicker and two of his colleagues. Lawyers are an integral component of society and the local community goes to them for advice, recourse, compensation and justice. The latest incident involves what seems to be an aggrieved employee making damning allegations against her boss regarding alleged fraud at the Road Accident Fund (RAF) running into millions of rand. The details in the post are intricate…

ANALYSTS have warned that KwaZulu- Natal could become “fatal ground” ahead of the May 29 elections, especially if those who incite violence are not swiftly brought to book. Zakhele Ndlovu, a political analyst, said violence associated with politics was a concerning factor ahead of the polls, particularly in KZN. “There are a number of cases which point to incitement of violence ahead of the elections. “Law enforcement agencies should deal with the culprits and send a strong message to those who think like them, by effecting arrests and convicting them. “This will let the people know that the State will not tolerate this behaviour. “A few years ago, there was havoc with the unrest. The riots in KZN and Gauteng which impacted the economy, destroyed infrastructure and cost people their…

Former Toyota employee, Khela Mngwengwe has been found guilty of hate speech and ordered to publish an “unconditional apology” to the Indian community of South Africa. In an interview with the POST on Tuesday, Mngwengwe said the outcome of the case against him was “fair”. He said he would apologise on social media within 30 days from the date of the order, as per the court’s ruling. Following the July 2021 unrest, Mngwengwe posted a racist comment, inciting and threatening violence against Indians on social media. In his post, he referred to Indians by the derogatory c*****e word. Narendh Ganesh, leader of the National Independent Congress of South Africa (Nicsa), then laid charges against Mngwengwe for promoting and perpetuating hate speech against the Indian community. On Friday, the Equality Court…

WHILE driving to work one morning, I saw a small crowd of domestic workers looking at a man who was intent on dragging a woman along the street against her will. She was crying and begging to be released from his grip as he pounded her body with blows. Clearly this was a case of violence against women that one reads about, talks about, arranges seminars around and writes about, but does nothing else. I turned the car around and yelled at the man to stop but he told me to mind my own business as she was his property. I asked others to help me but was advised against interfering in a domestic matter. “He will knife you, I was warned by a passer-by but I could not simply…

ALL-ROUNDER Romario Shepherd said a clear mind, backing from the skipper and coaching staff and their advice to express himself helped him hammer a 10-ball 39 that eventually proved the difference between victory and defeat for Mumbai Indians against Delhi Capitals in match 20 of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. Playing his first full match for Mumbai after being brought in as an impact player in the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Shepherd knew that this was probably the best opportunity that had come his way and he should make it count. He made it count by hammering 32 runs in the final over bowled by Anrich Nortje, hitting a four, three sixes, another four and a further six in a brilliant display of power-hitting…

THE year is starting to pick up speed and we are almost a quarter of a way through already...Scary facts aside, the fishing continues on a high note all around. Summer is still here and so is the sun. The importance of sun protection cannot be overlooked. Whether you prefer to cover up or use lotions, you have to protect your skin. If you prefer covering up, then a day in the sun will involve a long-sleeved UV-resistant shirt, long pants, a buff, a hat and possibly sun gloves. Sunscreen, on the other hand will need to be re-applied a few times during the day if you prefer to fish in your shorts and T-shirt. The choice is yours – choose one of the two or both, but please protect…

I WRITE with mild curiosity and gentle interest but without prejudice. Whether fact, conjecture or scuttlebutt, any post on social media platforms spreads like fire at the click of a button. The hungry public will swallow any hyperbolic nectar despite its poisonous essence. And so the winds of gossip fan the flames for whoever the intended recipient is – in this case Chatsworth attorney Nolan Naicker and two of his colleagues. Lawyers are an integral component of society and the local community goes to them for advice, recourse, compensation and justice. The latest incident involves what seems to be an aggrieved employee making damning allegations against her boss regarding alleged fraud at the Road Accident Fund (RAF) running into millions of rand. The details in the post are intricate…

SOARING food prices, coupled with the recent fuel and electricity tariff hikes, will exacerbate the struggle of South Africans to put quality and nutritious food on their tables. Last week, the fuel prices increased, while Eskom’s 12.74% electricity price hike for the 2024/25 financial year came into effect on April 1. The Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity (PMBEJD) group’s household affordability index for March 2024, revealed that an average household food basket costs R5 277.93. This was an increase by R311.72 (6.3%) from R4 966.20 in March 2023. The food basket is made up of basic foods varying from carbohydrates to proteins, which are vitamin-enriched and add nutritional value to one’s diet. The cost of the Durban household food basket increased by R372.71 (7.7%) from R4 871.40 in March 2023…

ACTOR Ranbir Kapoor, who is riding high on the success of his last released movie, Animal, was spotted driving his new car – a Bentley Continental GT V8. A video on the internet shows Kapoor wearing a sleeveless T-shirt and driving his new black Bentley near his residence in Bandra. Fans took to the comment section and dropped fire emojis. One user said: “New car for Raha.” Another wrote: “Hot daddy.” Kapoor is married to actress Alia Bhatt and they have a daughter, Raha. Meanwhile, Animal, explores the intricacies of modern-day relationships, focusing on the dynamics between a father and son. It stars Kapoor in a dual role as Ranvijay and Aziz Haque. The movie also stars Anil Kapoor and Bobby Deol.…

PRITHVIRAJ Sukumaran, who is receiving positive responses to his work in the recent film Aadujeevitham, wrapped up the shoot of his new movie titled Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil. The Malayalam comedy was directed by Vipin Das. It narrates the story of a young man entangled in a series of misfortunes during a wedding ceremony, ultimately leading him to marry a woman who had enraged the groom. Sharing pictures from the final day of shooting, the team bid adieu with a promise of a fun-filled entertainer. The caption reads: "That’s the final wrap. See you soon. May 2024 worldwide release." The film was produced under Sukumaran’s own banner, Prithviraj Productions, and features Nikhila Vimal, Anaswara Rajan, Basil Joseph and Yogi Babu in pivotal roles. Meanwhile, Sukumaran also has Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, in…

Double Tuckerr is a maiden directorial venture of Meera Mahadhi. The comic entertainer is receiving rave reviews and is running successfully. This was an unexpected turnaround for the movie makers – as this was a clean movie; devoid of double-barrel dialogues and fight scenes. Hence, it’s a wholesome entertainer for the family. In the opening scene, Arvind (Dheeraj) is left destitute after witnessing his parents perish in a car accident. This accident leaves him physically, emotionally and psychologically scarred. As a result, he finds solace in being alone. His life is taken over by two adorable “angels” – animated characters named Left (Muneesh Kanth) and Right (Kaali Venkat) – who dictate how his life unfolds And what unfolds is a mixture of mishaps and comedy. Mahadhi is applauded for seamlessly…

4 egg whites 1 cup castor sugar ½ tsp cream of tartar ½ tsp vanilla essence 1 tsp corn flour 1 tsp vinegar Beat the egg whites until stiff. Add the castor sugar a little at a time. Continue beating until the castor sugar is used. Beat the meringue for about 10 minutes until glossy. Add the vanilla, corn flour, cream of tartar and vinegar. Beat for another few minutes. Preheat the oven to 130°C. Place baking paper on a baking tray. Shape the pavlovas by making a bottom layer first then piping the sides into a wall. Place the tray in the oven. Bake for 30 minutes and then lower the heat to 100°C. Bake the pavlovas for about 3 hours. Switch off the oven and leave the pavlovas…

3½ cups cake or bread flour 1 tsp baking powder ¾ tsp salt 1/3 cup sugar 4 tbs milk powder 1 packet instant dry yeast 50g butter ¼ cup lukewarm water ¾ cup lukewarm milk 2 heaped tbs plain full-cream yoghurt 1 tsp vanilla essence 2 tbs oil 1 egg Sift the flour, baking powder and salt. Add the sugar, milk powder and dry yeast. Mix well with a hand whisk. Keep aside. Melt the butter. Add the boiling water and mix. Add the milk, yoghurt, vanilla essence, oil and egg. Whisk to combine. Make a hole in the centre of the dry ingredients. Pour in the liquid, then knead the dough for about 10 minutes. It should be soft and pliable. If it’s sticky after you’ve kneaded it, add…

250g butter ¾ cups icing sugar ½ cup castor sugar 1 tsp vanilla essence a pinch of salt 1 medium egg ½ cup corn flour +/-2-2½ cups cake flour 2 tbs oil ½ tsp baking powder Beat the butter well. Add the icing and castor sugars, and beat until creamy. Add the oil and beat. Now add the egg and vanilla essence, and beat. Sift the dry ingredients and add to make a soft and pliable dough. It must not be sticky or dry. Cut out with a cookie cutter. Bake at 180°C for +/- 15 minutes or until light brown. Let it cool. Make a butter cream. Beat 125g butter well for about 10 minutes. Add 1¼ cups icing sugar and beat well. Add 1 tsp vanilla essence and…

“I ACTED in self-defence,” Rohjay Doolabh said in his bail application in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday. Doolabh, 54, from Effingham Heights, a manager at Fidelity ADT, has been charged with the murder of his brother-in-law, Gungapersad Nash Singh, 62, a retired teacher. He has also been charged with the attempted murder of his sister Seema (Singh’s wife). It has been alleged that Doolabh shot Singh four times, outside his home in Newlands West on March 30, following an argument. In his affidavit for bail, read out by his attorney Rajen Nathalall, Doolabh said Singh had a long history of abuse. He described Singh as a “violent, abusive and a vulgar individual”. According to Doolabh on the night of the shooting Seema contacted his wife and told her Singh…

THE extreme weather – including heatwaves and flooding – has resulted in farmers incurring huge financial losses in recent months. Traders at the Bangladesh Market in Chatsworth said their crops and livestock had died as a result of the adverse weather that had continued unabated in KwaZulu-Natal. Shane Maharaj, who has been in the fresh produce and marigold business for many years, said his losses had been running into thousands of rand each month, as the extreme weather had destroyed his produce and flowers. “The peppers rot, and the cabbage and lettuce leaves wilt. We have to remove the outer leaves before we sell them. This makes the product smaller and we have to sell at a lower price,” he said. Normally, he would sell a cabbage or lettuce…

The stillness of the night was occasionally punctuated by the sound of the goods train that transported the coal from the Springs diggings to the gold mines on the Witwatersrand. The railway track was about a mile from the house but was still very audible. Sometimes there was also a disturbance caused by the blasting from the coal mines, which caused the windows to shudder. The blasting was often done at night to reduce the exposure of the workers to the resulting smoke, dust and fumes, and – doubtless more importantly – so as not to affect productivity during daytime work hours. Residents had long-adapted to these percussive night-time intrusions and mainly everyone slept through peacefully. However, when a blood-curdling yell pierced the wee hours one night, everyone in the…

IN THE age of social media and instant connectivity, storytelling has taken on new dimensions. Now, more than ever, individuals from all corners of the globe have the power to share their experiences, shedding light on realities often overlooked by traditional media channels. One such individual is Ahmad Ghunaim, a Gazan travel vlogger, whose journey took an unexpected turn amidst the chaos of conflict. Ghunaim’s story is not just about documenting his homeland’s beauty but also about bearing witness to its trials and tribulations. His upcoming documentary, Ahmad Alive, produced by immersive storytelling company, Seen TV, will premiere in South Africa this month. It encapsulates his harrowing experiences during Israel’s devastating war on Gaza. What began as a pursuit of showcasing Gaza’s beauty evolved into a mission to reveal the…

HELLO Jozi, we’re back! POST is thrilled to announce it is again appearing on newsstands in Johannesburg following a flood of requests for the country’s oldest Indian newspaper to again circulate outside KwaZulu-Natal. With the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic resulting in dramatic declines in advertising revenue, POST cut back on print publication in Johannesburg. However, we did not reckon the impact the withdrawal of the print edition would have on our loyal readership in the City of Gold. Although POST was available online, many readers preferred to hold a physical copy of their favourite newspaper, alongside a cup of hot tea, and sev and nuts, rather than subscribing to the e-edition. The good news for our Johannesburg fans is that print copies of POST will be re- turning…

THERE was something magical in the air in Pretoria on the night of March 16 – a Bolly-Jazz Symphonic Encounter. The title was inviting yet enigmatic. This concert, hosted by the Tshwane University of Technology’s (TUT) Faculty of Arts and Design, was a first. Over 600 guests were treated to a programme of jazzy greats with an African twist, Bollywood hits, township jazz, classical Bharatanatyam dancers and sparkling African contemporary dancers. The fusion of different genres of music, song and dance – and costumes and colours – proved to be a heady cocktail. The Faculty of Arts and Design at TUT embarked on an ambitious project to create a groundbreaking event that would showcase the diverse artistic offerings within the faculty and address the crucial issues of creative industries and…

RETRENCHED THE Aryan Benevolent Homes (ABH) in Chatsworth is facing legal action from 61 health-care workers, who claim they were “unfairly dismissed” during a mass retrenchment. Ray Naguran, general manager at the ABH, confirmed the retrenchments had happened after a restructuring of the organisation. He said the ABH had employed 152 health-care workers in different categories. “Those retrenched included one registered nurse, 31 enrolled nursing assistants and 29 non-qualified caregivers.” Naguran said the restructuring would not compromise the service level offered to residents, and families should rest assured that their loved ones were receiving the requisite care. “Before the retrenchments, the nurse to patient ratio was 1:2. The industry norm is 1:5. The current ABH staff to resident ratio is 1:3. “The ABH, like many other NPOs, has been confronted…

THE Electoral Commission of SA has encouraged parties and candidates to speak out against political violence and/or threats to incite violence. Commission spokesperson, Kate Bapela, said parties needed to let the authorities know about planned political marches or rallies. She also encouraged them to work with the police in any election crime or violence matters. Parties have also been told to accept the results of the election or to challenge the results in court. The electoral code of conduct, Bapela said, contained a list of prohibited conduct, including the use of languages which provoked violence or intimidation of candidates or voters and publishing false information about other candidates or parties. “Carrying arms or weapons at political meetings, marches or rallies, as well as generally abusing a position of power, privilege…

THE Advice Desk for the Abused, which was founded by Professor Anshu Padayachee and Judge Navi Pillay in 1986, has dealt with a large number of cases of domestic abuse in its approximately four decades of existence. One of the instruments that is used to assist complainants of domestic violence is a protection order. This is a legal instrument, which emanates from the Domestic Violence Act 116 of 1998 and is intended to protect the complainant against any form of abuse that includes physical, sexual, emotional, psychological or economic harassment within a domestic relationship. Protection Orders As the protection order was not legally available in the 1980s, activists in the gender-based violence (GBV) sphere resorted to using peace orders to protect complainants. The present equivalent is the harassment order, which…

THE performances of Willy Kambwala and Kobbie Mainoo in Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool show that Manchester United have a bright future, manager Erik ten Hag said. Luis Diaz put Liverpool ahead in the first half at Old Trafford before Bruno Fernandes equalised and 18-year-old Mainoo made it 2-1 for United in the second period. Mohamed Salah’s late penalty rescued a draw for the visitors. Defender Kambwala, 19, made his second league start of the season on Sunday with Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans out due to injury. “I don’t think, at this short notice, they will return,” Ten Hag told reporters of Evans and Varane. “We were convinced (Kambwala) could do the job and he has done brilliant.” Ten Hag is delighted with the contributions of Kambwala and Mainoo…

EVERY golfer, no matter the skill level, feels some pressure in his or her swing during some situations in the round. Be it the first tee box with others watching you or just getting your personal best score in coming down the last few holes. There are two main factors we need to focus on to overcome this. First, you need to take up as much space as you can so you don’t feel cramped in the atmosphere around you. On the tee box or green, walk around to feel the best position in times of pressure. In other words, make yourself bigger to the space and your surroundings as if you own the space. When it’s your turn to play, it’s your stage, take your time and take up…