Table of contents for Wednesday, February 24, 2021 in Post

PUPILS BEAT THE ODDS DESPITE THE DIFFICULTIES OF STUDYING DURING THE PANDEMIC KZN’s top 10 matriculants excel NADIA KHAN AND CHANELLE LUTCHMAN BONGANI MBATHA African News Agency (ANA) Supplied SIBONELO NGCOBO African News Agency (ANA) THE top KwaZulu-Natal matriculants are celebrating the benefits of their hard work depite the effects of a pandemic and lockdowns. On Tuesday, the Department of Education in KZN released details of the province’s top 10 matriculants at a ceremony. The event was held at the Anton Lembede Mathematics, Sciences and Technology Academy in La Mercy. The top pupil was Colombe Obono Eyono, 17, of Westville Girls’ High School. She also placed first in the Pine-town District and second nationally for Quintile 5 schools. Colombe, of Pinetown, said: “I did not expect to do as well…

OPTIMISTIC MINDSET. ‘Parents played a big role’ HE SAID the pupils who had failed must not be too hard on themselves. “There is always a second chance. Look at your results and look at where you can improve. It is important to communicate with your life orientation teacher and get the advice you need.” Mary Metcalfe, an education professor and senior research associate at the University of Johannesburg, said the results were an indication of the stability and hard work of pupils and teachers. She said for those pupils who did not achieve their desired results, there was always a chance to re-write. She said parents played a big role in helping their children have an optimistic mindset. “Parents needs to interact positively with learners and congratulate them on their…

SECOND CHANCE OPINION All hope not lost if you failed or did badly in matric ELOISE NOLTE Pexels.com THE final matric results have been released, marking the end of what was a tumultuous 2020 academic year. With the Covid-19 pandemic forcing schools to close across the country, last year’s matric learners had to deal with extraordinary circumstances. If you are a 2020 matric learner, who is concerned about your end-of-year results – whether that includes not meeting university requirements or even failing the year – there is hope. There are steps you can take to improve your situation in 2021. Here are a few scenarios and options to consider. You have passed matric but you have not achieved your desired results: If you feel that you should have done better than…

QUEENSBURGH GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL ‘Study from day one for good results’ CHANELLE LUTCHMAN chanelle.lutchman@inl.co.za SHREYA Gopaulsingh focused on the good and the positive during her final year, and this held her in good stead. The 18-year-old, who de-stressed with Sudoku and crosswords, achieved 9 distinctions, for English, Afrikaans, Hindi, maths, life orientation, business studies, engineering graphics and design, life sciences and physical sciences. “I have been doing Hindi since primary school. I enjoy the language, so I took it on as an extra subject when I chose my course in Grade 10.” Shreya, of Northdene, said pupils must not procrastinate and should study from day one to see good results. “The work and the workload will be easier. At the end of the day, it all comes down to how…

WESTVILLE GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL Distinctions a result of remaining positive CHANELLE LUTCHMAN chanelle.lutchman@inl.co.za Supplied FIVE Westville Girls’ High School pupils are looking forward to the future. Saiuri Moodley attained 8 As in English, Afrikaans, maths, life orientation, accounting, information technology, life sciences and physical sciences. She said their teachers went above what was expected of them to ensure they had access to resources and motivated them with inspirational messages. Saiuri, of Shallcross, aims to study computer engineering at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) and one day hopes to start her own company. Fatima Essa, of Asherville, achieved 7 distinctions in English, Afrikaans, maths, life orientation, accounting, life sciences and physical sciences. She said despite the lockdown, she remained positive and dedicated to her studies. Fatima wants to study pharmacy and…

ORIENT ISLAMIC SCHOOL Pre-planning and prayer lead to success NADIA KHAN nadia.khan@inl.co.za WHEN you aimed high, pre-plan and pray, nothing is impossible, said three matriculants from Orient Islamic School in Greyville. Sumaiyya Hassim, 18, of Sherwood, achieved eight As in English, Afrikaans, maths, physical sciences, life sciences, accounting, business studies and life orientation. She hopes to study either accounting or medicine. Sumaiyya has been provincially accepted at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) and Wits University to pursue accounting, but awaits feedback from both tertiary institutions about medicine. She would then make a decision. Sumaiyya pre-planned her study timetable. To relax, she read and spent time with her family. “While it has been a tough year, I am now looking forward to my future.” Fellow matriculant Almira Tayob, 18, of Musgrave,…

Twins earn 15 distinctions between them JANINE MOODLEY janine.moodley@inl.co.za FOR top-performing Ballito twins, Zenya and Amera Naicker, studying during the pandemic was not easy. But despite their challenges, the Crawford International – North Coast pupils were a formidable force, attaining 15 distinctions between them. Zenya achieved eight As in accounting, Afrikaans, business studies, English, life orientation, maths, advanced programme maths, and physical sciences. Amera received seven distinctions, in Afrikaans, English, geography, life orientation, life sciences, maths and physical sciences. While similar in many ways, the twins have chosen to pursue different career paths. Zenya plans to study actuarial science and Amera wants to become a doctor. They aim to study at UCT where they have been provisionally accepted. Zenya and Amera, who placed first and second at their school respectively,…

MARIS STELLA SCHOOL Practising yoga and exercises helped calm the mind CHANELLE LUTCHMAN chanelle.lutchman@inl.co.za “SET your routine in advance and work consistently.” That is the advice given by Morningside resident Shriyaa Sooklal, who matriculated with 8 As. The 18-year-old, who attended Maris Stella School, said she had a routine planned out as early as Grade 10. “I started my planning early to ensure that I was not rushing out to get into a routine by my final year because then I would be going crazy,” said Shriyaa. She attained A symbols in maths, English, Afrikaans, life orientation, business studies, accounting, physical sciences and she took on applied maths as an extra subject. Shriyaa said her teachers were supportive and they checked up on her outside of school hours to ensure…

Plans to study overseas NADIA KHAN nadia.khan@inl.co.za PRANJAL Gongal, a matriculant from The Wykeham Collegiate, struggled to focus while learning, but with a strong support system she grasped online learning. Pranjal, 18, of Montrose in Pietermaritzburg, achieved distinctions in English, Afrikaans, life orientation, history, physical sciences, life sciences and maths. “There were a few challenges especially with subjects such as physical sciences and history, where it took me longer to understand concepts via PowerPoint. And it was difficult to answer questions over Microsoft Teams messages, but my friends, over video calls, helped me. I struggled to maintain focus at the beginning, but it became easier after I established a routine.” Pranjal said her parents had done a lot for her and she wanted to achieve results that would make them…

PAEDIATRIC SURGEON APPEARS IN GAUTENG HIGH COURT Medical body bats for doctor after boy’s death JANINE MOODLEY janine.moodley@inl.co.za THE family of Zayyaan Sayed believes justice will be served for them and others if Professor Peter Beale is successfully prosecuted. Beale, a paediatric surgeon, was charged with murder and fraud after the death of Zayyaan, 10. The surgeon appeared in the Johannesburg High Court for the first time on Friday after his case was moved from the magistrate’s court last month. The Sayed family issued a statement to the POST this week, via Sinen Mnguni, their spokesperson, praising law officials. “We are very pleased with the efforts of the dedicated members of the South African Police Service and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) who have acted in an exemplary manner from…

RAVI PUJARI CONNECTED TO 49 CASES Mumbai cops granted custody of gangster POST REPORTER Additional reporting IANS MUMBAI: Mumbai Sessions Court yesterday remanded gangster Ravi Pujari in police custody until March 9. This was in relation to the shooting at Gajalee Restaurant in Vile Parle, Mumbai, in 2016 in which one staff member was seriously injured. According to Timesofindia.com, sources said Pujari’s men wanted to scare the restaurant owner and demand extortion money. Pujari is wanted in connection with more than 49 cases in Mumbai. On Saturday, a Bengaluru court granted Mumbai police custody of Pujari. They had sought custody of him in connection with the hotel case. At the time of the Mumbai police request, Pujari was in a Karanataka jail for allegedly threatening state congress leader Ramesh Chennithala.…

KEVIN ‘REBELLIOUS’ NAIDOO NEVER FORGEOT HIS ROOTS DJs bid farewell to one of their own CHANELLE LUTCHMAN chanelle.lutchman@inl.co.za Supplied BEFORE DJ Kevin “Rebellious” Naidoo ended his hour-long live-stream on Face-book on Thursday, he told viewers that he intended to take a break. He said it was one of the saddest days of his life. Naidoo then placed his palms together, raised his arms and said “thank you, bye”. On Friday, the popular Durban DJ, who entered the club scene in the early 1990s, died of a heart attack at his home in Phoenix. Naidoo's funeral was held on Monday at the Umhlatuzana Civic Hall and a private cremation followed. His family declined to comment. Local DJs told the POST that the 47-year-old was one of the best in the industry…

Do more to improve Hindvani I HAVE been an on and off listener of Hindvani for about 15 years – as I was working at the time. I have been at home for three years and have observed that the station has lost its magic – like actor Shah Rukh Khan has lost his magic in acting in the past three to five years. Does Hindvani care about ratings, gaining more listenership, or attracting younger listeners? The music that the station is stuck on is old, depressing and sad. Are Hindvani’s senior citizens DJs/ presenters and management following the same route as the SABC and want to sink the station because they are not listening to the wants of the listeners? One can understand the need for old songs, which…

Justice running its course THE SO-CALLED factionalism within the ruling ANC government that is tearing the party apart is rapidly turning into a political illusion. It is now a case of those in favour of looting the state coffers against those who are there to serve the people. This is quite obvious with the overwhelming damning evidence being provided at the (State Capture) Commission of Inquiry. It is virtually impossible for all 40 witnesses giving evidence at the Zondo Commission, implicating former president Jacob Zuma in malfeasance and state capture, to be lying under oath. The same goes for other politicians and private sector individuals involved in corruption. Ordinary South Africans are aware of how billions of taxpayers’ money has been siphoned off the fiscus to enrich a minority. People…

Zuma’s actions shameful, he must be jailed I HAVE long held the view, even during his tenure as president, that Jacob Zuma was unfit for the office of the presidency. This view is predicated on his conduct before and while in office – punctuated by acts or omissions that were inappropriate for someone in high office. His latest act of repeated defiance by ignoring an order of the Constitutional Court to appear before the Zondo Commission of Inquiry to render evidence before Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo on state capture, vindicates my belief that Zuma has courted his own dismal fate that awaits him. This is the man who once swore allegiance to uphold the country’s Constitution and the laws that guide it. He swore to serve and protect the…

Quit smoking – 10 tips ◆Decide on a date to quit and do it. ◆Throw away all reminders of smoking: cigarette packets, ashtrays, lighters. ◆Drink lots of water – it will help flush the nicotine from your body. ◆Become more active – exercise, that is walk or jog. ◆Change your routine. Avoid smokers and things that make you want to smoke for the first couple of days. ◆Tell family and friends that you are quitting so that they can offer support. ◆You may experience some dizziness, headaches or coughing once you have stopped smoking. This is normal and should improve after a day or two and disappear within 14 days. ◆The first two to three days are the most difficult, after that it gets easier. Your cravings will reduce and…

WE ARE ALL IN IT FOR THE LONG RUN Make fitness a lifestyle KHADIJA KADODIA Supplied FOR MANY people, starting an exercise programme can be daunting. From yoga classes to bodybuilding, we are constantly bombarded by advertisements promising six-packs and slimmer thighs. The reality is that fitness is not about this. Many people fail before they even start a routine because they go in with the wrong mindset and expect to see drastic results within a few weeks. In all my years as a fitness professional, having trained and coached thousands of women worldwide, I have seen the most successful results when clients enjoy what they do and it fits into their lifestyle. My motto has always been: True physical fitness is not rated by how much weight one can…

ADVICE FROM UNICEF Make cooking and eating fun 1. Keep up fruit and vegetable intake: Wherever possible, it’s important to ensure children are getting plenty of fruit and vegetables in their diet. As well as being eaten fresh, fruit and vegetables can be frozen where possible and will retain most of their nutrients and flavour. Using fresh vegetables to cook large batches of soups, stews or other dishes will make them last longer and provide meal options for a few days. These can also be frozen where possible and then quickly reheated. 2. Swop in healthy dried or canned alternatives when fresh produce is not available: Fresh produce is almost always the best option, but when it is not available there are plenty of healthy alternatives that are easy to…

OUR HEARTS ARE FULL OF LOVE ‘My burp cloth accessory’ ACTRESS Anushka Sharma, who has just become a mother, said her baby's burp cloth was her current favourite accessory. Sharma took to Instagram to share a picture of herself standing in front of a mirror with her daughter Vamika's burp cloth on her shoulder. “Current favourite accessory – burp cloth!” the actress captioned the picture. Netizens commented on her photograph, saying she looked so fit that it did not seem she delivered a baby recently. Fans requested she share pictures of her daughter. Sharma gave birth to Vamika on January 11. The actress recently introduced her daughter in an Instagram post. She shared a photograph of herself with husband Virat Kohli where she is holding the baby. Sharma wrote: “We…

WWE star to reveaI all DREW McIntyre is releasing his first memoir. The two-time WWE Champion will tell all in his book, titled ‘A Chosen Destiny’, which is set to be released on April 22. Drew, who is the WWE champion and is in his second reign, will open up on his life story in the tome, which will detail his journey from a village in Ayrshire, Scotland, to the global spotlight of WWE. The book will also focus on his story of dedication, sacrifice, commitment, and realising his dream. In a statement, he said: “Throughout my career, I have always had an honest and open relationship with my fans. I am honoured that Ebury Press has given me the opportunity to tell my story in hopes of inspiring others…

India eye place in World Test championships final HIGH on confidence after thrashing England in the second Test in Chennai, the Virat Kohli-led Indian team will look to keep the winning momentum going when they take the field in the pink-ball Test, starting today. A win will take them one step closer to a spot in the final of the maiden World Test Championship. India had defeated England by 317 runs in the second Test and now both teams will battle it out in the day-night Test at the newly-built Motera Stadium. The pink-ball Test has traditionally offered a lot of assistance to the seamers, but this match may be a different ball game as Rohit Sharma on Sunday suggested that critics shouldn’t pull the BCCI up for preparing spin-friendly…

Govender gets nod as interim president of the KZN Cricket Union ESHLIN VEDAN eshlin.vedan@inl.co.za VETERAN uThongathi cricket administrator Daniel Govender has been appointed as the interim president of the KwaZulu-Natal Cricket Union until the annual general meeting in August. Govender previously served as vice-president of the board under the leadership of Ben Dladla, who died in December following a battle with cancer. Govender, originally from Umzinto in the South Coast, tribute to the late Dladla. “Dladla was a great president, having passion and ensuring that KwaZulu-Natal was given its fair due at the highest level. He was respectful to all those he interacted with and focused on transformation based on merit, ensuring that good governance was maintained at all times,” said Govender who is currently employed as a senior academic…

EDUCATION MINISTER EXPECTED THE WORST Class of 2020 produce ‘stellar results’ JANINE MOODLEY janine.moodley@inl.co.za GCIS THE 2020 national matric pass rate has dropped by more than 5.1% compared to the previous year. However, on Monday, Angie Motshekga, the Minister of Basic Education, said she was pleased with the national pass rate of 76.2%. She said she expected worse due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “We appreciate the unquestionable resilience our school community has shown against such a devastating pandemic. We are indeed proud of the class of 2020, which persevered against such monumental challenges that our system was never exposed to in the past. “This class has characterised the resilience of the system, which withstood an unprecedented test of administering an examination of the largest number of candidates; faced by the…

Grateful to family and teachers SANAM, of uMhlanga, wants to study medicine. She has been provisionally accepted at UKZN, Wits and UCT and wants to specialise in cardiology. Hemal Harkhu, 18, of Westville Boys’ High School, also finished fifth. “We always had work to do, even after we finished the syllabus. We worked on past year papers, including the Independent Examinations Board (IEB) papers.“ Hemal, of Reservoir Hills, plans to study medicine at Wits. He got 7 distinctions, in English, Afrikaans, maths, physical sciences, life sciences, accounting and life orientation. Vaman Ramessur, 18, of Umkomaas Secondary School, tied at sixth place. “This is a big achievement. The deputy principal called me on Monday to say I did really well and that I had to be present at the award ceremony.…

DANVILLE PARK GIRLS’ HIGH Motivated by health workers JANINE MOODLEY janine.moodley@inl.co.za DANVILLE Park Girls’ High School has achieved a 99.4% pass rate, with one of their pupils making the top 10 in KwaZulu-Natal. Shreya Nair, who obtained seven As, placed fourth in KZN. Fellow matriculants Nikkia Naidoo, Asvina Jeena and Raeesah Lakhi made the top achiever list at the school. They each attained seven distinctions. All three matriculants received distinctions in maths, English, Afrikaans, life orientation, physical sciences, life sciences and accounting. Nikkia, 18, of Durban North, wants to become a paediatrician and plans to study medicine at Wits. “I love being around children. When I become a doctor, I want to teach my patients that they can overcome anything. I want them to live the happy and healthy childhoods…

PIETERMARITZBURG GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL Teachers maintained good morale NADIA KHAN nadia.khan@inl.co.za Supplied DEEPIKA Sirkar and Aaliyah Randaree, of Pietermaritzburg Girls' High School, each attained 8As. Deepika, 17, of Allandale, Pietermaritzburg, took English, Afrikaans, maths, accounting, life sciences, physical sciences, information technology and life orientation. She also did advanced programme maths as an additional IEB subject. “My teachers were supportive and they tried to maintain a good morale throughout the year even when we were stressed or struggled with online learning. Their encouragement motivated me to work harder.” She has been provisionally accepted to study astrophysics, medicine and various engineering courses at a few tertiary institutions. Aaliyah, 18, of Mountain Rise, achieved 8 As in English, Afrikaans, maths, physical sciences, life sciences, accounting, history and life orientation. She said she studied…

DURBAN GIRLS’ COLLEGE Excelling against all the odds CHARLENE SOMDUTH charlene.somduth@inl.co.za PUPILS at Durban Girls’ College have excelled in the IEB exams. Marianne Bailey, head of the high school, said all matric pupils from the school who wrote the National Senior Certificate exams had passed. “We achieved 98% Bachelor degree passes and we had a combined total of 338 subject As and Bs, which equates to 84% of all symbols. Samira Salduker was placed on the IEB list of outstanding achievers countrywide. We congratulate her on this exceptional achievement.” The outstanding achievers’ list means that Samira achieved within the top 5% of learners in 6 or more subjects as well as achieving a mark of 80% or more for life orientation. Bailey said the matric class of 2020 had dreams…

CRAWFORD INTERNATIONAL – LA LUCIA Dreaming of becoming the next Bill Gates JANINE MOODLEY janine.moodley@inl.co.za SIDDANTH Varanasi, a Crawford International La Lucia top-achiever, is a step closer to his dream of becoming the next Bill Gates or Steve Jobs. He attained 8 distinctions in engineering graphics and design, English, geography, Hindi, information technology, life orientation, maths and physical sciences. Siddanth and his family moved from India to Durban three years ago and now live in Mount Edgecombe. Although Durban is a city he has grown to love, he plans to leave for the US to study computer science. He said he was accepted at eight of the 12 universities he applied to. These include the University of Michigan and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Siddanth said he was captivated with computers…

Debating honed her exam skills NADIA KHAN nadia.khan@inl.co.za THE academic year may have been difficult on all fronts for Asma Noorgat but she managed to attain 7As. Asma, 18, of Montrose in Pietermaritzburg, matriculated at The Wykeham Collegiate. She got distinctions in maths, English, Afrikaans, life orientation, life sciences, accounting and geography. “Last year was difficult on all fronts. Online learning was a challenge and forced me to completely change my study methods and re-evaluate my goals. I’m a visual learner, so relying on video calls was more difficult than anticipated. “However, I’m grateful I was able to continue online learning through the lockdown. I know many schools were unable to do this and matric pupils suffered for it.” Asma said she managed to cope with the study stress by…

CLIFTON SCHOOL Late grandpa would be proud CHARLENE SOMDUTH charlene.somduth@inl.co.za Supplied DURING his matric trial exam, Sahaan Juggernath’s paternal grandfather died of a heart attack while being treated for Covid-19. The 18-year-old of Effingham shared a close relationship with his granddad, Raj Juggernath, 67. Sahaan said while being treated his grandfather stil mustered the strength to message and send him voice notes of encouragement from his hospital bed. He died in August. For the remainder of the year, Sahaan focused on his studies and attained 7 distinctions in English, Afrikaans, maths, life orientation, physical sciences, life sciences and accounting. The matriculant from Clifton School, wants to study medicine at Wits University. “When I saw my results, I was happy that I achieved distinctions but sad as I couldn’t share the…

HINDUS OFFENDED Topless Rihanna uses Ganesha pendant to promote lingerie NADIA KHAN nadia.khan@inl.co.za RIHANNA, the award-winning Barbadian singer, has offended some Hindus by posting a topless picture of herself using a necklace with a pendant of the Hindu God Ganesha on social media last week. In Hinduism, Ganesha is considered the remover of obstacles. The singer, who wore silk lavender boxer shorts and other jewellery while promoting her lingerie line, Savage X Fenty, was accused of “cultural appropriation”. Some social media users accused her of misusing their religious symbols, while others did not see anything wrong. Vedu(@IndicRant tweeted: “We are so tired and if we raise our voice against this cultural appropriation we are labelled as Hindu extremists. For you all hinduphobics, it is just a necklace, but for us…

COUPLE WERE SCHEDULED TO MARRY IN APRIL Fiancée relives painful moment at accident scene CHARLENE SOMDUTH charlene.somduth@inl.co.za VERULAM couple Joash Carl George and Jerusha Singh planned to marry in April. But last Tuesday afternoon, George, 23, a fitter and turner for Nampak, died in an accident on the M4 northbound near the Durban Country Club. He was returning home from work in a Ford Figo. Singh, 26, a mechanical engineer, is looking for witnesses “I feel torn and heartbroken. Knowing what occurred in his last moments will give me some peace and closure. It is not easy losing someone you love and he was my soulmate,” said Singh. She said a woman stopped her vehicle to assist George after the accident. Singh said the woman told her that George’s car…

FAMILY APPEALS FOR HIS SAFE RETURN Local actor still missing CHARLENE SOMDUTH charlene.somduth@inl.co.za PRANESH Maharaj, an award-winning actor, is still missing. The 48-year-old, of Somerset Park in uMhlanga, was last seen leaving his home on February 7 and driving off in a Hyundai i10. Dawn Gounden, a forensic consultant working with missing people and the family spokesperson, said Maharaj left at 6.15am to buy cigarettes from a nearby garage. “When he did not return, his sister reported him missing at the Durban North SAPS. During our search, we checked the CCTV footage at the garage he was supposed to go to but there was no record of him being there on that day. A few days after his disappearance, police in the Eastern Cape found his vehicle in the Bisho…

INTERNATIONAL MOTHER LANGUAGE DAY OBSERVED ON SUNDAY More must done to promote Indian languages SHAMEEN THAKUR-RAJBANSI THE Minority Front recently asked the Minister of Education parliamentary questions about the teaching and learning of Indian languages in KwaZulu-Natal public schools. The following responses were received: in 2007, about 82 000 pupils from 368 schools opted to study Indian languages. Through the years the numbers dwindled drastically and in 2020 only 1 888 pupils were studying Indian languages with 142 of those registering to write the National Senior Certificate exam. These figures tell us that neither our government, the Indian community, or the Pan SA Language Board have succeeded in making significant progress to promote Indian languages. Indentured Indians and the trading-class Indians were one of the most multilingual communities in South…

Columnist should keep his opinions to himself I WAS perturbed to read a column published on the POST newspaper’s Facebook page titled “South Africans of Indian origin should pledge allegiance to SA, not India”. The publication of the said column is abhorrent, deplorable and inappropriate for various reasons as it borders on culture-shaming a marginalised group of people within South Africa. For one thing, the writer, Edwin Naidu, has erred in his view that South African Indians need to “pledge allegiance” to one country and not the other. By expressing such a woefully ignorant view, Naidu has failed to understand the difference between pledging allegiance to one country and feeling a strong cultural affiliation with another country due to historical injustices. I am curious to know if Naidu would tell…

COVID-19 PANDEMIC PUSHES US TO BE MINDFUL OF OVERALL WELLNESS Why an adjusted lifestyle matters PROFESSOR TERRENCE KOMMAL BESIDES the serious implications of health-care demands, loss of life and disruptions of economies created by this pandemic, it has also had other implications. It has forced us all to review what is normal, what is necessary and what is important to us. We were all too busy with our lifestyles, wants and aspirations that we paid little attention to well-being as individuals, families, communities and countries. Many, but not all, were working under the misplaced assurance that health care is a reactive need, which could be provided for by various treatments. Therefore, I believe that the fundamental change, for our physical, mental and emotional well-being, has to change to proactive and…

KODODIA SHARES ORIGINAL RECIPES How to make healthy eating a family affair IT’S a common misconception that if you choose healthy eating you will need to eat separately from your family. Healthy eating can be delicious and satisfying. With just a few tweaks everyone can enjoy delicious low GI foods and lean meats and vegetables. Feed-my-face Smoothie THIS is my favourite drink for glowing healthy skin. ½ avocado sliced ½ banana frozen and chopped ½ cup pineapple chunks ice as required ½-1 cup coconut water ¼ cup spinach 1 tsp honey 1 tsp lime juice Blend in a smoothie maker or liquidiser until smooth. Add ice and serve chilled. Serves 2. Preparation time: 5 minutes Burfee Oats START your day with a great breakfast that is full of flavour: 2…

LITTLE ANGELS TO ENTER Email a high resolution (between 500KB and 1MB) close-up picture of your baby to postbaby@inl.co.za Please include the baby’s name, date of birth, age at the time of picture, parents’ names and contact details. Each monthly winner will go into the finals, where the POST Baby of the Year will be selected.…

Five day TV guide TODAY Athletics: IAAF World Indoor Tour: Serbian Open Indoor Meeting, 6.30pm, VR3 Cricket: CSA T20 Challenge: Momentum Multiply Titans v Warriors, 9.45am, CRI, GSD; Hollywoodbets Dolphins v Imperial Lions, 2.15pm, GSD, CRI; Paytm Test Series: India v England, Third Test, Day 1, 10.45am, VR1; Pakistan Super League: Karachi Kings v Islamabad United, 3,50pm, ACT, GSD (6.30pm) Soccer: DStv Premiership: SuperSport United v Orlando Pirates, 4.30pm, PSL; DStv Premiership Wrap, 7pm, PSL; UEFA Champions League, Round of 16, First Leg: Borussia Monchengladbach v Manchester City, 9pm, EPL; Atalanta v Real Madrid, 9.30pm, VR1, GSD, SSM (9.45pm); La Liga Santander: Barcelona v Elche, 7.30pm, LIG; La Liga Satander Wrap, 10pm, LIG; UEFA Europa League, Round of 32, Second Leg: Tottenham v Wolfsberg, 6.55pm, EPL Tennis: WTA 500: Adelaide…

SPORTING MEMORY Ranganathan remembers mighty Rangers ESHLIN VEDAN eshlin.vedan@inl.co.za AT the height of his professional football career, former striker Neil Ranganathan earned a move to the once mighty, but now defunct, Manning Rangers in 1989 for whom he played in the Federation and National Soccer League (NSL). “It was great to play for Rangers as we enjoyed the best support and had the biggest fan base from Chatsworth. It was a great feeling to be embraced by all the Chatsworth supporters,” said Ranganathan who grew up in Clare Estate, Sydenham. Rangers, who won the inaugural edition of South Africa’s non-racial Premier Soccer League, were dissolved in 2007, something which saddened Ranganathan and thousands of supporters. “I felt very sad and nostalgic when it was announced that the team was no…

Is Jose right man to reboot Spurs? ESHLIN VEDAN KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH EPA/ SOMETIMES a move to a big club when a footballer is not ready can harm their career severely to the point of irreparable damage. Since joining Liverpool as an emergency defensive reinforcement in January, Ozan Kabak has looked out of his depth in the Premier League. The Turk was again caught napping in the Reds’ embarrassing defeat to Merseyside rivals Everton last weekend which allowed Richarlison to score the opening goal. The result consigned the defending Premier League champions to a fourth consecutive defeat and also led to them dropping to sixth position in the league, five points adrift of fourth-placed … wait for it … West Ham United. One can hope that the 20-year-old Kabak learns from…

RAISETHORPE SECONDARY SCHOOL Stars tell of hopes, dreams, difficulties JANINE MOODLEY janine.moodley@inl.co.za AHMAD Ashraf Bayat, Michaela Perumal and Ahmed-Riyadh Khan are among the high achievers from Raisethorpe Secondary in Pietermaritzburg and achieved seven distinctions. Along with being one of the school’s top achievers, Ahmad, 18, placed second in the Umgungundlovu District. Ahmad, of Mountain Rise, had 7 distinctions – in maths, English, Afrikaans, life sciences, geography, physics and life orientation. Inspired by Elon Musk, the CEO and founder of SpaceX as well as the product architect of electric car company Tesla, Ahmad said he hoped to start his own engineering company one day. To get there, Ahmad, intends to study civil engineering, either at the University of Pretoria or at UCT. “My final year was tough, having to adapt to…

NORTHWOOD SCHOOL Dux recipient grateful to his aunt, uncle JANINE MOODLEY janine.moodley@inl.co.za LOSING his parents in a car accident in 2009 did not deter Ishan Jewnarain from reaching his optimum potential. Ishan of Northwood School, who lives with his aunt and uncle in Mount Edgecombe, achieved 7 As – English, Afrikaans, maths, accounting, economics, physical sciences and life orientation. He said his aunt and uncle have become his mom and dad and he thanked them for their support during his schooling career. “In all honesty, I never felt the void of losing my parents because my aunt and uncle were there from day one. “They take care of me like I’m their son and I will forever be grateful to them.” Ishan plans to study actuarial science at either Wits…

GREENBURY SECONDARY SCHOOL Matriculants excel despite Covid hurdles CHARLENE SOMDUTH charlene.somduth@inl.co.za FOUR matriculants at Greenbury Secondary School in Phoenix have excelled, with each attaining 7As. Damien Govender, 18, of Unit 2, got distinctions in English, Afrikaans, maths, life orientation, life sciences, physical sciences and accounting. He said his dad, Logan Govender, 46, died in November 2019 after suddenly taking ill and starting matric without his support was difficult. “But I wanted to make him proud.” He has been provisionally accepted to study mechanical engineering at UKZN and is waiting for feedback about his application to study medicine. Shaheer Sayed, 17, of Mount Edgecombe, achieved distinctions in the same subjects as Damien. He has ben provisionally accepted to study actuarial cince at Wits university. He said during last year, 10 of…

STAR COLLEGE Duo see their future in the medical world CHANELLE LUTCHMAN chanelle.lutchman@inl.co.za STAR College has plenty to celebrate. Two matriculants attained 9As, 11 got 8 distinctions each, and 5 achieved 7 As. Sailin Nimalin Vadivelu, 18, of La Mercy, had 9 distinctions for English, Afrikaans, maths, life orientation, accounting, engineering graphics and design, life sciences, physical sciences and religion studies. He said while life sciences was his favourite subject, he opted to study religion studies as an extra subject because he found it interesting. He also included engineering graphics and design because it allowed him to show off his creative side. Sailin praised his teachers and his mother, who is a teacher, for supporting him. “My mom understood the stress I was going through. She assisted me and often…

EDEN COLLEGE DURBAN Balanced lifestyle played role in achievement NADIA KHAN nadia.khan@inl.co.za FOR two Eden College Durban matriculants, Jodi Nobin and Santhani Rungan, maintaining a balanced lifestyle were key to their success. They each attained 8 distinctions. Jodi, 18, of Glenwood, achieved As in English, Afrikaans, French, maths, physical sciences, life sciences, accounting and life orientation. She wants to study actuarial science and has been provincially accepted at Wits, UCT, the University of Pretoria and Stellenbosch University. “Besides online classes, I revised past exam papers but I also dedicated time to watching movies and talking to my friends. “Self-discipline and staying motivated was what helped me.” Santhani, 18, also of Glenwood, achieved distinctions in English, Afrikaans, maths, life orientation, physical sciences, life sciences, information technology and history. She said that…

CRAWFORD INTERNATIONAL – NORTH COAST ‘I did not allow the pandemic to get me down’ CHANELLE LUTCHMAN chanelle.lutchman@inl.co.za MAINTAINING a healthy body and mind helped Santhuri Delamoney attain 7 distinctions. Santhuri of Ballito matriculated from Crawford International – North Coast with distinctions in English, Afrikaans, maths, life orientation, physical sciences, life sciences and accounting. She took on an eighth subject, applied maths, for which she got a B. She described the wait for the results as nerve-wracking. “I was so nervous. The moment I got the message on my phone, I could not even check it. I had to give my cell to my dad and, of course, once we got my results, we were all thrilled.” Santhuri said during her final year, she focused on turning a bad situation…

ST DOMINICS NEWCASTLE Teen studied while caring for sick parents CHANELLE LUTCHMAN chanelle.lutchman@inl.co.za MALAAIKA Irfan Siddique had a lot to juggle during her matric year. Apart from struggling to study online, she had to take time out of her studies to care for her parents, who had Covid-19. However, the 17-year-old, of Newcastle, still managed to attain 7 As. Malaaika, whose parents moved to South Africa from Pakistan 18 years ago, attends St Dominics Newcastle and was placed on the IEB's commendable achievement list. She achieved within the top 5% in five subjects and achieved a rating level of 7 in life orientation. Malaaika said the support and love from her family helped her. “My father is my biggest supporter. He used to sit and help me. He also pushed…

THE WYKEHAM COLLEGIATE Faith and prayer deliver 8 distinctions NADIA KHAN nadia.khan@inl.co.za FAITH in the Almighty and prayer played a crucial part in Tahiya Essa’s success. She attained 8 distinctions and was acknowledged on the IEB commendable achievement list. This means she achieved within the top 5% in five subjects and achieved 80% or more in life orientation. Tahiya, 18, of Wembley in Pietermaritzburg, matriculated at The Wykeham Collegiate. She attained distinctions in maths, English, Afrikaans, life orientation, physical sciences, life sciences, accounting and computer applications technology. “I had full faith in the Almighty and his divine guidance, which kept me on track. Also, I had a great support structure at home and selfless friends. This combined with hard work further enabled me to achieve my goals.” Tahiya said while…

CURRO MOUNT RICHMORE Dad would have thrown a party JANINE MOODLEY janine.moodley@inl.co.za Supplied ATTAINING 7 distinctions and earning the top spot at Curro Mount Richmore in Ballito was a bitter-sweet moment for Aliyanah Ramluckan. Her dad, Julian, died of Covid-19 recently. “These marks don’t mean much, now that my dad is not here,” said Aliyanah of Sheffield Beach. “He was always the proudest dad. I remember the day I received the school’s Dux award, he was so happy and wanted everyone to know. If he were here, he would have thrown the biggest party.” Aliyanah achieved distinctions in maths, physical sciences, Afrikaans, life sciences, accounting, life orientation and advanced programme mathematics. She said online learning was not a challenge during the pandemic. “I grasp concepts easily. I consider myself a…

GRANTED BAIL Firearms dealer suspected of arming CT gangs ROBIN-LEE FRANCKE robin.francke@inl.co.za African News Agency (ANA) A DURBAN-based businessman allegedly linked to the supply of firearms to gangsters in the Western Cape appeared in the Worcester Magistrate’s Court recently and was granted bail. Anderson Padayachee faces 61 charges, including eight counts of murder, five counts of attempted murder, money laundering, fraud, modifying firearms, selling or supplying firearms, failure to keep registers, failure to submit weekly returns and failure to produce firearm inspection. According to National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila, the State did not oppose Padayachee’s bail bid. He said the court granted Padayachee bail of R60 000 with conditions. Padayachee will be able to return to Durban until his next court date. “The conditions include that he must…

HE FOUND A SOLUTION TO ANY PROBLEM: WIFE KZN Oils owner planned to travel CHANELLE LUTCHMAN chanelle.lutchman@inl.co.za Esayvanie said her husband was dynamic, intelligent and kind. “He was the person to find a solution to a tough situation. He had a wonderful wit and he was kind. Rajen said he would retire by 55 but he didn’t. So he said in two years when he turned 60 he would. We were looking forward to this time as he wanted to travel but things always came up so we didn’t really get to do much travelling." Esayvanie said their three granddaughters were the love of Reddy’s life. “His face lit up whenever he saw them. They miss him dearly.” KZN Oils supplies lubricants and fuel to Transnet’s port operations. Reddy also…

Editor’s View Use what we know to solve problems IN THE days leading up to the release of matric results in South Africa, Nasa landed a rover on Mars. It was another giant leap for mankind. The mission left Earth in July last year and, a few days ago, a rover called Perseverance touched down on the Red Planet. On board was a helicopter called Ingenuity. Their job is to look for signs of life on the Red Planet, past and present. It’s part of a race to conquer our solar system and what lies beyond. Earlier this month, the United Arab Emirates deployed a satellite over Mars and in May the Chinese will attempt to land a rover on the planet. In the coming years, missions are planned to…

India critics now eat humble pie MEMBERS of the hate-India brigade in South Africa and internationally, must now have egg on their faces. They tried so hard to disseminate lies, distortions and half-truths about so many things in the past two years, maligning India. It started with mob protests in Britain, Europe and Suth Africa in 2019, clearly engineered to coincide with the Hindu Festival of Diwali. The Ahmed Katharada Foundation was involved in this country. Despite the escalating numbers of such protests against manufactured grievances and attempts to persuade government departments to cut ties with India, boycott India, arrest the Indian Prime Minister, etc, they have made little progress in their agenda. The most preposterous lies were those which accused India of vaccine nationalism, greed, etc. Then on February…

Rule of law essential for free society OUR hard-won democracy is in dire straits as many brazenly and defiantly disrespect the rule of law. It was a US Supreme Court justice who, in 1947, offered these profound words: “There can be no free society without law administered through an independent judiciary. If one man can be allowed to determine for himself what is law, every man can. That means first chaos, then followed by tyranny.” The low and the mighty are subject to the laws of the land. Due process knows no colour. It knows no gender. It knows no hashtags. This is what makes the due process and the rule of law so essential to a free society like ours. Rule of law is a character of an ideal,…

Metro budget must prioritise resources LACK of resources is the main reason for poor service delivery and law enforcement in the eThekwini Municipality. Across the Metro, complaints are met with the standard response: inadequate resources. For a large suburb like the Bluff, for example, with 35000 people, metro police have two vehicles. With the 2021/2022 budget now in the works, councillors need to demand that the sharp end of service delivery – manpower and resources – is urgently addressed. The structures of eThekwini need to be pared down at the top and beefed up on the ground. For a municipality with a budget in excess of R50 billion, excuses for lack of manpower and vehicles are unacceptable. Recruitment for law enforcement needs to be a priority because the prevailing lack…

SMOKING AND VAPING ADD TO RISKS Covid-19 makes giving up tobacco more urgent TAMARYN BROWN WHILE the sale of tobacco has not been banned during the second wave of Covid-19 in South Africa, it remains clear that there has never been a more urgent time to stop using tobacco products. When it came to Covid-19, smoking and vaping added greatly to the risks, said Dr Sharon Nyatsanza of the National Council Against Smoking (NCAS). With wearing masks, washing hands, and social distancing, key measures for ending the Covid-19 pandemic should include stopping tobacco use, said NCAS and other health organisations forming the #protectournext initiative. Health risks Nyatsanza said tobacco products weakened the immune system, making it harder for the body to fight infection. “Since Covid-19 attacks the respiratory system, patients…

FEBRUARY WINNERS Wedding Bells How to enter THE POST Bridal Couple of the Year competition will run from January to November. The bridal page will appear on the last Wednesday of every month. It will also feature the winning couple of the month. Email a waist-up, high-resolution picture (500KB to 1MB) to: postbridal@inl.co.za Include the names of the bridal couple, contact details, and the date and venue of the wedding. Competition rules THE Editor’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. The competition is open to all couples married between September 2020 and August 2021. Prizes are not transferable or exchangeable for cash. Independent Media employees, participating sponsors and their immediate families are not eligible to enter. Publication is not guaranteed. An independent panel of judges will…

ADVICE FROM THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION How to stay fit THE Covid-19 pandemic means that many of us are staying at home and sitting more than we usually do. It’s hard for a lot of us to do the exercise we normally do. But at a time like this, it’s important for people of all ages and abilities to be as active as possible. WHO’s Be Active campaign aims to help you do just that – and to have fun at the same time. RDMDMBDR: • Just taking a short break from sitting, by doing three to four minutes of light intensity physical movement, such as walking or stretching, will help ease your muscles and improve blood circulation and muscle activity. •Regular physical activity benefits the body and mind. It…

COUPLE ANNOUNCE PREGNANCY … baby makes 3 SINGER Neeti Mohan and her actor husband, Nihaar Pandya, are expecting their first child. Mohan made the announcement on Instagram on the same day as their second wedding anniversary. In the images, Pandya is seen kissing Mohan’s baby bump. “1+1= 3 Mommy to be & Daddy to be. What better day to announce than our second Anniversary! @nihaarpandya," Mohan captioned her post. Pandya shared the pictures on his profile on the photo-sharing website. IANS…

Couta, tuna and billfish keep reels spinning WHAT a time it has been offshore! There have been too many billfish hooked than can be mentioned, the tuna are large and charging while the couta keep most of the guys and girls happy. The Durban coast has seen some amazing offshore action recently. There have been some absolute tank tuna caught. Some have gone over the 40kg mark! That is a true accomplishment! Some of these bigger fish have even been caught on poppers! The explosion of a decent tuna on a popper will get even the calmest of hearts to flutter. The couta have been around the Bluff drop-offs and on the wrecks off Durban but they are not as plentiful as they are up north. Live bait has been…