Table of contents for Wednesday, May 19, 2021 in Post

SACRED OPINION The Al-Aqsa Mosque has often been a site of conflict KEN CHITWOOD The Conversation THE violence that spread from Jerusalem to cities across Israel and the Palestinian territories, leaving several dead so far, has both historical and contemporary roots. In recent weeks, tension has flared over the eviction of Palestinian families in Sheikh Jarrah, East Jerusalem, Israeli authorities blocking access to the important Damascus Gate plaza during Ramadaan, and a march of thousands of Israeli ultra-nationalists through the city on May 6, 2021, in celebration of Jerusalem Day. This marks the capture of East Jerusalem in 1967. But the one incident that led to a significant escalation involved Israeli security forces firing rubber-coated bullets, tear gas and stun grenades at worshippers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque on…

TOP POSITIONS Professors continue to make mark on global stage CHANELLE LUTCHMAN chanelle.lutchman@inl.co.za PROFESSORS Salim Abdool Karim and his wife Quarraisha Abdool Karim have been chosen to be part of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN, respectively. Salim, an infectious disease epidemiologist and an Aids and Covid-19 scientist, was appointed to the WHO’s nine-member science council. The council comprises the world’s leading health researchers. It is chaired by Dr Harold Varmus, an American Nobel Prize-winning scientist. The others are Dr Edith Heard (UK), Professor Adeeba Kamarulzaman (Malaysia), Dr Mary-Claire King (US), Professor Abla Mehio Sibai (Lebanon), Dr Denis Mukwege (the Democratic Republic of the Congo), Dr Bill Pape (Haiti) and Dr Yongyuth Yuthavong (Thailand). They will be inaugurated into the council next week. The council was established to…

ALLEGEDLY KIDNAPPED Man goes missing on trip POST REPORTER A DURBAN father has allegedly been missing for five days in the Eastern Cape. Shailendra Deon Rambhajan, 40, was allegedly kidnapped, while in the passenger seat of his friend’s truck during a robbery on Saturday night. Rambhajan and Sanjeev Sooknunan were travelling on the R61 near Cofimvaba in the Eastern Cape. They were going to deliver trolleys in Willowvale. While Sooknunan was driving, he said he missed the turn to Butterworth and drove into Cofimvaba. “I had to take a detour on to a short gravel road to avoid roadworks. I was driving at a speed of about 20km/h when I saw a group of men climbing on to my truck while it was moving. A vehicle also pulled up behind…

BAIL DENIED Son in dock for mom’s death CHANELLE LUTCHMAN chanelle.lutchman@inl.co.za Supplied UVEER Jaganath, who is accused of killing his mother by stabbing her 26 times, was denied bail in the Durban Magistrate’s Court last Wednesday. On May 6, Jaganath and his mother, Jessica Jaganath, allegedly had an argument at their Clare Estate home that resulted in her death. Colonel Thembeka Mbele, a KZN police spokesperson, said the police were called to the scene. “On arrival, they found the body of a 43-year-old woman with multiple stab wounds. “The police were informed that a 20-year-old male fatally stabbed his mother after an argument. “The male also had two stab wounds (in his) leg and below his chest, and was taken to hospital for medical attention.” Mbele said a case of…

HEALTH RISK Link between diabetes and Covid-19 LARRY A DISTILLER EARLY in the Covid-19 pandemic, it became clear that those individuals with diabetes who were infected with the virus had a worse prognosis than the general population. However, it has also been noted that in some cases, Covid-19 infections seem to cause diabetes. Two recent publications highlight these issues. A recent meta-analysis of the literature published in the Journal Diabetologia has confirmed worse outcomes in people with diabetes. There seems to be many reasons for this. Glycaemic control on admission for Covid-19 infection is one. Those admitted with blood glucose levels above 11mmol/l had an 8.6 times greater chance of dying than those admitted with glucose levels below 6mmol/l. In addition, the risk of death was increased in those with…

DOCTOR’S ADVICE Many mistake flu symptoms for Covid CHANELLE LUTCHMAN chanelle.lutchman@inl.co.za ETHEKWINI residents are doing well to prevent the spread of Covid-19, Durban doctors say. Most of the people they consulted assumed they had the virus when, in fact, they had seasonal flu. Dr Tygie Nadasen, of Newlands West, said: “I have seen a number of patients during the course of the month. However, none of them have tested positive for the virus. The seasonal influenza is here, so more people feel sick and are coming to me because they are afraid they could have contracted Covid. “If their symptoms seem to be more on the flu-side, I ask them to monitor themselves and self-isolate. If they still feel ill after about three days, I then advise them to test.”…

PHASE 2 Vaccine roll-out prioritises the elderly JANINE MOODLEY janine.moodley@inl.co.za Supplied SO FAR, about 1.2 million people, aged 60 and older, have registered for Phase 2 of the Covid-19 vaccination programme which started on Monday. During Phase 2, which is expected to run until October 31, the elderly living in old-age homes are prioritised for vaccination. South Africans began Phase 2 with the two-shot Pfizer vaccine. The Department of Health is expecting to vaccinate 7 700 residents in 102 old-age homes by the end of the week and 50 000 by the end of May. The programme is expected to reach 5 million people by the end of June. Dr Zweli Mkhize, the Minister of Health, said officials from the department would go out to rural areas and other communities…

IMPASSE Is the two-state solution for Palestine dead? HENNIE STRYDOM PHANDO JIKELO African News Agency (ANA) AMID the current violent clashes between Israelis and Palestinians in East Jerusalem and the predictable over-zealous forceful reaction by Hamas and the Israeli counter-offensive, the question of a political solution to the decades-old conflict has again assumed urgency. Apart from the immediate need to address the long-standing conflicting land claims between Israelis and Palestinians, Israeli settlements in the West Bank, and the eviction of Palestinian families from an East Jerusalem neighbourhood, there is the recurring over-arching issue of Palestinian self-determination within an international law framework allowing for the peaceful co-existence of Israelis and Palestinians. Hopes to achieve this were frustrated many times over by unimplemented negotiated settlements, political manipulation of the situation and extremist…

The cost of technology ARE cellphones, social media and television destroying individualism in children? When none of the modern devices were around, the main meeting point for children was school. And since the learners were often from different backgrounds, they copied words, mannerisms and even some skills from their peers, and, of course, from their parents. Today, the “whatever” attitude, with upward rolling of eyes that one sees on almost all TV sitcoms and movies, has become a standard fixture. Private personalities have disappeared. In addition to this, ask children to write about well-known past heroes and all of them will produce the same information. This is because little personal and varied research is done. Encyclopaedias are seldom used. Libraries are hardly visited. The modern system of using technology numbs…

Investigate copper dealers THE theft of metal and copper is getting out of hand. There seems to be no plan to bring the thieves to book. If one drives from Woodview, in Phoenix, to Gateway and to Durban North, the magnitude of the theft is soon realised. There are patches of darkness when you drive at night. In areas such as Woodview, the poles that hold up street lights have been sawed off. The poles are lying on the overgrown grass. The copper has been stripped for a few rand, while thousands of taxpayers and ratepayers have to bear the inconvenience of no street lights, especially in Durban. Recent statistics singled out Durban as the fifth most dangerous city in the world to live in. As one drives from Phoenix…

LITERATURE From politician to author CHANELLE LUTCHMAN chanelle.lutchman@inl.co.za Supplied WITH the aim to educate people through her children’s literature, a former politician has published her first book. Loretta Rajkumar, a ex-IFP member of the provincial legislature, launched two children’s books recently at the Durban Book Fair at Mitchell Park. The books, titled Corona, Bonga and the Lion and The Three Little Pigs and the Dolphins, have subtle messages to help children and parents be better and do better. Rajkumar, who is currently working on a novel, said during the hard lockdown last year she was inspired to write her first book, Corona, Bonga and the Lion. “I was sitting one night thinking about the pandemic and how it was affecting people. At that time, I was confined to my flat…

KARATE MASTER Govender leads way ESHLIN VEDAN eshlin.vedan@inl.co.za SOUTH African karate stalwart Hanshi Eric Govender is among the international luminaries of martial arts following his promotion to the 8th dan black belt in the sport. Govender, 62, was presented with his Hachidan (8th dan) by World Union of Karate-Do Federation (WUKF) president Dr Liviu Crisan of Romania. A Queensburgh resident,he started karate in 1969 and founded the International Federation of Funakoshi Shotokan Karate South Africa (IFFSK) in 1984. It has more than 30 dojos across the country. Govender runs two dojos in Queens-burgh and Chatsworth. His journey into judo and karate started under the guidance of the late Robbie Reddy and the late Subbiah Naidoo in the “Raku” dojo in Bayview, Chatsworth. “The rank of 8th Dan awarded to me…

NICE AND JUICY FRESH BAIT KEY Summer and winter combo catches in the offing THE surf fishing has been in a mixed period of the year in terms of catches. The summer fish are still coming out but the winter fish are starting to take over. The north has seen plenty of bigger edibles coming out for the guys scratching in the rockier areas. The use of circle hooks in these rocky areas helps reduce your chances of getting stuck. Use softer bait like fleshy fish baits or chokka. These areas can produce a multitude of reef fish, so go prepared as you don’t know what is going to bite your bait next. The inedibles are still around up north, so if you want a drag-testing sandy or honeycomb, aim…

RESOLUTION OPINION Why Gulf leaders are staying quiet – for now SIMON MABON The Conversation IT’S generally reckoned to be one of Donald Trump’s few major foreign policy achievements. On August 13 last year, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel signed a historic agreement normalising relations between the two states. In the weeks that followed, other Arab states followed Abu Dhabi’s lead in what became known as the Abraham Accords. The accords, which have been ratified by UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan, were hailed by many as a major diplomatic breakthrough in Arab-Israeli relations, recognising – as they did – each state’s right to sovereignty and to live in peace and security. Yet, although the accords expressed the need to continue efforts to achieve a just, comprehensive,…

SPORT GROWS IN POPULARITY More Indian women taking to bodybuilding CHARLENE SOMDUTH charlene.somduth@inl.co.za BODYBUILDING is becoming more popular among women, particularly Indian women. Darren Hubraj, the chairman of the KwaZulu-Natal branch of Bodybuilding South Africa, said the sport had grown in popularity over the past five years. “There is definitely a slow but steady increase in the number of Indian women showing interest in competitive fitness. We have seen increases in both the beach bikini and fitness bikini categories in this regard,” he said. Hubraj said the rise could be influenced by social media. “Social trends and personal physical goal setting are contributing factors for Indian women being more health conscious. The competitive edge stems from the sense of achievement from being awarded and recognised for their efforts as well…

DEADLY FALL Champion jockey honoured after death CHARLENE SOMDUTH charlene.somduth@inl.co.za Candiese Lenferna Photography SOUTH African jockeys held a guard of honour for Nooresh Juglall at the Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse on Sunday. Juglall, 29, a graduate of the SA Jockey Academy, died in hospital after a fall at Champs De Mars Racecourse, in Mauritius, on Saturday. He was the reigning champion jockey in Mauritius. Mirror.co.uk, a news website, reported that Juglall hit the ground hard when his horse fell and another horse also stumbled and landed on top of him. “Juglall was immediately rushed to hospital bleeding profusely before he fell into a coma and tragically passed away,” said the website. Sportingpost, a horseracing news website, reported that the accident happened as the runners crossed a road over the track in…

POLICE MINISTER UNDER FIRE DNA backlog ‘a travesty of justice’ JANINE MOODLEY janine.moodley@inl.co.za THE DNA forensic backlog has increased to around 36000 cases. This was despite SAPS promising last month that measures were taken to deal with the backlog. In a DA-led parliamentary debate on the DNA backlog crisis at the National Assembly sitting last week, it was disclosed that the 172787 backlogged cases which dated back to April 2019 had increased to 208291. MPs said this was the largest backlog recorded in South Africa and that the matter was now out of control. Bheki Cele, the minister of police, apologised for this. “On behalf of SAPS, I want to apologise sincerely for all victims of crime, for the pain and anguish these delays have caused. We owe it to…

THOSE BATTLING LONG-COVID ARE MOST VULNERABLE More cases of colds and flu likely LATOYA NEWMAN latoya.newman@inl.co.za AS SOUTH Africa navigates the autumn and winter months during the Covid-19 pandemic for a second year, it is likely to be more challenging this time around. That’s because we will probably see more cases such as flu. This is because there are more people moving about this year, compared to the same time last year, when the country was adhering to harder lockdown regulations that restricted movement and socialising. The POST spoke to Dr Lashika Athmaram, a general medical practitioner with special interests in travel medicine, aesthetic medicine and diabetic care. She said more people were already suffering with congestion, runny noses and the like. But Athmaram said there were indicators within the…

DAILY EXERCISE Sitting exacerbates diabetes AYE CHAN PAING AND SEBASTIEN CHASTIN African News Agency (ANA) Archives MANY people spend large portions of their day sitting, which can cause a range of health problems. But many may not realise that sitting too much can also worsen certain health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes. Spending too much time sitting can cause problems with blood sugar levels – making it even more important for those with type 2 diabetes to get plenty of daily physical activity. Type 2 diabetes causes the level of sugar (glucose) in the blood to become too high. For someone with diabetes, high sugar levels in the blood can cause serious damage to your body, including the heart, kidneys, eyes, feet and nerves. Controlling blood sugar levels is…

DEPRESSION OPINION ‘My struggle is far from over’ SACHIN GOVENDER I WAS diagnosed with Covid-19 on January 4, this year during the second wave of the pandemic. I developed Covid-pneumonia a week into the infection, and had to be hospitalised. The doctors found that I had suffered severe damage to my lungs, which led to the inability to breathe or even walk on my own. My oxygen levels had dropped to about 60%. I was admitted to ICU where I was placed on a high-flow high nasal oxygen, non-invasive ventilation and was given steroids. In hospital for a month, my oxygen levels gradually picked up and I was weaned off the supply. On February 5, I was discharged but I was still unable to do a lot of…

Editor’s View Just who are the rightful owners? “IF YOU are the owner of the property, and someone was squatting on your property, wouldn’t you have the right to take him from your property?” It was a question asked by Aryeh King, deputy mayor of Jerusalem in response to the eviction of Palestinian residents from East Jerusalem’s Sheik Jarrah neighbourhood. King, like the Israeli government, portrays the current conflict as a private matter between the owners of the homes and tenants. According to this perspective, the owners are Jewish families who bought the land in 1875. In 1948, Jordan invaded, kicked out the Jews and gave the houses to the current tenants. In 1967, the Israelis regained control of the area and allowed Jewish families to start a process to…

Violating human rights AS THE world watches the death, destruction and emotional toil of the Israel-Palestine conflict, we are reminded of the shameful act of cowardice inflicted by ordinary civilians. Why there are no efforts to find a ceasefire or a severance of hostilities, is beyond this letter. History will show the existence of Israel and the atrocities since then. The several wars stretching back to 1948, the injustices, the neglect, the pain, and the hostilities during this time are well documented. The latest clashes have brought about devastating effects and extremism in any situation does not help. The Israeli government, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, has behaved in a manner that is criminal, inhumane, and wholly unacceptable. The rocket barrage by Hamas from its Gaza stronghold targeting Tel Aviv has…

Clairwood’s urban decay WITH the municipal elections due in five months, remarks from two correspondents on the letters page (the POST, May 12-16) concerning urban social conditions are politically relevant. Venonlin Govender laments the decline of Pietermaritzburg under the ANC, while Previn Vedan, an ANC eThekwini councillor, boasts of the role of the ANC to bring about change and face adversity with dignity. The reality of Vedan’s boast, however, is that in promoting change, the ANC has exacerbated adversity and insulted dignity. There can be no question that the plight of millions is more adverse today than at any previous time. Under the ANC, urban decay has festered. While there are examples of that countrywide, one of the more glaring examples of that decay is Clair-wood. Founded in 1880, Clairwood…

Reading programmes are essential IN APRIL, we celebrated World Book Day. Congratulations to the teachers of Falcon Primary School in Chatsworth, who are on a mission to get learners to read. In spite of teachers reaching a breaking point, which has left many of them exhausted and close to burnout, I am sensing a breath of fresh air among pupils as the culture of reading is long overdue. Reading programmes are essential in improving and developing skills in literacy from early on. The future of society is dependent on the capabilities that we, as adults, inject into our future learners. Let us reinforce a culture of learning and reading that will support a better tomorrow. Not enough is done by the Department of Education to ensure the promotion of reading.…

Shame on the ANC WHAT freedom? What democracy? What rainbow nation? It’s all gone in the blink of an eye. What is freedom when you live in an informal settlement and life is a struggle every day? Everywhere, on the street corners, you see people with placards, saying no jobs, no money and no food. Who is free but the political elite, corrupt government officials and criminals? We all have to barricade ourselves in our homes while the criminals roam free, killing, raping and plundering. Even places of worship, mortuaries and graveyards are not safe from criminals. So what is the point of freedom when the masses are no better than before? Do you replace one abhorrent system of government with another evil one? Give the people the vote and…

IMAGINATION Professor to launch children’s book on gender stereotypes NOKUTHULA MABUZA nokuthula.mabuza@inl.co.za Supplied A JOHANNESBURG-BASED author hopes her book will change the children’s gender narrative and encourage them to be free thinkers. Professor Nitasha Ramparsad, an associate researcher for the research focus area: Gender Justice, Health and Human Development Research at the Durban University of Technology, will release her first children’s book, Cloud Gazing, later this month. It is aimed at undoing gender stereotypes in children when choosing careers. Rampersad, 39, originally from Durban, said gender equality issues should not go unchecked in young people and only addressed in adulthood. “When I was writing, I found that gender issues are only addressed in adolescence and sometimes only in adulthood. “The missing link is trying to undo stereotyping and gendered barriers…

COMMENT COLUMN Liverpool goalie Alisson’s effort hailed as greatest ESHLIN VEDAN eshlin.vedan@inl.co.za Reuters Bad omen for Chelsea? Brendan Rogers’ impressive work since becoming Leicester boss in 2019 paid dividends as his Leicester City side won the FA Cup on Saturday, beating Chelsea 1-0 with Youri Tielemans’ goal. The weekend turned out to be a bad one for Chelsea FC overall as their women’s team lost the Uefa Women’s Champions League final 4-0 to Barcelona on Sunday. Could this be a sign that the men’s team will also lose their Champions League final against Manchester City next Sunday? Liverpool goalkeeper scores stunner With Liverpool looking set for a draw against already relegated West Brom, goalkeeper Alisson rescued a win for his side by dramatically heading home from a corner with virtually…

SHE WAS THERE TO HELP, BUT ENDED UP DEAD Indian woman dies in rocket attack on Israel POST REPORTER V MURALEEDHARAN Twitter THE body of Kerala’s Soumya Santhosh, who was killed in a rocket attack in the Israeli city of Ashkelon, where she worked as a caregiver, reached Delhi on Saturday. V Muraleedharan, India’s Union Minister, said Santhosh’s body was brought on a special aircraft from Israel. “It was received by me,” said Muraleedharan. Santhosh’s remains were taken to her hometown in Kerala on Saturday evening through the Kochi airport. It was then taken to her home in Idukki later that night. Her funeral was held on Sunday at the Nithya Sahaya Matha Church in Keerithodu in Idukki. Jonathan Zadka, the Consul General of Israel to South India, who attended…

SCOPUS LIST UKZN engineering researcher scores JANINE MOODLEY janine.moodley@inl.co.za VIRANJAY Srivastava, an engineering professor at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, has made the Scopus list of the top 500 researchers in Africa. The Scopus list ranks researchers from 57 countries based on published research outcomes and articles between 2015 and 2020. Srivastava, 40, of Glenwood, placed 194th across all subjects, 23rd in Africa and fourth in South Africa in the electrical and electronic engineering category. The professor, who has a PhD in electronics and communication engineering, said the recognition served as a motivation for him and his research group. “It shows that the research work we do here at UKZN is up to the international standard.” Some of the work that contributed to the continental ranking included solving the problem of…

BUS DRIVER Dad dies after being electrocuted CHARLENE SOMDUTH charlene.somduth@inl.co.za A PHOENIX father was electrocuted while fixing a light fitting in his home on Thursday. Ravi Bethel, 47, a bus driver, of Trenance Manor, died in a clinic. Wenzel Coopoosamy, his cousin, said Bethel was standing on a ladder trying to connect electrical wire on a light fitting. “He was electrocuted and then fell. His wife took him to a nearby clinic for treatment but he died minutes later.” Bethel, a father of six, was cremated at the Verulam Crematorium on Saturday. Coopoosamy said being a bus driver, Bethel was well-known in the community. “He drove the Springfield buses for about 10 years and his daily route was from Phoenix to Durban. “Ravi was passionate and dedicated to his job.…

LOAD SHEDDING Tenant dies in fire lit by candle CHANELLE LUTCHMAN chanelle.lutchman@inl.co.za AN ELDERLY man died after the candle he lit during load shedding allegedly fell in the Wendy house he rented. Farouk Sheik, 77, of Bombay Heights, died in the early hours of Monday. The fire spread to the main house on the property, which also burnt down. Reemis Ruthanum, the property owner's son-in-law, said his family mourned the loss of their tenant and their home. “We think the fire started when the candle in the Wendy house fell. It then spread to the main house where my in-laws and family were asleep when they were woken up by the sounds of objects burning. “My in-laws and other relatives immediately helped my mom-in-law’s 93-year-old mother get out of the…

CONTAGIOUS Signs and symptoms • What are the signs and symptoms of influenza? The most common symptoms in infected patients are a sudden onset of fever, muscle pain, body aches, dry cough, sore throat, runny nose, feeling tired or unwell and headache. The symptoms develop anywhere from one to four days after infection and lasts for two to seven days. For the majority of people, the symptoms are commonly resolved without treatment. Complicated influenza infections can cause serious illness and in some cases, death. Severely ill patients with influenza should be admitted to the hospital. The commonest complication of influenza is pneumonia. • What is the difference between the flu and Covid-19? While influenza and Covid-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses caused by viruses, the viruses that cause them are…

SURVIVORS CONTINUE TO BATTLE WITH SYMPTOMS Long-Covid: it’s a reality for many JANINE MOODLEY janine.moodley@inl.co.za COVID-19 infections continue to rise with some survivors complaining about its after-effects. Weeks after recovering from the virus, some people have complained of symptoms including headaches, fatigue, body pain, shortness of breath, hair loss, memory loss, anxiety, depression, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, insomnia and skin rashes. Termed Long-Covid or Post-Covid-19 Syndrome, the symptoms vary from one survivor to the next. A recent report by the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Covid-19 to Zweli Mkhize, the Minister of Health, found that patients who normally suffered from symptoms for more than 28 days, or after 28 days of infection, could be characterised as having Long-Covid. It said the incidence of Long-Covid was higher in women than in men.…

PROTOCOLS ‘India working to ensure people get help’ JANINE MOODLEY janine.moodley@inl.co.za IN ONE week, India's Covid-19 infections have increased by three million, with the country's overall infection rate now at 25 million. More than 270 000 people have died. India is averaging around 300 000 new cases with about 4 000 deaths a day. The country is, however, showing a gradual decline in new daily cases. In its Covid-19 weekly epidemiological report, the World Health Organization (WHO) said India continued to account for 95% of cases and 93% of deaths in the South-East Asia region. It said India also accounted for 50% of global cases and 30% of global deaths. The B.1617 variant, first detected and dominant in the country, is believed to be the cause of India’s second wave.…

Public servants don’t steal WITH reference to the letter, “Why should public sector be treated differently?” (the POST, May 5-9), by Dr Murthi Sooboo of Pretoria. I only agree with his last paragraph. Public service employees also have families to support and put food on the table. If people are stealing money for personal protective equipment (PPE) and are corrupt then this is not reason enough for public servants not to get an increase. These increases were bargained for a while ago. If the government is failing to grow the economy, improve employment and reduce poverty and crime, why must civil servants have their salaries cut or lose their jobs when nothing is done to corrupt people? Public servants are hard workers who don’t steal from the government. Municipalities are…

Many want train service to resume I READ with interest the article, “Commuters hopeful train service will be restored” (the POST, April 28-May 2). I am 62 years old and live in West-cliff, Chatsworth. I have been travelling by train for more than 30 years. As a commuter, I paid R171 per month for my train travel. I am now paying close to R1 300 per month in transport costs. However, what you heard from those interviewed, Pearl Reddy and Ashlyn, is just the tip of the iceberg. Prior to the lockdown, the service was beyond poor. Commuters who travelled between Chatsworth and Durban and vice versa, had to sometimes contend with one or two trains. The reason given by Prasa (Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa) was that cables…

Daughters have lit pyres before Covid WITH reference to the column, “The curse of the caste”, by Sumit Ganguly (the POST, May 12-16). It states: “Five years ago, when Modi first swept into power, many Dalits believed his promises to uplift the country’s poor and duly voted for him. “However, after the divisive leadership of his first term in office and their experience in the lockdown, many Dalits are now disillusioned with him and his Bharatiya Janata Party.” So if his assertion is true, why did the recent West Bengal election show something different? An article in the Telegraph India dated May 3, 2021, titled “The results of the West Bengal assembly elections deserve a close analysis”, states that a breakdown of the recent West Bengal election results indicated that…

REVIEW Journey into lives of activist family The book Thambi Naidoo and Family: Struggle for a non-racial democracy in South Africa by Ismail Vadi was launched at the Depot Road Memorial School in Chatsworth, Durban, on Sunday, following an event in Johannesburg. Goolam Vahed reviews the book SPEAKING at the memorial service of anti-apartheid activist Dr Chota Motala on June 11, 2005, Ahmed Kathrada lamented that “since we came out of prison, we have buried many, many comrades”. Kathrada had said: “The sad thing is that while we celebrate their lives, we are not doing anything to remember their legacy. Open any book today and look for their names and what they have done. You won't find it. And that is the duty of academics, historians – to research, to…

Your Stars SHARRON DUFF ARIES (March 21 – April 19) Your patience is needed as the energy around your sign is frenetic. You may feel overwhelmed, so take a deep breath and give time to others. Manage your time carefully, so that you don’t over-extend yourself. Lucky colour: green. TAURUS (April 20 – May 20) Try not to overthink things. Write your thoughts down if this helps you cope. Share with others, so that you get some support. See a specialist for your health issues or a counsellor if you need guidance. Lucky colour: pink. GEMINI (May 21 – June 20) Take your power back and put up those healthy boundaries. Don’t hold back your creative thoughts, especially where work is concerned. Let go of relationships that don’t serve you,…

WWE TRYOUT AWAITS ‘Ultimate Nathan’ destined for wrestling greatness ESHLIN VEDAN eshlin.vedan@inl.co.za LOCAL wrestling prodigy Nathaniel Govender is determined to achieve greatness despite the challenges posed by Covid-19 to the professional wrestling industry. Joburg-based Govender, otherwise known as Ultimate Nathan, missed out on the first WWE tryouts in South Africa which were set for early 2020 but ended up being called off amidst the pandemic. In spite of the challenges, Govender has continued to practise his passion and can be seen on Soweto TV every Saturday performing in Honour Wrestling Association’s (HWA) Battle of Honour series. “The pandemic has caused a huge shake-up across the wrestling world. For one, wrestlers have been told to wrestle without a live crowd,” said Govender who is involved in business and sales when not…