Table of contents for Wednesday, January 20, 2021 in Post

FEARS OF INCREASED INFECTIONS Asking teachers to return to schools early ‘sending them to their deaths’ CHANELLE LUTCHMAN chanelle.lutchman@inl.co.za TEACHER unions have criticised government’s decision to ask teachers and staff to return to schools earlier than pupils. Reginah Mhaule, Basic Education Deputy Minister, said last Friday that school management teams would report for duty on Monday, teachers on February 1 and pupils on February 15. Pupils were initially expected to return to school on January 27. Private schools, which have already reopened for the 2021 academic year, would have to abide by the amended dates. “They will need to postpone their reopening to a later date. This is to provide relief to the health system, which is already struggling to cope with demands,” said Mhaule. Cynthia Barnes, National Teachers’ Union…

WE WILL NOT ALLOW COVID-19 AFFECTED FAMILIES TO BECOME DESTITUTE OR FORGOTTEN Organisations spread goodwill CHARLENE SOMDUTH charlene.somduth@inl.co.za IN THE spirit of Ubuntu, South Africans have banded together to ensure that those who have tested positive for the coronavirus and are self-isolating, have hot meals to eat and their bills are paid. One of the organisations that have provided their services during the lockdown is the Isipingo Community Police Forum (CPF). The CPF formed the Covid-19 Assist Programme soon after the second wave, and it operates alongside PT Alarms, a private security company. "A family will send the list of their needs to an operator, who manages a dedicated telephone line, and this person will inform the family of the costs of the items," said Aidan David, CPF chairperson. "The…

CUTTING TREES TO PAY OFF RENT Teen killed in chainsaw accident CHARLENE SOMDUTH charlene.somduth@inl.co.za YUNUS Pillay had dreams of giving his mother a better life. But on Thursday, Yunus, 17, from Northdale in Pietermaritzburg, died when a chainsaw he was using fell on his chest. At the time of his death, Yunus was cutting trees to pay towards the rent owed on the building they occupied. Yunus shared the one-bedroom outbuilding with his mother, Selvie, sister Charlene, and uncle Kuben. Selvie was unable to work because she is ill and Charlene could not find employment due to Covid-19. The family survived on Kuben’s grant of R1800 and assistance from other family members. Yunus’s cousin, Mohammed Badat, said the family owed R600 of the R2 300 rental they paid monthly. “Yunus…

INDIAN-AMERICAN LIVING IN THE US Will the once-great US will find its morals under Biden? ARUN GANDHI AFTER four traumatic years of Donald Trump’s hate-filled rule, the US is looking forward to President Joseph Biden, with great expectancy. There is an audible sigh of relief all over the country, although the violence Trump has unleashed in his last days in office has stunned the free world. What shocked me more than the attack on the Capitol Building in DC is the calibre of the mob. One would expect such violence from the less educated, economically depressed classes with an axe to grind, but this mob comprised lawyers, professors, police and fire officers, Olympic stars, teachers and professionals. For those of us who believed, perhaps naively, that racism in the US…

COMMUNITY MOURNS HUMANITARIAN Printing pioneer hailed for contribution to Struggle JANINE MOODLEY janine.moodley@inl.co.za DEVRAJ Ramdutt, a printing pioneer, will be remembered by many for printing pamphlets and posters for underground activists during apartheid. The 71-year-old, who was treated in hospital for five weeks, died of Covid-19-related complications on Saturday. Logie Naidoo, a former eThekwini speaker, said Ramdutt was a humanitarian and supported many community programmes. “In the late ’70s and ’80s, he ran Art Press in Durban. The NIC, UDF and later the ANC did all their printing at Art Press in the dark days of apartheid. They were under constant surveillance of the notorious Security Branch of South Africa." Naidoo said despite harassment and threats, Ramdutt continued his support of the liberation movements. “In recent times, he and his…

FAMILY AND FRIENDS PAY TRIBUTE Director was a remarkable woman CHARLENE SOMDUTH charlene.somduth@inl.co.za SHOBNA Persadh, the corporate affairs and sustainable business director at Unilever South Africa, who died from Covid-19, was described as a remarkable woman. Persadh, 53, of uMhlanga, contracted the virus in December and died in St Augustine's Hospital on Monday. Her brother-in-law and attorney, Vikesh Persadh, said: “Shobna was involved in projects focused on empowering women and children. She was a wonderful wife, mother and sister. She was well liked by everyone she met. Shobna always inspired people to do better and try to achieve higher things in life. She was a remarkable woman.” Shobna Persadh also worked as the director of corporate affairs for South African Breweries, the marketing and communications director at the Durban University…

FOCUSED ON BEING THE BEST HELP HE COULD BE Pastor ‘lit up our lives’ CHARLENE SOMDUTH charlene.somduth@inl.co.za PASTOR Lee Nayager lived to serve the less fortunate in his community. Nayager, 36, from Palmview in Phoenix, was the senior pastor of UPC New Life Tabernacle Church. His wife, Bernice, said he was ordained as the senior pastor of the church in 2018 after the death of his father, Pastor Roy Tom Nayager, the founder of the church. “My husband began showing symptoms on December 31 and he tested on the same day. On New Year’s Day, we received his results. He was quarantined at home and passed on, on January 7.” She said Nayager lived to serve the community. “He was focused on being the best help he could be. He…

‘EMPTINESS WILL DWELL FOR EVER IN OUR HOME’ Sisters grieve for parents THANDEKA MGQIBI Thandeka.Mgqibi@inl.co.za THE joy of the festive season was missing for the Reddy sisters of Croftdene, Chatsworth, after both their parents died. Candice Reddy, 36, said her mother, Shireen Reddy, an admissions officer at Newhaven Secondary School, died on December 23, and her father, Jeevaruthnam Govindsamy Reddy, a cold storage manager at a butchery, on New Year’s Eve. “Though we are Hindu, we looked forward to the festive holidays. “Christmas and New Year’s Day were about celebrating with family and loved ones, but this time, it was sad and lonely,” said Candice Reddy. During the third week of December, she said, her mother complained of not feeling well. She went to the doctor and was treated for…

MILD SYMPTOMS Café manager succumbs CHARLENE SOMDUTH charlene.somduth@inl.co.za NEVASHNEE Dhunlall, of Effingham, has been described as outgoing, outspoken and religious. “She was such an understanding person. People were drawn to her personality. “She was well known in the community through her work as a manager at a café,” said her relative, Naveen Premlall Dhunlall, 45, tested positive for the coronavirus two weeks ago. “She had mild symptoms. Over the last few days, her condition worsened. She passed on in her home last Tuesday. “Nevashnee was doing well and our family expected her to recover. We know Covid-19 is real but you never think one of your own would pass on from it. “On the day Nevashnee died, another family member, who is only 38, also succumbed to the virus. This…

ASSISTED TERMINALLY-ILL PATIENTS Tribute paid to Verulam couple NADIA KHAN nadia.khan@inl.co.za GANASEN Konapalan Moodley, the founding member and former chairperson of the Verulam Regional Hospice Association, has been praised for his contribution to helping the sick. Moodley, 88, and his wife, Ruby, 84, both of Verulam, died of Covid-19 last month. Professor Chandru Kistan, the association's chairperson, said Moodley died on December 23 and his wife two days earlier. He said Moodley, a retired principal at Mounthaven Primary School in Verulam, worked in education for more than four decades. “In 1997, together with other members, they founded the non-governmental organisation to assist the most vulnerable and terminally-ill patients on the North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal. “For 13 years, he was the chairperson. He showed love, dedication and humility. "Mr GK, as…

ONLY TWO OF THE REQUIRED THREE TRIAL PHASES ALLEGEDLY COMPLETE ‘Indians are not guinea pigs’ MANISH Tewari, a Congress leader, questioned the government's hurry in giving the nod to Bharat Biotech's Covid-19 vaccine, Covaxin, without phase 3 trials. Tewari said: "The union government has misused the pandemic politically and the controversy over vaccines is the latest; when the vaccine has a question mark over reliability who will get himself vaccinated?" The Congress leader alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party government had done a disservice to the company by licensing a vaccine whose phase 3 trials were not complete. Shashi Tharoor, also a Congress leader, raised questions before this: "Of course, we will be proud if the vaccine turns out to work effectively. But offering it before phase 3 clinical trials…

MORE THAN 2 000 INFECTIONS ‘Clean’ New Zealand lays down travel law RENJU JOSE AND PRAVEEN MENON NEW Zealand will ask international travellers from most countries to show negative Covid-19 test results before boarding flights to the country as new contagious variants of Covid-19 spread globally. "Given the high rates of infection in many countries and evidence of the global spread of more transmissible variants, it's clear that most global air routes will be of critical concern for the foreseeable future," Chris Hipkins, the Covid-19 response minister, said. Hipkins said the pre-departure test requirement would soon expand to all countries and territories excluding Australia, Antarctica and some Pacific Island nations. Travellers would have to complete the 14-day mandatory quarantine and undergo testing upon arrival in New Zealand. Border closure and…

MORE THAN 8 MILLION INFECTIONS Brazil gives first doses to health professionals BRAZIL will begin a mass vaccination drive against the novel coronavirus starting from tomorrow onwards, says Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello. The Brazilian government began distribution of the vaccines throughout the country yesterday. The decision came on Sunday, after Brazil's Health Regulatory Agency unanimously approved the emergency use of the CoronaVac vaccine, from the Chinese laboratory Sinovac, as well as the AstraZeneca University of Oxford vaccine. The vaccines will be delivered by the Brazilian Air Force “to strategic points” in each state, after which inoculation will begin throughout the country tomorrow. The first vaccine to be distributed in Brazil was CoronaVac, developed by Sinovac in conjunction with the Butantan Institute of Sao Paulo, and the first doses were administered…

…A VOID IS LEFT WHEN THE GIFTED ONES ARE NO MORE How do we fill the talent vacuum? YOGIN DEVAN PHANDO JIKELO African News Agency (ANA) MORE than two million precious lives have been lost worldwide to Covid-19. Each one beloved by kith and kin. The precious, treasured lives of more than 35 000 people have been snuffed out by the virus in South Africa. Daily, our humanity is being decimated before our eyes. Every life is precious and cherished. We, therefore, mourn the loss of so many fellow beings to the dreaded pandemic. We believe life is priceless because it is our one chance to blossom and to express ourselves. Hence, we make every effort, at great personal and national sacrifice, to minimise the harm we could inflict on…

Lack of social distancing at pay points, post offices THE present coronavirus seems to shatter many lives and families. Do the citizens understand the severity of this virus? I walk past the Tongaat post office every day. Hundreds, maybe a thousand people, queue in close proximity to each other. The same happens at Shoprite in the first week of the month (grants). Is it possible for the disaster management or the monitors to research the number of Covid infections and/ or deaths among these people? Better controls in the future will definitely lessen the burden. LA NAIDOO Tongaat…

1.5 million doses secured THE delays in procuring vaccines expeditiously have been met with criticism from many sectors in the country. The government sprung into action when an alliance of experts comprising of high profile doctors and scientists penned a letter articulating their disdain at the slow pace of the vaccine procurement. The vaccine is the only hope to stop the virus from spreading as non-pharmaceutical measures such as wearing masks is not having the desired outcomes mainly because of non-compliance. Government has come under pressure for reneging on its responsibility to pay the vaccine deposit on time. South Africa, due to its slow response, missed out on having bilaterals with manufacturers such as AstraZeneca and Johnson and Johnson. AstraZeneca used South Africans in this country to test the efficacy…

Show humility and turn to prayer THE prayer a Muslim reads on hearing unhappy news or when someone passes away – “Indeed, to Almighty we belong and to Almighty we shall return” – is becoming a common part of our daily lives. Every day many funeral messages are received, more than we would normally receive in a few months. The adage “first they were just numbers, then the numbers had names, and in the last few weeks the names became names close to us” is a reality. Almighty God and Prophet Muhammed encouraged rational thinking, common sense and a healthy balance between faith, intelligence and reason. First tie your camel, then place your trust in Almighty God, to quote Prophet Muhammed. In the midst of this pandemic, that many have…

Go Vegan! January marks ‘Veganuary’ – an initiative to promote veganism. Videhi Sivurusan, celebrity chef, shares recipes for healthy, wholesome eating. Follow her on www.videhi. co.za and Veganise with Videhi on Youtube Vegan Sushi Served With Rasam SUSHI 2 cups (500ml) sushi rice 4 cups water 2 tbs (30ml) rice vinegar 4 nori sheets (seaweed) 1 small carrot, julienned 1 small red pepper, julienned 1 extra small red cabbage, julienned 1 avocado, julienned ¼ cucumber, julienned sesame seeds for garnish 1 grass mat for rolling sushi cling wrap for rolling sushi Cover the grass mats with cling wrap. Boil the rice as per the instructions on the pack. While the rice is boiling, wash and julienne all the vegetables. Add the rice vinegar to the cooked rice and allow to cool.…

Dorado take bait, even jumping into boats SO far 2021 is going very well for us fishermen and women. We have more hours to fish now and the fishing has been fantastic for all facets! The new curfew hours allow you to go fishing an hour earlier (5am) so make the most of it and get out there! The dorado continues to keep everyone happy with most boats returning with something in the hatch. The tuna are also around with some giants among them! On the good news side, you can now launch an hour earlier! The central coast has been very busy. The charters are fully booked due to the amazing dorado season we are having. There have been a couple reports of a dorado actually jumping into the…

Sharks will need to dominate, says Everitt THE Sharks will be keen to produce a strong showing, after a prolonged break, in their Currie Cup semi-final against Western Province in Cape Town on January 23. The KwaZulu-Natalians were hit by a number of positive Covid-19 tests last week, which forced the cancellation of their final league match against Western Province, but with sufficient time allocated for the players to recover after the semi-finals were shifted out by a week, Sharks coach Sean Everitt, pictured, said they were ready for action. “The guys are very buoyant and excited to get back on the rugby field,” said Everitt. “No-one likes games being postponed or cancelled, which was the case against Western Province last week. “The guys came off a good win against…

STAYING CONNECTED Helping families keep in touch POST REPORTER Pexels.com ON MONDAY, Netcare launched a Family Connect Line to keep Covid-19 patients in contact with their loved ones. Dr Richard Fried-land, chief executive of Netcare, said: “The significant surge in people with Covid-19 infections requiring hospitalisation has forced us to focus our attention primarily on optimising our clinical resources to provide the best and safest care possible for all patients.” He said as a result of the strain on their resources, communication with patients’ loved ones had at times been affected. “We understand that the hospitalisation of a loved one can be very stressful and anxiety provoking for the next-of-kin, especially during this time when, in order to mitigate the risk of the virus spreading in our hospitals, visitation has…

MOURNERS CLAIM THEY WERE OVERCHARGED- Families milked for funeral costs CHANELLE LUTCHMAN chanelle.lutchman@inl.co.za AS FAMILIES struggle to deal with the death of loved ones, they are also being forced to pay a lot more for funerals. At the weekend, Tony Govender, a DA councillor, highlighted the issue on social media. “Many families expressed concern that they were not being told what the fee for a funeral was and then, suddenly, they were given a bill higher than what they expected. Some people have paid up to R18 000 for a funeral. “I understand there are certain costs for services over and above the burial proper but when people are saying they are being ripped off that is a big concern.” The councillor urged those who felt they had paid too…

‘THIS OPERATION WAS A WASTEFUL EXPENDITURE’ SRC demands Operation Clever report CHARLENE SOMDUTH charlene.somduth@inl.co.za THE Student Representative Council (SRC) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal has labelled Operation Clever wasteful expenditure. In 2016, the university launched an investigation called Operation Clever, following allegations of fraud. This was after it emerged that places at the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine were being sold. A few months after the investigation started, Avril Sahadew, the university's forensic audit specialist, and Paul Fin-den, the director of legal services, were put in charge. Sahadew lived in a safe house guarded by bodyguards, all at the expense of the university. However, since 2016, no one has been prosecuted, let alone convicted. In 2018, Visham Panday, an anti-corruption activist and founder of the VP Justice Foundation, filed…

THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME IN US POLITICS Trump stands out from his peers DC PATHAK THE presidential election in the US marked by an unusually confrontationist run-up to the polls and an equally bitter post-poll phase of transition made a wrong sort of history when hundreds of supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump converged on Capitol Hill in Washington DC and indulged in violence there on January 6. It was the day a joint session of the Congress was set to finally certify the victorious candidate. The fact that as many as four protesters lost their lives and an officer of the Capitol police force succumbed to injuries inflicted by the mob speaks of the seriousness of an event that seemed to the world outside as an unprecedented…

HUMBLE AND APPROACHABLE Colleagues pay tribute to UKZN medicine professor THANDEKA MGQIBI thandeka.mgqibi@inl.co.za The medical fraternity and community of Chatsworth are mourning the death of Professor Soornarain Subramoney (Cyril) Naidoo, who died due to a Covid-19 related illness last Friday. Born in August 1952, Naidoo was a retired Servier Chair, Chief Specialist and HoD of Family Medicine at the Nelson Mandela School of Medicine (UKZN) and the founder of Life Chatsmed Garden Hospital. The 68-year-old was known for his philanthropic ways and involvement in numerous community organisations. Messages of condolence flooded social media. Visvin Reddy, politician and a friend of Naidoo, said he had known the professor his entire life as a community activist, which spanned over three decades. “While I was a councillor in Chatsworth and served in various…

LOVED BY EVERYONE Nurse had a heart of gold CHARLENE SOMDUTH charlene.somduth@inl.co.za VERUSHKA Naidoo had just bought and moved in to her dream home with her husband Trishen and daughter Nehalia. The 37-year-old nurse, of Avoca, who was also a manager for Discovery Health, had planned on decorating the home and having a second child. But in December, she contracted Covid-19 and died on Friday at the Busamed Gateway Hospital. For Trishen and Nehalia, 7, their lives have come to a standstill. "She contracted Covid pneumonia and was moved to the ICU ward because her oxygen levels were dropping. A few days before she passed on, her condition improved, but on Friday morning, a nurse called to say Verushka's condition had taken a turn for the worse." Trishen said he…

ALWAYS WORK HARD ‘Mom’s dream was to visit ashram’ NADIA KHAN nadia.khan@inl.co.za PRIYA Kisten taught her daughters to be independent. “My mom often told us that we have to work hard so that we can take care of ourselves," said Sudheshni Kisten. "She also taught us that this is a man's world and that we must always put in a little extra effort in all that we do. “My sisters and I will remember her words of wisdom." Kisten, 47, of Redhill, died while in hospital on January 11. Sudheshni said her mother, who managed a solar hot water system business, tested positive for Covid-19 on December 31. “A few days after Christmas Day, my mom did not feel well. “She had flu-like symptoms and tested for the virus on…

PASSIONATE ABOUT TEACHING Tributes paid to dedicated principal CHARLENE SOMDUTH charlene.somduth@inl.co.za VANESH Gokal dedicated his life to teaching, and some of his former pupils went on to become doctors, engineers and lawyers. Gokal, 56, the principal of Burnwood Secondary School in Sydenham, died of Covid-19 on Thursday at St Augustine’s Hospital. His wife, Moogie Gokal, the deputy principal at the same school, said they believed he contracted the virus on December 9, while handing out year-end reports to the parents of pupils. “My husband wore a mask, but he interacted with the parents. He showed symptoms of the virus on December 13, and he subsequently tested positive for Covid-19. He started treatment, and he was doing well,” said Moogie. Gokal’s health deteriorated on December 21, and he was admitted to…

CANADA: MORE THAN 700 000 INFECTIONS Ontario imposes new lockdown ONTARIO declared a provincial emergency over a doubling of Covid-19 cases in the past two weeks, the premier's office said last week. "In response to a doubling in Covid-19 cases, the real and looming threat of the collapse of the province's hospital system and alarming risks posed to long-term care homes as a result of high Covid-19 transmission rates, the Ontario government, in consultation with the chief medical officer of health and other health experts, are immediately declaring a second provincial emergency," the office said. Effective from Thursday, a stay-at-home order required everyone to remain at home with exceptions for essential purposes, such as going to the grocery store or pharmacy, accessing healthcare services, for exercise or for essential work.…

MORE THAN 500 000 INFECTIONS Pakistan could face devastation as US, UK AS THE Covid-19 pandemic continues to intensify in Pakistan, Asad Umar, the planning and development minister, warned that Pakistan could face the devastation brought on by the virus as the US and the UK, if measures were not taken seriously. He tweeted: "The devastation unfolding in countries like USA and (the) UK these days, where there are more cases and Covid deaths than at any time in the first wave, show the danger that could face us, if we do not continue to do the right things, with both the state and citizens playing their role." In his remarks on social media last week, the minister said data reflected that the Covid-19 health consequences were correlated with decisions…

MORE THAN 3 MILLION INFECTIONS Putin orders programme for entire population ANTON ZVEREV AND ANDREY OSTROUKH RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin ordered officials to begin mass coronavirus inoculations this week and to open the vaccination programme to all Russians. Russia, which has the world's fourth highest number of Covid-19 cases, started large-scale vaccinations last month. The Russian Direct Investment Fund has said 1.5 million Russians have been inoculated with the Sputnik V vaccine. "I ask you to start mass vaccinations of the entire population,” Putin told officials at a government meeting by video link that was broadcast on state television. Tatiana Golikova, the deputy prime minister, said authorities would be ready to broaden the programme from Monday. Russia has imposed no broad lock-down during the second wave of infections that began…

Editor’s View Your best investment this year IF yOU want to understand why the taps in Chatsworth ran dry and why your tap is next, you’d need to understand how the city spends its money. eThekwini will spend well over R50 billion in the current financial year, money it raises from you from various services and taxes. From this, the city allocates just under R10bn for water. Most of the money, just over R3bn, goes towards buying water. The city then budgets to give away, for free, water worth just over R1bn. It spends a further R1bn paying staff. However, it spends less than half a billion rand (R498 million) on repairs and maintenance. Put differently, for every R100 the city allocates for water, a mere R5 goes towards maintaining…

Legalise Ivermectin before it’s too late DURING this time, most doctors have given up on the most important ingredient to continue serving and that is morale. This is mainly due to the negative attitudes of the authorities. Doctors work long hours. They are not provided with essentials that are required at hospitals. They do not get adequate rest and most of them are being bullied into accepting the terms of employment without argument. One of the ways to reduce the impossible workload is to call a spade a spade, and allow the use of Ivermectin in a formal, regulated manner as soon as possible. There must be a clear proviso that the medication is taken at the patient’s risk. This will indemnify the prescribing doctor. War and other emergencies require…

Gary Player rightfully in the rough I WOULD not like to use this platform that the POST offers us, as readers, to air our views as a battlefield for hurling insults. However, with Gary Player accepting a medal of freedom from Donald Trump, allow me to respond. There has been an outpouring of emotion from the people of South Africa. The historic win by Papwa Sewgolum will always be etched in my mind. As a boy, I was there when Player refused to accept Sewgolum as a fellow golfer. Despite the pardons that he received for his seemingly racist attitude against Sewgolum and the benefit of doubt conferred upon him by many statesmen, including Nelson Mandela, Player has proved two things. First, lightning can strike twice in the same place…

No distress grant; what happens now? THE distress grant of R350 for unemployed people will end shortly but the pandemic has returned for a second bite. The grant was initially rolled out for six months and extended for a further three. What will happen now to the downtrodden who depend on the government handout? It will mean a return to relentless calculations to make ends meet. It is for this reason that I support the implementation of a basic income grant for the unemployed. For many, the grant offered a small relief to the multiplying anxieties of life. While I do not support a welfare state or dependency syndrome, unemployment among young people has reached critical levels. One must also remember that the money was ploughed back almost immediately into…

REMOVE TOXINS Nourish your body HYDRATING well and eating the right types of food can help you flush excess fluid and waste out of your system. PRATHIKSHA NAIDU BDDT AND GINGDR COLD PRDSS JUICD BEETS are loaded with vitamin C, dietary fibre, nitrates, folate and betanin. These nutrients can help you to lose weight and detox, as well as boost the immune system and lower blood pressure. 2 medium beets 2 red apples ½ lemon a thumb-size piece of ginger Use a cold press juicer and add the above ingredients cut up into small chunks and blend together. Store in the fridge and use within two days. Healthy skin is a reflection of how healthy we are on the inside. While we can spend hours and money on topical products,…

Your Stars SHARRON DUFF ARIES (March 21 – April 19) You have the power to make things happen this week and there are opportunities within your reach that will allow you to prove yourself. Use past experiences to draw on. There may be a decision that needs to be made that you have been procrastinating over. This week, someone will assist you. Lucky colour: yellow. TAURUS (April 20 – May 20) Take your time in making a decision. Do not be impulsive. If you have to sign any documentation around finances or legal issues, read through everything carefully. Some things may not be as good as they seem on the outside, so do your homework. Lucky colour: pink. GEMINI (May 21 – June 20) Things may have been difficult for…

Baa Baa Black sheep opens up THE Black Sheep spills the beans on his childhood and being the WWE Universal Champion The year 2021 is finally in full swing, and this January WWE fans can look forward to fresh new content, powerslams and drop kicks on DSTV Channel 236. This Friday, WWE Chronicle looks into the life of WWE Superstar Braun Strowman. The Black Sheep, who is a one-time Universal and Intercontinental Champion and two-time Raw Tag Team Champion, takes viewers through his WWE journey and gives insight into his difficult childhood. Growing up in Arkansas and Tennessee, Strowman was athletic, playing sports like softball and following in his father’s footsteps by participating in football and athletics. He later began his journey as a weightlifter, competing in multiple tournaments and…

Proteas women first up to tackle Pakistan ESHLIN VEDAN eshlin.vedan@inl.co.za RICHARD WAINWRIGHT BackpagePix THE Proteas men’s side are in Pakistan to play against the hosts for the first time in 14 years. They will play two Test matches and a three-match T20i series, with the first Test starting next week Tuesday and the final T20i concluding on February 14. The biggest threat to Mark Boucher’s team is Pakistani batsman Babar Azam who may well be on his way to becoming a generational great, in the mould of Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Steve Smith. The 26-year-old has a Test average of 45.44 and more impressively, his T20i average of 50.94 is higher than any of the Proteas batters’ Test batting averages. Given the state of South Asian pitches, Keshav…

India character key to stunning series victory INDIA coach Ravi Shastri claimed yesterday this was the toughest ever tour an Indian team had undertaken and credited regular skipper Virat Kohli for the self-belief and character that saw the Indians win their second successive series in Australia. Kohli had returned home after India suffered a humiliating loss in the first Test at Adelaide to attend the birth of his first child. He had led India to their first-ever series win in Australia in 2018-19. "This is the toughest tour ever. We are playing in Covid and quarantine times with multiple injuries. So nothing comes close to this or surpasses this," said the coach after India defeated Australia in the fourth and final Test by three wickets at the Gabba. "You must…

REPORTS OF OVERDOSING ON ‘MIRACLE DRUG’ Approach Sahpra for an Ivermectin research trial CHANELLE LUTCHMAN chanelle.lutchman@inl.co.za MINISTER of Health Dr Zweli Mkhize has suggested that those lobbying for the use of the drug Ivermectin approach the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) with the view to conducting a research trial. Mkhize made the comments while in Durban visiting hospitals to gauge how they were dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. Mkhize said he had been inundated with letters, emails and WhatsApp messages from people who wanted the drug to be used in the fight against Covid-19. Officially, Ivermectin has not been approved for use in humans, let alone in the fight against the coronavirus. The drug was developed in 1975 to kill parasites in animals. In South Africa it has…

‘CHARGING BETWEEN R1 200 AND R2 000’ Priests slammed for cashing-in at funerals CHARLENE SOMDUTH charlene.somduth@inl.co.za SOME Hindu priests have been accused of increasing their prices for funerals. The allegation was made by Pradeep Ramlall, from the Hindu Dharma Association of South Africa, who claimed they had received numerous complaints from grieving families. “Priests are charging between R1 200 and R2 000 to conduct a funeral. This is not right. As per our scriptures, this is our seva (service) to the community. If a family wants to give a priest a donation, then that is acceptable but priests should not be charging people.” Ramlall, who also manages the Clare Estate Hindu Crematorium, said he watched a priest count his money after a funeral. “I was in my vehicle. The priest…

STATE ALLEGES SHE FORCED EX-LOVER INTO A CAR Bail for kidnapping accused JANINE MOODLEY janine.moodley@inl.co.za AN OVERPORT woman arrested for allegedly kidnapping, assaulting and robbing her ex-lover has been granted R6000 bail. Seema Dhaler, 41, appeared in the Durban Magistrate's Court on January 2 for a formal bail application. She was granted bail on condition she made no contact with the complainant. The case was adjourned until February 19. During the court proceedings, it emerged that the ex-boyfriend had allegedly invited Dhaler to a hotel room on Margaret Mncadi Street on December 28. He allegedly struggled to let go of the relationship despite both parties being married. The state, on behalf of the complainant, said Dhaler arrived with a group of family members and forced her former lover into a…

YOU ARE WHAT YOU WEAR With Harris’s rise, the Divine Nine reach new heights HELENA ANDREWS-DYER WHEN Kamala Harris stepped into her power at the Chase Center in Wilmington, Delaware, on November 7, sheathed in an ivory suit accented with her signature earrings, most recognised this as a tip of the hat to suffragists (who wore white in the early 1900s in their fight for the vote) and the women's movement. But the uninterrupted white, the glinting pearls, the confident stride that could’ve easily become a stroll – and to the lyrics of a Mary J Blige jam no less? – were also nods to the incoming vice-president’s unbreakable ties to the Divine Nine, the group of historically black sororities and fraternities that, for more than a century, have been…

WAS CONFIDENT HE WOULD GET BETTER Actor and comedian loses battle JANINE MOODLEY janine.moodley@inl.co.za THE South African entertainment industry suffered a major loss to Covid-19 at the weekend. Afzal Khan, a 64-year-old Durban born actor and comedian, best known for his roles in local films such as For Better For Worse, 31 Million Reasons and Material, passed away on Saturday while in hospital. He tested positive on December 29 and was admitted to hospital the next day. Soon after he was transferred to ICU and placed on a ventilator. His wife Sumayya Khan, who was also in hospital at the same time, was able to see him and speak to him before his final moments. “He was confident he would get better. He reminded me of the trips we had…

SELFLESS Traffic officer loved God, people NADIA KHAN nadia.khan@inl.co.za TRAFFIC officer Mervyn Naidoo will be remembered by his family and colleagues for his love for people and God. Naidoo, 51, of Amanzimtoti, died of Covid-19 on January 9. Anesh Harripersadh, his brother-in-law, said Naidoo was admitted to hospital on January 5 and had shown signs of recovery. “After experiencing some of the symptoms, he went for a Covid test after New Year’s Day but the result came back negative. A few days later, he experienced difficulty in breathing and was hospitalised. After he was hospitalised, he tested positive. He showed signs of recovery but sadly, his health took a turn for the worst and he died four days later.” Harripersadh said Naidoo joined the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) more than…

HE DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO THE LORD Husband dies before anniversary CHANELLE LUTCHMAN chanelle.lutchman@inl.co.za ON Sunday, Reverend George Govender and his wife Savy would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. But last Monday, Govender, who was the pastor at Life Streams International Ministries, died of Covid-19 in hospital. His son, Shane Govender, who is also a pastor, said: "My dad was a wonderful person. “He dedicated his life to his family and his community. My father loved to worship God and it hurt him that he could not worship from church last year due to the pandemic.” His dad’s cremation was on Saturday, a day before his wedding anniversary. “My dad was saving money for a trip overseas to celebrate their anniversary. Instead, our family spent the day with my…

HUMBLE SERVANT OF THE PEOPLE MEC stood at the front line CHANELLE LUTCHMAN chanelle.lutchman@inl.co.za BHEKI Ntuli, the MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, worked on the front line to mitigate the impact of the virus, but on Saturday he died in hospital of Covid-19-related complications. Sihle Zikalala, KZN Premier, said Ntuli, 63, was a humble servant of the people and a champion of the poor and the downtrodden. “MEC Ntuli has been on the front-line combat, working day in and out in all government efforts to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 on citizens. He is a soldier, who died with his boots on … “He was often at the coalface of this epic battle from the time the first case was confirmed in March 2020. He led many campaigns…

DOCTOR LIVED TO SERVE TILL THE END TB front-line fighter loses his battle JANINE MOODLEY janine.moodley@inl.co.za A MEDICAL leader has fallen but his work and contribution will live on for those who he trained, educated and served. Dr Iqbal Haroon Master, of Reservoir Hills, dedicated his life to ending tuberculosis (TB) infections in KwaZulu-Natal. On Friday, the 58-year-old, who worked as a clinical manager at the King Dinuzulu Hospital Complex, died from Covid-19. Nirupa Misra, a pharmacy manager at the hospital, who worked with Master for eight years, said he was a gentle and humble professional. “He always had a smile and joked to lighten the mood. He served with dedication and overflowing passion. We used to call TB and HIV the terrible twins. Now with Covid, it’s the terrible…

WILL I USE IT AT THIS STAGE? NOT YET Not enough data about Ivermectin’s efficacy and dosing PROFESSOR TERRENCE KOMMAL IOL THE Covid-19 pandemic has put us under pressure, and the uncertainty is unnerving. Even though I’m a medical doctor and involved in multiple health-care discussions in South Africa, the continent and internationally, there is uncertainty even in the medical world. All of us, patients and health-care professionals are looking for solutions fast. Some attribute the spread of infection to the mutations. Others attribute it to public health concerns like the festive periods and other social gatherings. However, one thing is certain: people are getting sick and many are dying, and they’re dying quickly. Solutions need to be found. I’m not unaffected as a professional or personally by the pandemic.…

The inside story about nurses DURING the pandemic, we the nurses are the ones who are at risk. Yes, the government will create the image and say that there is a staff shortage when, in fact, there is no shortage of staff. There is a shortage of nursing jobs. And the government must not only look at skin colour during employment. We have experienced nurses in the Indian, coloured and white communities who are sitting at home. Some of these nurses, from the minority groups, work in private hospitals and their treatment at some of these health-care facilities is poor. Private hospitals make money off medical aids. However, they pay the nurses through a labour broking agency, which takes a chunk of the money. That agency nurse has no benefits…

City auction smacks of racism RECENT reports refer to the eThekwini Municipality holding a vehicle auction, but solely for blacks. This is unfair and smacks of racism. After so many Struggle stalwarts condemned the Park by the Pozie campaign, I would have thought that these stalwarts would have voiced their disapproval of such racist action by the city. Lo and behold, not a single word has been written or spoken. It seems that these Struggle veterans have lost their voices or maybe their common sense. It’s easy to criticise the Park by the Pozie campaign, but I’m sure the veterans’ masters won’t be too pleased if they voiced their disapproval on the auction. Dear veterans, if you think that your struggles against apartheid are over, then you guys are bigger…

Where is the vaccine? SOUTH Africa is regarded as an economic powerhouse of the continent but when it comes to health issues it has a dismal record. In the 2000s, the Aids pandemic ravaged the country and the politicians of that era failed to act expeditiously. We lost many lives. Now we have Covid-19 ravaging the country. Where is the vaccine? Nepal, one of the poorest countries in the world, has started to vaccinate its citizens. Venezuela, which is suffering an economic meltdown, also started vaccinating 30% of its population. Have we become such an economically bankrupt country that we cannot be in the front of the queue to buy up the available vaccines? PRDM SINGH Pietermaritzburg…

Trump will haunt America for years to come FREEDOM of speech and the right to project your views before a global audience is in the spotlight in the US after Twitter banned Donald Trump from its media platforms. I hold no brief for Trump, but the ban is an act of political censorship by stealth. One thing to consider is that there is no context in which freedom of speech constitutes an absolute right to say anything. Our willingness to extend the right to people we disagree with is at the heart of freedom of speech. It was Frederick Douglass who called free speech, the “dread of tyrants”. He knew as he put it: “Thrones, dominions, principalities and powers, founded in injustice and wrong, are sure to tremble if men…

IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH Consider an Ayurvedic lifestyle for 2021 DR TAMLYN GOVENDER Supplied AYURVEDIC medicine has two main aims of treatment, curative and preventative. As practitioners, we aim to preserve people’s health and heal them from disease. It is beneficial to adopt a healthy lifestyle to prevent falling ill in the first place. From the sun setting to the moon rising, everything in life is governed by cycles. These cycles are also present in the body and help regulate our biological clock. Following these simple routines can help to play a role in improving physical, mental and spiritual health. It also improves immunity, digestion, metabolism, discipline, happiness and peace of mind, among other benefits. Ayurvedic tips for healthy living: •The period between 3am to 6am is known as Brahma Muhurta.…

Five day TV guide WEDNESDAY JANUARY 20 Cricket: Women’s ODI: South Africa v Pakistan, First ODI, 9.45am, GSD. CRI; Big Bash Twenty20: Melbourne Renegades v Melbourne Stars, 10.10am, VR1 Soccer: Serie A: Udinese v Atalanta, 3.50pm, FTB; DStv Premiership: SuperSport United v AmaZulu, 4.30pm, VR3; Swallows v Chippa United, 4.30pm, VR4; Orlando Pirates v Golden Arrows, 4.30pm, PSL; DStv Premiership Wrap, 7pm, PSL; Premier League: Leeds United v Southampton, 7.30pm, EPL, SSM (7.45pm), Manchester City v Aston Villa, 10pm, VR3; Fulham v Manchester United, 10pm, GSD, EPL, SSM, VR3; La Liga Santander: Getafe v Huesca, 7pm, LIG’ Real Betis v Celta Vigo, 9.55pm, VR2; Villarreal v Granada, 10pm, LIG THURSDAY JANUARY 21 Cricket: Big Bash Twenty20: Adelaide Strikers v Brisbane Heat, 10.10am, CRI Golf: PGA Tour: The American Express Charity…

Man United remain top as Arsenal continue revival ESHLIN VEDAN eshlin.vedan@inl.co.za SAM Allardyce, pictured, is one of the most interesting managers in the history of the Premier League. Not only did he carve out his own managerial niche of being a relegation battle specialist, but his tactics are such that his sides can get positive results against the best teams on a good day and get hammered by basement clubs on a bad day. Big Sam recorded his first victory since being appointed as West Brom boss by leading his side to a win over Wolverhampton Wanderers. Manchester United maintained their position on top of the standings after drawing against arch-rivals Liverpool. A concern for United is that while they have pulled of some good performances, such as their wins…