Table of contents for 2022-07-06 in Post

THE general house survey 2021 was released recently and shows how service delivery and the quality of life of South African citizens have fared in the past two decades. The survey, conducted by Statistics South Africa, also shows how South Africans’ living conditions and their access to basic amenities changed between 2002 and 2021. Some provinces showed progress, but others have regressed or remained unchanged. Stats SA said the survey tracked the progress of development in the country and identified persistent service delivery gaps. “Since its inception in 2002, the survey has yielded a rich set of information across a wide variety of fields. The following figures summarise some of the most significant results from the report.” The survey found that 18.8% of children lived with neither of their biological…

THE excitement of the 2022 Hollywoodbets Durban July attracted many celebrities to the Greyville Racecourse on Saturday. They donned their best as they unwound at the marquee village. The designated area featured upmarket spots – mostly by invitation-only – to relax and to enjoy the finest cuisines and drinks. Around 35 000 visitors attended the event. The eThekwini Municipality said the event was expected to contribute more than R300 million to the local economy. The POST came across a few high-flyers: See Page 16…

Flag Animal Farm ON THIS rescue farm the animals are different. They may be missing an eye, a leg or an ear, but all the animals are cared for and are made to feel wanted. Visitors can see the cows being milked and attend reptile shows. They can also cuddle and interact with other animals. For more information, call 032 947 2018. Natal Lion Park Located near Pietermaritzburg, families can enjoy activities such as a one-hour game drive through the park, with lion feedings being one of the features. The park is home to, among others, African elephants, Asian elephants, impala, nyala, grey duiker, porcupine, bush pig and kudu. For more information, call 083 440 0358 or 031 785 4708. Natal Zoological Garden The children can enjoy the jungle gym…

Ali Raza was left heartbroken when his 10-year-old hair salon at a shopping centre in Loopwest Crescent in Newlands West was damaged. Raza, who owns ARB Salon, said despite what happened he had to focus on the positives as his family relied on his income. Looters emptied his shop. They took everything, from hair and beauty products to basins, hairdryers and towels. He said when he first saw the damage, he was angry. “The place looked a mess. Everything was turned over. They even got into my safe and stole the cash I had. I lost about R150 000 in equipment and cash." After submitting his insurance claim, he was paid R106 000 for the damages. He used the money to replace the stolen items. Though the store was not…

WHEN the anniversary of a traumatic event comes around it’s normal to feel a range of emotions. But healing and a way to move on with life can also be found. As we approach mid-July many people will reflect and relive the painful memories of last year’s looting, violence and destruction that rudely interrupted the rebuilding process that began after the devastation of Covid-19 the year before. Many wounded bodies and souls are still hurting, searching for answers and closure. Many are still trying to rebuild their businesses and their livelihoods. It has been a difficult journey as we, as a province and one community, cannot easily forget what we have been through. It’s healthy to remember, to inspect the wounds, to look back, reflect, and to do some analysis…

Due to the depredations of a global pandemic with the Russian-Ukrainian war, almost all of mankind is at the mercy of soaring energy costs and food insecurity. No country is immune and South Africa is no different. But the difference in ordinary citizens’ lives globally is whether and how their governments reached out to them to lighten the tightness of existence and bring hope to millions. While many countries have instituted rescue, revival, survival and stimulation packages with the fiscal dispensation of hard cash being an integral component of such packages, South Africa lacks the initiative, sustenance and continuity of such social and economic projects for its people. The majority of our people are unemployed, starving and denied basic living facilities, while its servants – government officials and politicians –…

EVER since George Stephenson invented the first locomotive, the Rocket, rail transport has grown phenomenally. All over the world trains play a crucial role in transporting people and goods. There’s not a country without a rail network. They can be found connecting towns and villages in some of the most mountainous and difficult terrains on Earth. Gone are the days of the old steam trains, puffing and chugging along, belching out black, ugly smoke. Now trains are fast, efficient and reliable and can whisk you from one place to another in a matter of minutes. First World countries see trains as symbols of progress in the modern world. In the urban jungles of the world, trains are the answer to streets choking with traffic, congestion and pollution. Developed countries…

l Francois Rodgers, the leader of the DA in KZN and a member of the provincial legislature, said many of the problems that contributed to last July’s unrest persisted. "Unemployment, poverty and notably, problems and party divisions within the ANC, continue to plague our province,” he said. Rodgers said police resources remained compromised and this left them and citizens vulnerable. “Sadly, no amount of moral regeneration attempts on behalf of the ANC government can give the assurance that our citizens so badly need in order to feel safe. “The DA believes that until we have a capable and ethical state, and the needs of the people are addressed with integrity, honesty and through service delivery, backed by a strong and vibrant economy, we will continue to suffer under the misguided…

THE South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) investigative hearings into the July unrest are yet to be finalised. In June 2021, the Constitutional Court sentenced former president Jacob Zuma to 15 months in prison for contempt of court. Soon thereafter, the looting of businesses and burning of trucks started in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, allegedly as a result of his imprisonment. During the unrest, more than 300 people died nationally. In Phoenix, 36 people were arrested after 36 people were killed. Some of the cases are pending in the Durban High Court and the Verulam Magistrate's Court. The killings in Phoenix stirred up racial tension between the Indian and African communities, and the killings were labelled the Phoenix Massacre. In November last year, the SAHRC started its hearing.…

The Durban-born jockey Warren Kennedy had his share of the Hollywoodbets Durban July limelight at Greyville on Saturday when he saddled the Grade 2 Post Merchants winner, Val D’orcia, three-year-old gelding, over 1 200m, in the ninth race on the card. The Paul Peter-trained Winterbach Stud-bred Val D’orcia (12-1), a progeny of the incredible South African sire Vercingetorixl, raced in the silks of Laurence Wernars, who owns him in partnership with Harry Willson. Kennedy, the 2019/20 South African champion jockey, timed the race to perfection. He just keeps bringing in the winners although he already has the jockey’s championship in the bag. Peter has always rated Val D’orcia very highly and on Saturday he was not disappointed. On Saturday, Val D’orcia was 4kg under sufferance with the best-weighted horse. Despite…

RECALLED fly-half Handre Pollard will captain a South Africa team showing 14 changes to the starting line-up for the second Test against Wales in Bloemfontein on Saturday. Only veteran lock Eben Etzebeth survives from the side that kicked off the 2022 Springboks season with a dramatic 32-29 over the Dragons in Pretoria last Saturday. Among the starters this Saturday will be two uncapped players – Bulls winger Kurt-Lee Arendse and Stormers’ No. 8 Evan Roos. The elevation of Roos will be warmly welcomed by South African supporters as he was voted Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season in the recently completed United Rugby Championship. There are four other uncapped players – scrum-half Grant Williams, prop Ntuthuko Mchunu, lock Ruan Nortje and flanker Deon Fourie – among…

Tottenham Hotspur star Son Heung-min has revealed he faced racism as a teenage footballer in Germany, and was happy to get “revenge” when South Korea knocked Germany out of the 2018 World Cup. Son, 29, became the first Asian footballer to win the Golden Boot for being top scorer in the English Premier League last season with 23 goals. The South Korea football icon, the leading Asian goalscorer in English football’s top-flight history, was awarded the country’s highest sporting honour in June for his achievements. But Son said his most memorable career moment had been South Korea’s 2-0 victory over Germany four years ago, because of the racism he had endured in the country as a teenager after joining Hamburg in 2010. Son shared his experiences of racism while speaking…

GIVING up is not an option for Nagina Amarchand, the owner of Frame Edge. In September, her shop in the Springfield Retail Shopping Centre reopened after it was looted and damaged. “Business is slower compared to before since a huge part of the building at the retail centre is under construction.” She said the business was insured for theft and fire but not for property damage. “The insurance company paid out a small percentage for the damages but not for the loss of stock and equipment that cost around R460 000. Honestly, we have not been able to recover.” She now has two staff instead of three. Amarchand said she was grateful for the support of her customers. “Many of our loyal customers continued to support us and kept us…

YACHTING has been one of the great pleasures of my life. It is mostly a contest between yourself and the elements. Yacht racing pits you against the same elements and against often unseen and distant competitors. There are no referees, coaches, or managers. You are expected to be polite and honourable, and disputes are settled by a jury of your peers after the event. There is a thick book of rules, which some sailors use to their advantage. Frustrated by the innumerable and finicky rules, I donated a trophy to my yacht club for a race to be sailed once a year. The race, known as the Avoid Collisions race, has only two rules: 1. Avoid collisions; 2. If a collision occurs, regardless of who is at fault, both parties…

CORRUPTION is corruption. It's not a case of who’s more corrupt or the position they hold. The Guptas must be brought to book, as well as Jacob Zuma. Cyril Ramaphosa must also provide answers to the questionable Phala Phala decisions he made amongst others. However, let’s not fool ourselves by assuming that is the be all and end all of corruption. The ANC once fought against colonial powers but now itself is colonised by corruption. They cannot fool the people with their R350 hush money. Corruption is like apartheid. It’s a crime. The step aside rule was introduced to curb corruption and to polish the image of the ANC. So the people opposing the step aside rule, support corruption and its benefits. It’s unfortunate that corruption was allowed to reach…

THE system we adopted in South Africa produces politicians in name only, not leaders. They know little to nothing about leadership, yet they are leading us. They steadfastly refuse to be held to account for their failures. They don’t attempt to bring out the best in the people they serve. They are certainly not leaders and we ought not to refer to them as political leaders. Like the voters who put them there, we should hold them to account. We should have a right to see them whenever we want and discuss what we need to bring to their attention. This is not leadership. Nor is it democracy. It is instead insatiable greed and uncontrolled deception practised by incompetents. Leaders shouldn’t wear crowns. True leaders serve those they are entrusted…

THE article “Violent protests are the solution” (POST, June 29-July 3) is a sad state of affairs. Two weeks ago, at the Mangosuthu University, there were more than R2 million in damages resulting in more financial loss. Our place of learning has become a war zone. Universities are meant to be our education institutions. If urgent action is not taken soon to stop this sickening surge in violence and indiscipline, this will easily degenerate into crime zones in the near future. Hardly a month passes without students damaging education institutions. What will South Africa look like with regard to education in a decade if this type of mayhem carries on? We are facing our darkest hour with this destruction. The government is failing our young people. There has to be…

SEVERAL families in Durban are mourning the loss of four of their loved ones who were travelling to Pongola on Thursday last week for a hunting trip. Loganathan Pillay, 59, Denise “Zack” Munsamy, 31, Christiaan Barnard, 38, and Nico van Vollenstee, 31, died on the N2 near Pongola, 18km away from their destination. They were on their way to the Umsumpe Game Farm and were scheduled to return home three days later. It is alleged a side tipper truck collided with Barnard’s Ford Ranger and Van Vollenstee’s Toyota bakkie. Tia Barnard, Christiaan’s wife, said: “It feels surreal like someone is going to wake me and say this is just a bad dream. I lost my husband, my dad (Pillay), my cousin (Munsamy) and my friend all at once. It’s still…

THREE cases pertaining to murder and attempted murder during the unrest will be heard in the Durban High Court from this month. Advocate Elaine Zungu, the deputy director of public prosecutions in KwaZulu-Natal, said during the unrest the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) strategy was that all murder dockets be sent to the high court for guidance and possible prosecution. “As a result thereof, we received eight cases. Of these eight, we declined to prosecute two cases due to insufficient evidence and one was withdrawn as the only witness could not be traced.” She said of the remaining five, two are at the regional court level but three have been indicted to the high court. The cases will be in court on the following dates: July 25, 2022: The pre-trial conference…

THE loss and damage suffered during the unrest last year still haunts Kavesh Sewpersad, the owner of The Party Shop at the Reservoir Hills Mall. Sewpersad opened the business at the mall about a month before the riots. As a result, he lost thousands of rand in supplies and goods that he was unable to recover. The shop has, however, reopened. “But business is not what it used to be,” he said. “The unrest impacted us drastically. When I initially opened the store, I used money from my savings. I had taken insurance but the policy had not kicked in at the time. The damage following the unrest amounted to about R380 000. “In order to reopen in August, I had to take a loan. I am finding it difficult…

There have been a lot of happenings in the transfer window so far this off season. If one thing is certain, it looks like clubs around the world are past the phase of buying expensive players for the sake of it. We have seen this playing out in South African football and international football. In comments which apparently irked Neymar, PSG chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi recently said the “bling bling” era for his club was over. This had led to speculation surrounding the future of the 30-year-old with reports suggesting PSG may be open to letting the Brazilian go if a good offer comes from another club. Neymar arrived at PSG in 2017 in a move which was supposed to help the French club finally land the Champions League title while…

WHILE most of us are reeling from yet another petrol price hike this week, there is some good news for taxi commuters as it seems fares are unlikely to increase. Sifiso Shangase, the spokesperson for the SA National Taxi Council (Santaco) in KwaZulu-Natal, said: “We have already increased the taxi fare as we do every year on July 1 and will only increase the fares in areas where the increase has yet to be implemented.” He said decisions regarding further increases would likely be taken in December. Petrol (95 ULP) increased by R2.57 to R26.74; and 93 ULP by R2.37 to R26.31 from Wednesday. Diesel increased by R2.31 and is now R25.52 a litre. The Automobile Association said: “In addition to the increases to the basic fuel prices, the R1.50…

INCREASED fuel costs and a higher cost of living have influenced consumers to turn to online instead of in-store shopping. This emerged from research on consumer shopping behaviour undertaken by academics at Mancosa. Dr Marlini Moodley and Sershan Naidoo led a survey comprising professionals, 70% of whom were Indianwomen. The survey participants were based in Durban and Johannesburg. The remaining 30% comprised men and women from other race groups. The survey aimed to establish the purchasing preferences of people now that Covid-19 infections have been reduced, and restrictions lifted. It sought to determine whether there was a preference for online or physical shopping. The findings suggest that due to increased fuel costs, consumers are shopping online to lower their consumption of petrol as a means to save money. According to…

TWENTY years ago, Sagren Rangasamy, a technician, started 3D Wired in Umzinto which specialises in electrical repairs. “It took a lot of hard work to open the shop and operate for so many years. “During the unrest, they stole whatever they could and burnt the buil ding. I lost everything in that shop, including TVs, laptops, computers and every gadget you would find in a repair store,” he said. Some of the appliances he was repairing for customers were also stolen. “I previously insured the business but the monthly premiums were too high and I cancelled it. “After the unrest, I applied for funding from an agency that supports businesses but I have not received feedback. “Due to the lack of financial support, I had to close that business, and…

IT IS alleged that almost two thirds of South Africa’s municipalities are in a failed status. This should be of grave concern to the governing ANC government. It is quite obvious that the cadre deployment policy has backfired. Most levels of government have some incompetent and corrupt officials out to fleece the state coffers. Unfortunately, it is the poorest of the poor who bear the brunt of the malfeasance that is continuing unabated. What exacerbated the situation were the recent floods, Eskom’s rolling blackouts and the July unrest. The damage created by the unrest was phenomenal, with many lives and jobs being lost. It is a year since the unrest and yet many businesses in malls and industrial areas have still not opened. Take, for instance, the business area opposite…

Last week a homeless man was in urgent need of medical attention. He had a wound on his leg which had turned septic and he was in pain and could not walk. He could not get the help he needed at the local clinic. It was late at night and cold when I reached out to Prem Balram of Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) and without a second’s hesitation, he dispatched an ambulance to Tongaat to attend to the man. RUSA paramedics Shabnam Ismail, Siyabonga Mthethwa and Devan Perumal were kind, compassionate and professional. They checked his vitals and reassured him he was in good hands before stabilising him. He was then transported to a local provincial hospital. During the trip there and up until the time they had him…

AS WE approach the anniversary of one of the darkest days in the short history of a new-found democracy, what has changed since July 2021? The month will bring back sad memories for more than 300 families whose loved ones perished in uncalled for mayhem – where madness and insanity reigned, where lawlessness and thuggery became the driving force and where government sat and watched while the country burned. July 2021, like other tragic days in the life of South Africa, will be remembered not for the cold nights of the winter month, but for our fellow citizens transforming into the greedy opportunists, wreaking havoc that was instigated by political power-mongers who put party before country. The visuals of the looting and destruction to property screened on TV were as…

JULY is commemorated as moral regeneration month (MRM), aimed at encouraging people to build a caring society. It also coincides with Mandela Day on July 18 to mark the birthday month of Madiba. According to reports, MRM dates back to a meeting between Nelson Mandela and South African religious leaders in June 1997. At the meeting, Mandela spoke about the role of religion in nation-building and social transformation, and the need for religious institutions to work with the state. Following the July 2021 unrest in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, religious leaders say it is time to act on Madiba’s sentiments to build a more caring and non-violent society. Ashwin Trikamjee, the president of the SA Hindu Maha Sabha, said this required a return to basic old fashioned values of…

THE pain of losing her son has not eased, and Tashleen Moodley does not know if it ever will. Faybian Moodley, 17, of Trenance Park in Verulam, was shot and killed on July 13 while standing guard at the entrance to the area during the unrest. It is alleged that three or four men were trying to sneak through a sports ground to get into the area. When the patrollers saw them, they approached. However, as the group fled, they allegedly opened fire. Faybian was shot under his arm and died at the scene. “There is not a day that I don’t cry for my child. My heart aches for him. Life is not the same anymore. We have a part of us missing, and we keep wondering what life…

SANDILE Caluza would have been in Grade 12 this year and if everything had gone according to plan, he would have gone on to study sports management. “We had high hopes that he would prosper in life, but all those dreams were shattered when he was killed,” said Sandile’s dad, Wonderboy Caluza, a priest at the African Congregation Church. The 18-year-old, of Inanda, was shot and stabbed near Phoenix’s Bester area during the unrest. “It is still difficult to accept that he is no longer alive. His death broke our hearts. “What was more devastating was that during the time of his passing, his mother was heavily pregnant and finding her son’s body at the Phoenix mortuary put her under a lot of stress. “She, however, delivered a healthy baby…

VIKASH Maharaj, the owner of Maharaj's Prayer Shop, says the past year has been a challenge. His store, which has operated in Reservoir Hills for 16 years, 10 of which were at the Reservoir Hills Mall, was looted and burnt. While he was able to reopen at another spot in the mall, business has not been the same, he said. “The unrest has definitely impacted on the business, especially our type of business where most of the goods are imported. Our expenses have also risen considerably.” Maharaj said he had to pick up the pieces on his own. “We have not received any government aid, rental deductions, or any other financial support. Rising costs are our biggest hurdle currently." He was, however, able to retain his customer base. “We kept…

THE memories of their shops being looted, vandalised and burnt is something business owners in Phoenix will never forget. They lost thousands of rand in stock and equipment and had to invest more to rebuild their stores. However, a year later and despite their efforts, they are still recovering from the unrest. One of the businesses is Moodley’s Tearoom, which has been based in a shopping centre in Westham for the past 25 years. It was started by Moses Moodley and passed on to his daughter, Sumashni Moodley, 15 years ago. During the looting, the shop was broken into and all the stock, appliances, furniture, countertops and cupboards looted and destroyed. The looters also set the shop on fire. “I remember feeling my heart break when I saw pictures of…

Logan Paul appears to have a degree of creative control when it comes to his presentation in WWE. Speaking on a recent episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer stated the recent WWE signing was effectively “calling the shots” when it came to his deal with the sports entertainment market leaders. This is why the YouTuber-turned-fighter is to be booked as a babyface: he wants to play a hero on television. WrestleMania 38 saw Paul team with The Miz, winning his first wrestling match by felling Rey and Dominik Mysterio. Logan demonstrated sound heel instincts in a well-received maiden wrestling voyage, though he effectively turned face after the bout, with Miz turning on him. Meltzer reported at the time that Paul had made a deal with WWE to flip his…

Cristiano Ronaldo’s shock demand to leave Manchester United has thrown Erik ten Hag’s plans into disarray as he scrambles to contain the fall-out from the Portugal star’s power play. Just a year after returning to United in a blockbuster move from Juventus, Ronaldo has already grown so disenchanted he is trying to force his way out of Old Trafford. The 37-year-old is reported to have told United he wants to be sold, with his agent Jorge Mendes said to have held talks with Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Napoli as he seeks a club capable of satisfying Ronaldo’s ambitions. Ronaldo’s frustration mounted throughout a turbulent campaign that saw United go through three managers as they finished a disappointing sixth in the Premier League. Although Ronaldo was United’s top scorer with 24…

Duff is a psychic medium, soul coach, spiritual mentor, healer and animal communicator. She has been connecting with spirit for more than 20 years and runs her business, Quantum Soul, from Waterfall in KwaZulu-Natal. Watch her weekly predictions on GlowTV on Sundays after 8pm with Denver Naicker on the Get Real Show. She can be contacted at 072 986 5514 or email sharron@quantsoul.com ARIES (March 21 – April 19) There is love on the horizon for some of you, or a rekindling of an old flame. If you’re not feeling it, then leave it and move on. Don’t feel pressurised to go into anything that you cannot maintain. A business commitment may need the same level of attention. Lucky colour: gold. TAURUS (April 20 – May 20) Trust in your…

Have you heard it yet? The KZN Angler News audio fishing report is South Africa’s first fishing podcast series that focuses on the latest fishing reports of the East Coast, whether they’re hot or not! It delivers true and accurate content from the provinces most prominent anglers on a weekly basis on various facets of angling. This report is free and available on all major Podcast platforms including Apple Pods, Google Pods, Spotify and Deezer as well as SA’s most popular Facebook pages. This show is proudly sponsored by The Kingfisher to ensure you get into the right feeding zones with bending rods for the upcoming weekend! https://ansapodcast.buzzsprout.com The offshore fishing has been slow, but the big seas have meant less people on the water and therefore less reports. There…