Table of contents for 2023-11-08 in Post

Aurets is a healer, psychic medium, intuitive mentor, masseuse and regression therapist. She also teaches meditation and breath work. She is passionate about holistic care and offers a small range of holistic products. Aurets practises in the Upper Highway, KZN. Find her on https://www.facebook.com/healing 1920. Contact her at 079 356 4657 or theeternalbreath@gmail.com ARIES (March 21 – April 19) All is well. Looking closely at a situation, not as a problem but as a solution, can help. Allow life to unfold naturally, without forcing issues. Understanding will follow. Be gentle with yourself and practise self-care. Magic number: 7. TAURUS (April 20 – May 20) Stand up for what you believe in. Not all may agree with you, so draw deep on your courage as some will need a role…

“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, it goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, it goes to his heart.” | To be born in a gentrified and cosmopolitan nation, with multiculturalism in our founding history, it’s easy to suffer an identity crisis and become estranged to your cultural origins that run in your ancestral bloodline. Entertainment connects us to our language and keeps our culture alive. We acknowledge the efforts of children and adults who spend hours (sometimes days) trying to perfect dance movements, learn words of the songs, lip sync with accuracy, find appropriate costumes, do hair and make-up, and then record their performances, edit and share videos on various platforms. This year we had the song Kaavalaa…

Entrepreneur and now actor Raj Kundra has opened up about various aspects of his life, including his jail experience, marriage and his latest release, UT69. Kundra said on ShareChat, an Indian social networking service: “More than a legal trial, the media trial hurt me. After all the controversy which happened, I was misunderstood and I was heartbroken by it. My family was dragged and pulled down, which was unfair to them.” He also opened up about the origin of his movie: “I wanted to write a book on my whole jail journey, but my friend told me that I should make it a movie, and act in it. When I wore a mask and came for the first time in front of the media, I was called the mask man.…

AMALA Paul married her partner, Jagat Desai, in Kochi and said she was celebrating the love and grace that brought them together. Paul was previously married to director Al Vijay, but they divorced in 2017. Taking to social media, Desai shared pictures of himself and his ladylove in matching lavender outfits. The pictures have the backdrop of a riverside. The geo tag location is Bolgatty, Kochi. Desai captioned the post: “Two souls, one destiny, walking hand-in-hand with my divine feminine, for the rest of this lifetime.” Paul wrote: “Celebrating the love & grace that brought us together ... #Married to my divine masculine... Seeking your love and blessings.” Paul made her acting debut in the Malayalam film Neelathamara. She was last seen in Bholaa and has Aadujeevitham and Dvija…

125g butter 125ml sugar 125ml sunflower oil 65ml semolina pinch of salt 7.5ml cardamom 5ml bicarbonate of soda 500ml to 625ml cake flour whole almonds, to decorate Using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Pour in the sunflower oil and continue beating until the sugar dissolves. Add the semolina, salt, cardamom and bicarbonate of soda. Stir to combine and sift in 500ml cake flour. Mix into a soft dough and add the remaining flour, a little at a time, until the dough is easy to work with. Cover the dough with a damp cloth to prevent it from drying out. Grease your palms with a little oil or butter, and roll the dough into little balls. Place a whole…

250g butter 185ml icing sugar 60ml sunflower oil 5ml vanilla essence 185ml cornflour 60ml desiccated coconut 60ml chopped cashew nuts 500ml – 600ml cake flour melted milk chocolate, to decorate chopped cashews, to decorate Cream the butter in a mixer with the paddle attachment and gradually add the icing sugar. Once it is a pale colour and the sugar dissolves slightly, beat in the oil and vanilla essence. Add the cornflour, coconut and cashews. Stir well to combine. Sift the flour and gradually add into the butter mixture. Roll into balls and place on a greased baking tray. Bake at 170ºC for 20 minutes or until pale golden. Once they have cooled, drizzle with melted milk chocolate. Garnish with chopped cashews.…

THE 1860 Heritage Centre will host a day of prayer to commemorate the 163rd anniversary of the arrival of Indians in Natal on November 16 at 10am in Durban. Those attending are encouraged to wear traditional clothing. The keynote address will be by Dr Thelma John David, the Consul General of India in Durban. An offering of marigolds will follow in the Indian Ocean. Light snacks will be provided at the beach. The prayer will be held at Durban Beach, at the end of Erskine Terrance, next to the uShaka Marine World car park (opposite Silver Sands Lifestyle Resort). Guests should park at the grass patch parking lot and walk to the beach. For more information, call Yatin Singh at 031 309 1818 or Selvan Naidoo at 082 498 2614…

MOTHER Luxmi (Goddess of Wealth) is worshipped during Diwali. But in this time one prays for health. One must not be misled that wealth and prosperity refers to financial gain only because as much as you must be financially stable, you also require good health, food, unity, peace and harmony in the home, which money cannot buy. Therefore, in this time, it is imperative to pray for abundance in all aspects. The main theme of this glorious festival is the triumph of “Good over Evil” and “Light over Darkness”. This is also symbolic of lighting of the diya (clay lamp), Mother (Matha), Father (Pita), Teacher (Guru), God (Deva). The lamp made out of clay (earth), referred to as Mother Earth, gives and provides grounding in this natural way, bringing…

Diwali or Deepavali – the Festival of Lights The day Ayodhya has been waiting for 14 long years Hindus around the world preparing to worship Lakshmi ma And to open the doors to welcome Lord Ram and Sita Diyas lit, lighting up the path that will bring happiness and prosperity Firecrackers light up the sky The cheers of the subjects The kids playing on roads dancing with joy Three kinds of oil baths Hawans and pujas Rangolis drawn on the floors and garlands of colourful flowers hung at the entrance of doors Adorned houses Sweet dishes to sweeten each other’s mouths and remove the bitterness of the past A day to rejoice A time of togetherness To celebrate light over darkness And the triumph of good over evil The end…

DEEPAVALI stands on record as the world’s greatest celebration of divinity as the light principle. Light is synonymous with the absolute supreme reality since God is the source or the illuminator of all knowledge. Light dispels the darkness of not knowing and illuminates the path to God realisation. The origin of the festival of lights is linked to numerous legends described in the Puranas but despite the many and various festivals on the Hindu calendar, it is Deepavali that endures as the only festival common to all Hindus despite regional and linguistic differences. In this regard, Deepavali can be regarded as a unifying force, uniting the various sects in Hinduism. It unifies young and old and rich and poor. The Deepavali lamp is known to shine with equal serenity, sanctity…

IT IS AN absolute honour to extend my sincere and heartfelt congratulations to Yogas Nair on her return as editor of POST, the voice and heart of the community. This is great news. We as POST readers look forward to reading the most popular paper with great zeal. Through hard work and a diligent attitude, you have proved worthy, and we all celebrate your success. Yogas, I am positive you will man this ship with impeccable precession. My best wishes for the future and may you continue to grow from strength to strength. Congratulations and well done, and I know you will excel in your job. POST is lucky to have you and I know the A team (reporting team) is going to love you. DHAYALAN MOODLEY Mobeni Heights…

POOR refereeing has been a feature of English soccer for many decades. The English were reluctant to use technology in the game. They said it would disrupt the flow of the game and that errors made by referees should be accepted as part of the sport. Eventually, the Football Association bowed to pressure and introduced video assisted refereeing (Var) in 2019. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. They thought technology would eliminate human error and that it would be the end of poor decisions by referees. Unfortunately, it is not. Poor refereeing continues to mar English soccer. Week after week, controversy rages over Var decisions. Strangely, we don’t find this happening in other sports like rugby and cricket. During the Rugby World Cup, there were six officials sitting in front…

MANY roots and routes criss-cross and converge in the story of Gledhow, in KwaZulu-Natal. Nineteen years after the first Indian indentured labourers set foot in Colonial Natal on November 16, 1860, in the Truro, the first sugar mill was built in Gledhow. A larger mill, on the current site, was built in 1912, by Smith, Reynold, Pearce and Crookes Brothers. In 1975, Illovo Sugar established ownership, and in 2004, the Gledhow Mill came under the Sokhela Family Trust. Today, the Sokhela Family Trust owns the mill, and the other shareholders include Illovo Sugar, and Sappi. What is noteworthy is that while Gledhow is synonymous with several Indian indentured families who hail from this location in KwaZulu Natal, the name, “Gledhow”, actually comes from a suburb in Leeds, in England, and…

A STAND-OFF between the KZN Department of Education and the SA Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) has put the internal Grade 8 to 11 exams at risk. On Monday, several schools in Durban and surrounding areas sent letters to parents informing them that the exams would be halted until the department paid outstanding money to schools for supplies such as ink and paper. Vee Gani, chairperson of the Parents Association in KZN, said: “We have been inundated with calls from parents who received the letters. There are concerns over the Grade 8 to 11 internal exams, particularly for the Grade 9’s who will start their senior courses next year, and Grade 11s, ahead of their matric year. “While they would have used their mid-year results to apply to tertiary institutions, they…

THE bullet-riddled bodies of two Durban friends were found dumped on the roadside near the KwaMashu Hostel, hours after they were allegedly hijacked and robbed. Self-employed Ashveer Ally, 31, of Durban Central, and David Brown, 39, a welder from Wentworth, had allegedly gone to KwaMashu after receiving a phone call around 6pm last Tuesday. Ally’s girlfriend, Naazneen Allie, said they were having dinner at her mom’s house, when he received the call. Allie said: “I don’t know who phoned him. He just told me he was going to KwaMashu to see a friend. He asked me to pack some food for the friend. We left my mom’s house in separate vehicles just after 6pm. I was going to visit a friend nearby. Ashveer did not want me to drive home…

MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Monday directed that during Diwali, firecrackers could only be burst between 7pm and 10pm because of the air pollution and poor air quality index (AQI) in the city. A division Bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Girish Kulkarni had asked all the municipal corporations in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) to adhere to the directives. The deteriorating air quality in Mumbai has become a concern in the past few weeks. The judges observed that there was a need to make a choice now, either for a disease-free environment or burning firecrackers to celebrate Diwali. They urged the state government to take a decision because it had become difficult to walk on the footpaths with the entire city affected by air pollution. Besides…

It is just two-and-a-half weeks away from the R5 million Betway Summer Cup to be run over 2 000m at Turffontein Standside on November 25 and there look to be some opportunties for punters in the ante-post market Puerto Manzano has won six stakes races in his career, including two Gr 1s, and all six have been at Turffontein Standside. His latest win was in the Gr 2 Allied Steelrode On A Mission Charity Mile where he carried second topweight of 60.5kg, so he is not surprisingly the Summer Cup favourite with the sponsor. He has a 5/1 chance to defend his crown. This year he runs off a 125 merit rating as opposed to a 120 last year and so officially has a 2.5kg harder task. He only scraped…

Telugu star Ram Charan was recently inducted into the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’s Actors Branch. He now joins his RRR co-star, NTR jr. Charan, whose role as the freedom fighter Alluri Sitaraman Raju in the historical fiction epic RRR gained him the global spotlight, now joins a roster of established stars. The academy, the institution that oversees the Oscars, announced his induction on Instagram: “Through their nuanced portrayal and dedication to authenticity, these actors gift us with characters that leave a lasting impression on our hearts and minds. “Their mastery of their art form transforms ordinary moments into extraordinary cinematic experiences, enriching our appreciation for the depth and complexity of human emotions. “We’re thrilled to welcome these accomplished performers.”…

GET ready for an action-packed Diwali treat as Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif reunite in Tiger, which will be in cinemas on Sunday. Expectation is mounting with advanced bookings in India surging. An extra 7am show was added to accommodate the demand. The film marks the third instalment of the high-octane Tiger franchise, and it boasts Imraan Hashmi as the formidable antagonist. Adding to the star-studded cast, Shah Rukh Khan will make a special cameo appearance as Pathaan, promising a cinematic extravaganza that fans can’t afford to miss. This Diwali, prepare for fireworks both on and off the screen with Tiger. Birthday gift ICONIC superstar Shah Rukh Khan celebrated his 58th birthday last Thursday and it appears that he has no intention of slowing down. In a double birthday treat,…

250g butter 185ml sugar 30ml sunflower oil 5ml vanilla essence 185ml cornflour 125ml pecan nuts 550ml – 625ml cake flour icing sugar, to dust edible dried rose petals, to decorate Cream the butter in a mixer with the paddle attachment and gradually add the sugar. Once it is pale in colour and the sugar dissolves slightly, beat in the oil and vanilla essence. Add the cornflour and pecan nuts, and stir well to combine. Sift the flour and gradually add into the butter mixture. Roll into balls and place on a greased baking tray. Bake at 170ºC for 20 minutes or until pale golden in colour. Toss the hot biscuits in icing sugar as soon as you can manage and place on a wire rack. Once they have cooled,…

250g butter 185ml icing sugar 60ml sunflower oil 5ml ground green cardamom 60ml cornflour 125ml Klim 185ml – 225ml cake flour melted white chocolate, to decorate tinted almonds, to decorate Cream the butter in a stand mixer with a paddle attachment. Once the butter is pale, gradually add the icing sugar and beat until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the sunflower oil and cardamom, and mix well. Remove from the mixer and stir in the cornflour and Klim. Gradually add the flour but take care not to add too much at one go as the dough dries out quickly. Roll the dough into balls and place on a greased baking tray. Bake at 160ºC for 15 minutes – the baking time varies depending…

HEAVILY armed gunmen are targeting unsuspecting motorists on the N2 near the Mandeni and Tongaat toll plazas. A group of friends travelling to a wedding and a man on his way to work are lucky to be alive after gunmen opened fire on them, in two separate incidents. Ashin Nundlall, 46, of Etete, on the North Coast, said he was travelling in his Toyota Tazz and was a few metres from the Tongaat toll when he came under fire on Monday morning. Nundlall, a senior officer for Seta, a skills development agency, said it was just after 7am when he heard a loud bang and the driver’s side window shattered. “At first I thought I was in an accident but as I looked to the side, I spotted a white…

THIS year, on the occasion of my daughter’s 18th birthday, we proudly continued a rite of passage where Tamil women pierce their noses to wear the beautiful Mookuthi (nose pin) to signify their passage into adulthood. My daughter takes her place alongside her grandmothers and both great-grandmothers, who continued the grand traditions of generations that came before them. To celebrate this momentous occasion, I decided to announce this proud moment to the world on social media via Facebook by juxtaposing pictures of my daughter alongside pictures of my mother and grandmothers, who proudly wore the mookuthi. The picture that I shared of my paternal grandmother, Amurtham Varden, was that of her green identity card, a photo that my mother kept as a remembrance when Amurtham passed in 1983. Even though…

DIWALI, or Deepavali, is a major Hindu festival celebrated worldwide with colour, vibrancy and divine enthusiasm. According to tradition and custom, it is believed that we should cleanse our bodies with oils blessed by elders and wear new clothes on the day. As per vedic astrology, it is advisable to wear new colour clothes associated with your zodiac sign to attract happiness and prosperity. ARIES (March 21 – April 19) Wear red clothes or colours similar to red. This will bring happiness and good luck into your life. Light red and orange are also considered auspicious as they attract goddess Lakshmi. Marriage and family relationships are at a crucial point in your life. Focus your energies on this area and pray for calm in your marriage and family life. TAURUS…

“Diwali offers hope for renewal,” by Brij Maharaj (POST, October 25-29, 2023), refers. As descendants of indenture Indians, we know that our forebears in South Africa always associated two significant figures and events as meaningful and sustaining for the followers of Sanathana Dharma during Diwali. They were Lord Krishna and Lord Rama. The events they were associated with were linked to the values that Hindus hold dear. All the values, especially family values, are taught in Hindu homes since childhood by recalling and narrating the episodes that relate to Lord Krishna or Lord Rama. They instruct us on conduct both personal and in public, filial bonds and duties, fraternal bonds, societal issues, courage, honour, justice, truthfulness, and so on. This is how our forbears taught us since childhood, and…

ON BEHALF of the descendants of the late Sewsunker Sham, I express my gratitude to you for the column on the “forgotten” tour to India by a South African Indian cricket and soccer team, the POST, November 1-5, by Ashwin Desai. Mr S Sham was my maternal grandfather and a much-respected educator, sportsman and also a well-known social contributor in the greater Verulam area. He was also mentioned extensively in Ashwin Desai’s book Blacks in Whites: A Century of Cricket Struggles. Thank you for a great column. BIMAL ROY BALWANTH Temple Valley…

VISVIN Reddy must be complimented. He has always been outspoken. I have admired the many informative letters he wrote over the years. I wish to comment on his most recent letter “Long overdue crackdown on MPs” (POST, October 18-22). I fully agree with the points he mentioned and I support his call, 100%. How did some of these representatives get into these positions – local, legislature and Parliament? While I was in the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature from 1999 to 2009, I have a vivid memory of an individual who came into the legislature and barely spoke for five years. He was promoted by a businessman. He was not able to get more than 20 people at a branch meeting while others in that party were able to attract more than 500…

AS A LEGAL practitioner steeped in our constitutional history and struggles for human rights, the decision of the Constitutional Court handed down March 31, 2016, in Economic Freedom Fighters versus Speaker of the National Assembly and Others; Democratic Alliance versus Speaker of the National Assembly and Others (2016) ZACC 11, serves as a seminal, if not poignant, reminder of the significance of the Office of the Public Protector. This, considering the enshrining principle associated with it. It stated that one of the crucial elements of our constitutional vision was “to make a decisive break from the unchecked abuse of state power and resources that was virtually institutionalised (sic) during the apartheid era”. To achieve this goal‚ the drafter of our Constitution adopted accountability‚ the rule of law and the supremacy…

THE recent announcement by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana that R33.5 billion would be allocated to fund the extension of the R350 Social Relief of Distress Grant (SRD) is concerning. While the grant was introduced as a temporary measure during the Covid pandemic in 2020 and targeting unemployed South Africans, it has continued since. This raises questions about the government’s fiscal management principles and the prioritisation of spending. It is clear that the budget process is being politically engineered by the ANC to win support for the upcoming elections. While the Finance Minister reported to the government that there was no money in the fiscus to fund this grant and hinted that it should be shelved, the ANC has been promising people at its various campaigns that the grant would be…

DA MP GHALEB Cachalia says his dismissal as public enterprises ‘shadow minister’ was as a result of his pro-Palestinian stance. His removal came after Cachalia tweeted on X (formerly Twitter): “I will not be silenced. Israel is committing genocide.” He was immediately replaced by Mimmy Gondwe. Cachalia described his axing as unjustifiable. “All my life I have been vocal about issues happening in the world. Be it the atrocities in Afghanistan, the conflict in Palestine or whatever the issue.” He said that the DA also had no guidelines on what party members could and could not say. “I didn’t know there were consequences to speaking one’s mind. I want to know what comments I can and can’t make. “No one in the party has been able to tell me what…

CHATSWORTH hits the big screen this December. The Made in Chatsworth documentary tells the story of one of the most unique and vibrant townships in the country, according to publisher turned film-maker Anivesh Singh. Four years ago, he turned to print local historian Kiru Naidoo’s memoir of the same title. “The response to the book both here and abroad was nothing short of amazing with the first edition selling out within months,” said Singh. At one of the launches at B Nagiah’s butchery in Midrand, one of the old residents of Chatsworth said: “Wouldn’t it be nice to see ourselves in a movie?” The idea fascinated Singh. He was aware that making movies was costly, but he entertained the dream that the book could make it to the big screen.…

MORE than 141 assassinations took place in South Africa in 2022. Rumbidzai Matamba, a crime expert for the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, said over the last two decades in South Africa, violence had become a commodity that could be bought and sold. He recently completed a report titled “The Business of Killings, Assassinations in South Africa”, which recorded the shocking statistics. “Assassinations, also referred to as contract or targeted killings, commissioned for economic, political or personal gain, are one part of this broader commercial market for organised violence and intimidation. “Although such targeted killings constitute a small proportion of the country’s extraordinarily high murder rate, they have a powerful, resonating impact, in that they send out an unequivocal threatening message to the victims’ communities, colleagues and families.” Matamba…

NEW DELHI: The festival of Diwali brings joy to millions across the nation. One of the most celebrated traditions during this festivity is setting off firecrackers. However, we must stay vigilant when it comes to the safety of our eyes while bursting firecrackers as it is crucial to ensure that the festivities remain joyful and accident-free. Eye injuries are a common occurrence. Dr Rishi Raj Borah, Country Director of Orbisit in India, advises IANSlife on what to do if a tragedy arises when lighting crackers: Prevention is better than cure: Choose eco-friendly firecrackers, use protective eye-wear, maintain a safe distance, and supervise children closely – essential precautions that can significantly reduce the risk of eye accidents. What to do in an accident? Despite one’s best efforts, accidents can still occur.…

FORMER New Zealand coach Ian Foster revealed yesterday that his wife and daughter were threatened by a man wielding a knife in Paris during the Rugby World Cup. His wife Leigh and daughter Michaela were accosted near the All Blacks’ hotel in the French capital around the time of New Zealand's opening game against hosts France in September, he said. Foster had not mentioned the incident during the tournament won by South Africa, who beat New Zealand 12-11 in the final. “There was an incident involving my wife and one of my daughters in Paris during the opening week of the Rugby World Cup,” said Foster, “Leigh and Michaela were walking to our team hotel from a nearby train station in the early evening when they were confronted by a…

NAYANTHARA is gearing up for the release of her Tamil film Annapoorani: The Goddess of Food, on December 1. The movie’s production house wrote on its X account: “Annapoorani is bringing you a feast.” The plot’s details are not fully out. However, the film’s team recently dropped a teaser which showed that Nayanthara’s character seemed to hail from an orthodox, upper caste household. A massive foodie and a dreamer, she seemingly leaves her old life behind to chase her dreams of being a cook. This is mainly alluded to by the scene of her character reading cookbooks detailing vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes and hiding them behind her academic books.…

As her film Udhaar Ki Zindagi completed 29 years in the industry, actress Kajol said it was a turning point in her career. She said she realised she was burnt out and decided to take a break. Kajol shared a poster of the film on X. She wrote: “Today marks 29 years of Udhaar Ki Zindagi and no, it didn’t have any short forms for its name. It kind of just passed by in most people’s memories, but for me it will always be a turning point in my career and my life.” She added: “I was burnt out and I had given too much of myself away into work … and I had to do something to change that. I took an executive decision at the great old age…

AS INDIAN cricketer Virat Kohli turned 35 on Sunday, his wife, actress Anushka Sharma, dropped the sweetest birthday wish for him, calling him “exceptional” in every role. She said he continued to add more feathers to his glorious hat. Sharma took to social media and shared a string of photographs of the batting maestro. The first picture shows a news clipping with the headline, “Virat Kohli only cricketer to take a wicket on 0th ball of T20I career”. The second picture features him in his cricket practice jersey, posing in a candid and quirky manner. The last picture is a happy selfie of the love birds, where he smiles for the lens while she pouts. The PK actress wrote in the caption: “He is literally EXCEPTIONAL in every role in…

250g butter 125ml sugar 5ml rose essence 300ml - 375ml cake flour 125ml cornflour white chocolate, melted milk chocolate, melted cold leaf, to decorate Cream the butter and sugar until pale in colour. Add the rose essence and mix in the cornflour. Add the flour, a little at a time, to make a soft dough. Cover the dough with a damp cloth to prevent it from drying out. Roll into logs and place on a greased baking tray. Bake at 170ºC for 17 to 20 minutes. Leave to cool on a wire rack. Dip in melted white chocolate and finish with a drizzle of milk chocolate. Decorate with a touch of gold leaf. Allow the chocolate to set before packing away.…

250g soft butter 160ml icing sugar 125ml sunflower oil 2.5ml vanilla essence 125ml flaked almonds, chopped 125ml cornflour 45ml cocoa 500ml – 625ml cake flour milk chocolate, to decorate flaked almonds, to decorate Cream the butter until pale in colour. Gradually add the icing sugar and continue beating until the sugar dissolves into the butter. Pour the sunflower oil and vanilla essence into the creamed butter and stir to combine. Mix the flaked almonds, cornflour and cocoa into the butter. Add the cake flour a little at a time and work into a soft dough – the dough does dry out so keep this in mind while adding the flour. Roll portions of the dough into balls and place on a greased baking tray. Bake for 12 to 15…

DELHI: In a creative tweet, Delhi police have sent out a reminder to citizens of the capital on the importance of wearing helmets while riding two-wheelers. The tweet, posted on the police’s official X account accompanied by a picture of Sri Lankan cricketer Angelo Mathews, read: “Delhitees! we hope now you have understood the importance of a ‘HELMET’. A good helmet can protect you from being timed out.” On Monday, Mathews earned a rare distinction by becoming the first player to be ‘timed out’ in international cricket during Sri Lanka’s ICC World Cup match against Bangladesh. After Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan dismissed Sadeera Samarawickrama midway through Sri Lanka’s first innings, Mathews entered the field only to find the strap of his helmet was broken. While he waited for a…

OM ASATO Ma Sat Gamaya Tamaso Ma Jyothir Gamaya – O Lord, lead us from untruth to truth, from darkness to light. | . This is the universal message of Diwali and it is associated with the eternal struggle for justice and righteousness. Darkness represents ignorance, arrogance and all that is evil. As succinctly expressed by The Hindu newspaper, the Festival of Lights has all the charm, grandeur and splendour that can even illuminate our minds and hearts, while also promoting much-needed peace, harmony and brotherhood in society. As the global icon for peace and justice, Nelson Mandela, said: “At this time of Diwali, and as I light this sacred lamp, I am aware of how this lamp symbolises the triumph of enlightenment over blind faith; prosperity over…

THE South African Hindu Dharma Sabha notes with disappointment that our government has failed to accord due recognition and respect to Diwali, the most significant national festival of Hindus of South Africa. Our calls have been for Diwali to be made a public holiday. This would be consistent with our government’s declared policies regarding inclusivity, unity in diversity and nation building. During the past discriminatory and oppressive colonial and apartheid eras, only Christian holy days were recognised on our calendars. Due to the Constitutional provision that all religions are accorded equal respect and treatment, it is imperative that Diwali be accommodated as a public holiday. The profound message of Diwali being the triumph of good over evil and non-violence over violence, will enhance hope and peace in our troubled world.…

AS A Christian of Indian origin, with friends and family who are Hindu, I want to use this opportunity to wish a happy Diwali to all who are celebrating. But as I do so, I wonder how many Hindus, and all people of faith, are living up to our mission of bringing light into the darkness of this world. The timing of Diwali at this time of year is because (at least in the Northern hemisphere) the days are getting shorter and the nights darker. For a similar reason, the choice of mid-December to celebrate Christmas is not because anyone knows Jesus’s birthday, but because (again, above the equator) it is when the shortest day happens and the need for light is most keenly felt. Muslim and Jewish festivals often…

The merciless killing of civilians in Gaza, are a clear violation of international law and a gross violation of the United Nations Charter. The grave situation in Gaza is spiralling out of control. The brutal actions of all those involved are a gross violation of international law as set out in the Nuremberg principles. Principles of international law recognised in the charter of the Nuremberg tribunal and the judgment of the tribunal in 1950. Principle 1: Any person who commits an act which constitutes a crime under international law is responsible therefore and liable for punishment. Principle 2: The fact that internal law does not impose a penalty for an act which constitutes a crime under international law does not relieve the person who committed the act from…

ON BEHALF of the community, I would like to extend heartfelt congratulations to Yogas Nair on her appointment as editor of POST newspaper. Nair’s illustrious journalism career stands as a testament to her passion and dedication to the field, and we are thrilled to see her take the reins of such a reputable publication. Nair’s previous tenure as editor of POST was nothing short of magnificent, and under her leadership the publication reached unprecedented levels of distribution and recognition. The impact she had on the Indian community in South Africa cannot be overstated, as the POST became a household name in our community. In a time where our community’s voice often feels lost, POST has remained a stalwart reminder of our South African heritage. It is heartening to see her…

THE long arm of the law has caught up with two high flying Durban businessmen who allegedly ran a multi-million rand Ponzi scheme that defrauded scores of pensioners and retirees across South Africa. Brandon Naicker, aka Muruvan Egambaram, and Jason Pillay, who ran insurance brokerage firms called Infiniti and Branson Capital, respectively, have appeared in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court for allegedly defrauding an investor of R2 million. Both men were remanded into custody and sent to Westville Prison until their formal bail application on November 15. The case before the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court was registered at the Hillcrest police station after the dogged pursuit of the men by a victim who had invested more than R2m into the pair’s scheme. It is one of more than 160 such cases currently…

Chatsworth was once part of a larger farm called Witteklip that Samuel Bennington “bought” in 1848. He named it Chatsworth after the stately home of the Duke of Devonshire in Derbyshire in England. Over time, Farm Chatsworth came to be owned and leased by formerly indentured Indians who turned it into the breadbasket of Durban. By the 1950s, they numbered 14 000 people. The Indian farmers grew bananas, mangoes, ginger, litchis and all kinds of vegetables. They were dispossessed when the apartheid government expropriated the land to create a township for Indians under the grand apartheid scheme of separate development. In 2020, a number of community and religious organisations under the leadership of the Magazine and Railway Barracks Remembrance Associations planted 160 banana and other fruit trees at Depot Road…

YEARS after their loved ones were killed in alleged hits, several families are still searching for answers and waiting for justice. l Colin Pather, 50, a senior manager at the eThekwini Municipality, was gunned down outside his home in Shallcross in 2019. He used a lift club to get to work. Pather had just arrived home and while he was unlocking his driveway gate, a lone gunman shot him in the neck before fleeing in a white car. His mother and uncle tried to help him but Pather died at the scene. His sister, Charlene, believes his death was not a random robbery gone wrong. “My brother had R1 500 in his wallet and nothing was taken. He was also shot at the back of his neck. He was not…

NEW DELHI: Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is a time for joy, celebration and family gatherings. This vibrant festival, however, often revolves around sweets, rich feasts and treats that can be challenging for individuals living with diabetes. The confluence of tradition and indulgence during Diwali can present a hurdle for maintaining optimal blood sugar levels. Fortunately, with careful planning and mindfulness, it is possible to partake in the festivities while managing diabetes effectively. Plan your meals ahead of time, choose healthy snacks, take breaks from eating, monitor your blood sugar levels regularly, limit alcohol intake and manage stress. Although these tactics offer a strong foundation for diabetes management around Diwali, it’s important to keep in mind that diabetes treatment is a customised approach. Consulting a health-care professional is essential for…

THE rock and surf anglers have been battling the cold and have seen plenty for their efforts. The rain has made for some colour lines around the river mouths. These conditions are brilliant for catching snapper salmon and kob. Paddle tails and chokka baits are the way to go for both of these species. There have been some early summer fish around so be prepared for some drag screaming! The beaches in and around Durban have seen some decent fishing this past week. The Cape stumpies (silvers) have been keeping the light tackle guys very happy with hours of fun to be had. This is a great species to target for the newcomers or younger anglers. They fight hard for their size and are not very fussy with baits. Make…