Table of contents for 2023-11-22 in Post

UNVEILING his new avatar for the mini-series, The Railway Men, actor R Madhavan's new character promo as Rati Pandey shows him as a man of conviction and commitment. As the general manager of Central Railways, who handled operations during the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, he is shown trying to figure out a way to evacuate the residents. The promo shows him fearlessly take on the life-threatening task of handling an evacuation. The railway officers during the incident were assigned the task of evacuations as well as the supply of materials to contain the leakage. One of the worst disasters in history and the worst industrial catastrophe, the Bhopal Gas tragedy was caused by a gas leak at the Union Carbide factory. More than 2 000 people were killed, and an…

200g cake flour 200g sugar 100g soft butter 50g cocoa powder pinch of salt 15ml baking powder 2 eggs 5ml vanilla essence 5ml hazelnut essence, optional 250ml full cream milk, room temperature chocolate frosting: 150g soft butter 200g sifted icing sugar 45g cocoa powder 3ml hazelnut or vanilla essence 100g Nutella 40ml full cream milk, optional roasted hazelnuts, to decorate whole Flake, to decorate Pre-heat the oven to 170ºC. Line a cupcake pan with paper cases. Place the cake flour, sugar and butter into the bowl of a stand mixer. Use the paddle attachment and process on a low speed until the mixture has a sand-like consistency. Add the cocoa powder, salt and baking powder, and process for a minute. Lightly whisk the eggs, vanilla essence, hazelnut essence and…

A KWAZULU-NATAL Department of Education (DoE) official was attacked and beaten by a group of armed men, while he was monitoring a matric exam session at an uMlazi school on Monday. Shakeel Isseri, of Newlands West, said the incident happened at the Mzwamandla High School. Muzi Mahlambi, spokesperson for the KZN DoE, confirmed the incident and said it had happened after the morning exam session had finished. Isseri told the POST that the suspects, carrying guns and sticks, were hiding behind a block of classrooms. “I am a subject adviser for the department. I was monitoring Life Science Paper 2, which finished at 11.30am. As a monitor, I was overseeing the consolidation of the scripts and finalising the stats, ensuring that documents were completed. I had to approve the final…

A RESERVOIR Hills woman will have to see out a 10-year jail term for her R2.7 million fraud and theft conviction, after the Durban High Court dismissed her appeal against the sentence. Sharitha Hariram, 57, was sentenced in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court on six counts of fraud amounting to R1 981 762 and three theft charges amounting to R1 195 706 in September 2020. She received two terms of 10 years each and two terms of five years each, resulting in a total of 30 years’ direct imprisonment. All the sentences were ordered to run concurrently. According to SA Revenue Service (Sars) commissioner Edward Kieswetter at the time, the magistrate had heard evidence that Hariram registered a company, Gallop Administration CC, while working for a firm of accountants that was…

AN ELDERLY Durban couple were attacked by their dogs on Monday. Reaction Unit South Africa’s Prem Balram said the 80-year-old man was trying to stop his dogs from fighting with monkeys when the dogs turned on him at his Dawncrest home. “His 73-year-old wife intervened, and the dogs attacked them. The couple sustained bite wounds to their legs,” Balram said. Last week, a woman and her child were attacked by a dog on Boshoff Street on the Bluff in Durban. “On arrival, paramedics found metro police in attendance. A mom in her thirties and her 3-year-old son were walking on the road when a dog escaped from its yard and attacked them. Metro police were in the area and rescued the patients,” said Garrith Jamieson, ALS Paramedics spokesperson. He said…

GET ready for a shopping spree like never before. Be careful, Black Friday is coming. This, with families facing an uncertain future and many people losing their jobs. It’s not just one day in November but a whole week of daily new deals. This will prove to be a successful marketing strategy for the retailer but not the man in the street. The rand is hitting an all-time low, inflation is on a high and our markets are jittery. We need to be careful. With what is referred to as “the silly season” approaching, reckless and unnecessary spending is going to be the order of the day. I urge all POST readers to spend wisely and, most importantly, not to incur unwanted debt. I appeal to everyone to show…

I AM WRITING to express our sincere gratitude to the Department of Home Affairs for its efficient response to our call for a temporary office in Chatsworth. It is not often that we have the opportunity to extend our thanks to government departments, but we believe it is vital to acknowledge good service when it is provided. The closure of the Sassa offices in Chatsworth posed a significant problem for the local community who rely on their services. The suggestion that residents use neighbouring township offices was insensitive and impractical, and we were concerned about the impact of such a decision on vulnerable individuals. However, to our relief, the Department of Home Affairs responded quickly to our call and opened a temporary office within seven days to ensure that local…

THE worldwide 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children Campaign begins on November 25 to raise awareness of the negative impact of such abuse and to rid society of this maltreatment permanently. Some 736 million women globally – almost one in three – have been subjected to physical violence at least once in their lives. More than four in five women and girls are living in countries without robust legal protection. Despite the campaign to educate society about the harm caused by inflicting brutality on women and children, such violence continues unabated. The latest crime statistics for the second quarter, released by Police Minister Bheki Cele last Friday, revealed a staggering 293 children and 881 women were murdered in three months. The father of democratic South…

163 years ago “On the seashore of endless worlds …” We gather at the water’s edge the milky sky above beholds the human tableau as the wind blows sand into our faces and the incessant waves waft in waft out… Ancient sea histories wash across the shore mingling with histories of the land billows of sugar cane heaving breaking crashing in motion We are gathered today to offer marigolds to the Indian Ocean the Seas that churned our ancestors to this land… Scattered in the gales of continents In the currents of colonies … Our oblations of gold buffeted by the waves our histories crash collide merge as seagulls fly We are of earth and sky and air and fire our homage of gold flotsam and jetsam under the heavens…

WHEN I stared my career back in 1967, I worked as what was commonly called a “copy boy”. For the uninitiated, copy boys in those days were nothing more than gofers – junior workers whose duties involved, among other menial tasks, taking typed stories from one section of a newspaper floor to another. At the shout of “copy”, you needed to rush like hell to remove carbon copies of stories straight from the typewriter of a senior reporter on deadline, separate them and move with haste to distribute a copy each to the sub-editors’ desks, the branch correspondent for on-passing to other newspaper titles in the group, to the news editor and the editor-in-chief. Strict deadlines had to be met for the news to be delivered piping hot to readers,…

The mass murder of civilians in Gaza by Israel, supported by the US, continues before the open eyes of the world. Ahmed Abbasi was the head of the Gift of the Givers in Gaza. He was killed with his brother last week while they were returning from the morning prayer. Gift of the Givers has described it as a “targeted attack”. Another Gift of the Givers worker, Mohammed Al Ahel, was killed on November 6. Gift of the Givers is a highly respected organisation in South Africa and in many other countries too. When impoverished people suffer from shack fires or floods in South Africa, we know that Gift of the Givers will come with solidarity while the state is absent. They have given support to people in Haiti and…

ON October 4, 1860, 163 years ago, a ship called the Belvedere disembarked from the port city of Calcutta (now Kolkata), carrying 342 labourers destined for the port city of Natal (now KwaZulu-Natal). The Belvedere warrants a deeper gaze in highlighting human commodification, abuse and violence in the machinations that administered the colonial system of indenture. Records show that 29 of the 342 passengers perished in the Indian Ocean before the ship reached South Africa on November 26, 1860. Further misery followed when the passengers arrived in Natal with 10 dying even before being assigned to a plantation. The exhausted passengers, having spent 84 days at sea, arrived 10 days after the first indentured ship, the Truro, arrived from Madras (Chennai), also carrying 342 passengers. The Belvedere’s passengers were held…

Salman Khan ‘is sadistic’ FORMER actress Somy Ali has spoken about her ex-beau Salman Khan and called him a “coward, sadist and a narcissistic abuser of women”. She also spoke about his alleged involvement in banning her show, Fightor Flight. “(Salman Khan’s) first girlfriend was Shaheen, then came Sangeeta Bijlani, and I was his third girlfriend. The closest he got to marriage was with Sangeeta. Their wedding cards had already been printed when I entered his life. But that relationship broke up because of me, and I am not proud of that fact. “But as karma has it, the same happened to me with his countless affairs. I also suffered unimaginable abuse at the hands of Salman, physical, verbal and sexual,” she said. She alleged that Khan changed his girlfriends…

UNVEILING its new trailer, the Tamil horror series The Village has only amped up the creeps as horrifying mutants come out from the dark and hunt a family, turning a simple outing into a living nightmare and a desperate fight for survival. Inspired by writers Asvin Srivatsangam, Vivek Rangachari and Shamik Dasgupta’s graphic horror novel of the same name, the series is a fast-paced, action-packed story that takes viewers into the desolate hinterlands of Tamil Nadu and the village of Kattiyal. Going on a simple family road trip, protagonist Gautham (played by Arya) and his family encounter a living form of horror. The origins of these mutants is not fully known. However, it is implied they might be spawned by black magic. As his family are taken from him and…

IN JUST under two months, the KwaZulu-Natal International Business Association (Kiba) pulled off a fund-raising feat that far exceeded its expectations. This week, after the executive members tallied up from Saturday’s 1860-themed gala dinner, they announced that they had raised more than R2.1 million for the Verulam Day and Frail Care Centre, which faced possible closure. “I have always lived and stood by the motto that ‘service to humanity is service to God’,” said Omie Singh, the president of Kiba. “From the moment we received a distressed call from a resident at the home, we knew we had to help. The centre, which is home to 70 frail-care and 80 able-bodied senior citizens, would not close under my watch.” He said about six weeks ago, Sheila Ranjith called him. “Her…

85g soft butter 185g sugar zest of 1 orange 3 eggs 275g self-raising flour pinch of salt 5ml vanilla essence 75ml orange juice 125ml full cream milk 30g cocoa powder 50ml milk Orange syrup: 65g butter 65g sugar 250ml orange juice Orange glace drizzle: 200g icing sugar 50ml to 60ml orange juice roasted pistachios, to decorate edible flower petals, to decorate Preheat the oven to 170ºC. Cream the butter in a stand mixer using a paddle attachment until light and fluffy. Gradually add the sugar and beat until the sugar starts to break down. Add the orange zest while creaming the butter and sugar. Add the eggs one at a time with 2 teaspoons of the weighed self-raising flour. This will prevent the butter and eggs from curdling. Sprinkle…

‘HELL hath no fury like a woman scorned.’ That certainly holds true for a married woman who took to social media to expose her husband and his “mistress” by allegedly sharing videos and pictures of them in intimate moments – that they had recorded on his cellphone. If charged for revenge porn – a crime in South Africa – the wife could face jail time or a hefty fine up to R300 000. Revenge porn refers to the sharing or distribution of any nude or sexually explicit material of someone on social media or in text messages without their permission. The 25-year-old alleged mistress has since sought assistance from Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa), in a desperate bid to prevent further circulation of the explicit photographs and videos of…

“THOSE who shoot their mouths on WhatsApp and other forums must be aware that they will not get away with it any longer.” That is the warning from Ashwin Trikamjee, a lawyer and the president of the South African Hindu Maha Sabha, following the recently approved Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill. Last week, the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) approved the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill, marking a significant step in the government’s efforts to address the rising instances of hate crime and hate speech. Legal, human rights and constitutional experts have broadly thrown their support behind the bill. The bill, initially introduced in 2018, faced setbacks in 2019 and encountered obstacles in the Constitutional Court. The primary focus of…

AN 11-YEAR-old boy, who suffered severe burns after his T-shirt caught alight while he was lighting a chafing dish gel fuel burner, is finally home after spending 29 agonising days in hospital. Xavier Mariah, a Grade 5 pupil at Laerskool Oranjegloed, in Secunda, has made a “miraculous” recovery after sustaining second-degree burns to his body. An upbeat Xavier told the POST on Monday that he was happy to be home, and playing X-Box and “chilling” with his family to keep occupied. “My recovery is going good so far. The burns are itchy and I can’t go out much but I know I need to stay at home to heal. This situation has taught me not to panic and to stay calm, listen to my parents and trust God.” His mother…

THERE are calls for urgent government intervention to take the youth off the streets as the latest unemployment statistics have revealed that South Africans between the ages of 18-35 remained vulnerable in the job market. The country’s unemployment rate stands at 31.9%, according to Stats SA, which recently released its Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the period July to September. Local community activists have described the unemployment among the youth as “dire”. Desiree Manamela, the chief director of labour statistics, said the results showed that the number of employed persons increased by 399 000 to 16.7 million in the third quarter of 2023, compared to 16.3 million in the second quarter of the same year. She said the results of the third quarter of 2023 showed that the total…

FOOD for Life South Africa (FFLSA) will host a Mega Feed charity drive on November 25, from noon at its premises at 2 Centre Road, in Newlands. It aims to serve 25 000 plates to hungry homes in and around Durban. FFLSA is a registered non-profit organisation with more than 24 branches countrywide. Its vision is to alleviate hunger in South Africa by serving freshly cooked, plant-based meals with love. It serves more than a million plates of cooked meals daily. For more information, call Ashik at 081 716 2242 or Nishana at 060 569 2708.…

HEADS up! Guard and protect your career. Think before you post anything. Before your next toxic social media post, please take note that the National Council of Provinces has passed into law the Prevention and Combating of Hate Speech Bill, which follows the National Assembly, on March 2022. Basically, if you post or share anything that could be determined as hate speech, you could face criminal action and jail time. The effective date is the date when President Cyril Ramaphosa signs it into law. But first, draft regulations will have to be published and adopted by Parliament. Watch this space. SABER AHMED JAZBHAY Newlands West…

PEOPLE count their blessings in many ways. Some by the amount of money in their bank account, by the kind of cars they drive, by the amount of jewellery they own and by the most valuable things that not even all the money or jewellery in the world could ever buy – their loved ones. Our parents – the givers of life – must be at the top of the pile. My brother, sister and I consider ourselves among the luckiest in the world to have a dad whose longevity has brought him 85 years of life – and we can be forever grateful and thankful to enjoy his consort to this day. Like many of his ilk, he started from very humble beginnings – with struggles and challenges that…

IN THE article, “Green light for 1860 monument” (POST, November 15-19), Ela Gandhi said “the idea of the monument was to acknowledge the arrival of Indians to South Africa and the suffering they endured”. I say the date 1860 is not about the “arrival of Indians”, but the landing of the first batch of “indentured Indians” who were imported to South Africa. And the suffering was also theirs, not of all Indians. Furthermore, there was and is a difference between the free passenger Indians who came as merchant traders, and those shipped here in slave-like conditions and who endured a life of misery. The experiences of the two groups of people from India, indentured and non-indentured, were very different here and in their ancestral homeland. They did not share our…

So the Proteas lost the semi-final in the World Cup! Of course, we showed giant-killing abilities. Much can be said at this point about what really happened. However, I wish to focus on a previous match against Afghanistan. How was Temba Bavuma, captain, injured and hobbling badly, allowed to open the innings? Where is the advice and guidance of the head coach, batting coach and the talking analysts? As all of us expected, he stood unsteadily, hit with half-power to square leg, down the throat of a fielder! We were among the devastated 60 million South Africans, who he represents on the sports field. An opening batsman-captain, especially, has a tremendous responsibility. Out early means opening the floodgates. Many fail. I remember Eddie Barlow’s high-scoring opening, giving a feeble return…

VETERAN editor Dennis Pather recently published his memoir, Copy Boy: A journey from newsroom gofer to award-winning editor. It is a delightful read that pulls aside the curtain and reveals what life was like for a black journalist during apartheid. Told in Pather’s amiable style, Copy Boy is a riveting account of his journey through the world of journalism, from his humble beginnings to his rise as an award-winning editor of the Daily News, The Mercury, POST, and deputy editor of the Sunday Tribune. His career spans more than four decades, during which he has been a witness to and chronicler of significant events in South Africa’s history. Pather’s memoir is a testament to his resilience and determination, as he navigated the challenges of being a black journalist in a…

A “FLAWED billing system” and estimated readings are being blamed for the high utility bills slapped on eThekwini residents. Ward councillors said they were inundated with complaints and queries about the light-and-water bills, with some claiming to be dealing with up to 200 complaints from irate residents a month. Some residents are in the red for R5 000, while others have utility bills of hundreds of thousands of rand. Councillors claim the “flawed billing system”, estimated readings and payments not being captured on time were contributing to the exorbitant bills. Lyndal Singh, councillor for ward 50 in Phoenix, said at a time when everyone was feeling the economic pinch, utility bills were soaring to all-time highs. “The revenue management system (RMS) is flawed and the billing system is delayed.…

November 26 marks the 163rd anniversary of the second allotment of indentured workers arriving to their African homes aboard the SS Belvedere. The Belvedere left Calcutta on October 4, 1860, carrying 342 passengers to the port city of Natal. On the journey, 29 souls perished because of the atrocious conditions on the ship. Readers are invited to gather at the 1860 Heritage Centre in Derby Street, Greyville, to ring the Indentured Worker Bell in tribute to those indentured workers who lost their lives on the journey. The event will be held on November 26 at 11am. At 12.30pm there will be a workshop on how to trace your Indian indenture ancestry, conducted by the Heritage Centre’s Selvan Naidoo.…

IT’S Black Friday time again. This year we are going big, with all our branches running the sale on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. All items are less 20%, excluding bait and items already on special, and Shimano rods and reels, which are less 15% (while stocks last). Pop into your nearest Kingfisher branch to make the most of the awesome deals. We have branches in Durban, (Hunter Street as well as at Tackle Centre), Warner Beach, Kloof, Pietermaritzburg, Ballito and Salt Rock. The dates and times are November 23-24 from 8am-5pm, November 25-26 from 8am-1pm. The summer fish are here, and the fishing has been good when the weather allows. Shore angling on the North Coast has seen a lot of fish even though the fish have been…

MOUNI Roy has carved quite a niche in the world of entertainment. From humble beginnings to rising on her own merit, to being praised for her performance in Sultan of Delhi, Roy has called every step of her journey to stardom a learning experience. The Brahmastra actress said: “Every step of this journey has been a learning experience, full of love and support. I am overwhelmed by the affection and am deeply grateful. Here’s to continuing this beautiful journey together.” Roy has received praise for her performance in the series, despite the show not being well-received. She will next be seen in The Virgin Tree.…

TRISHA Krishnan, who is known for films like Ponniyin Selvan: I, Khatta Meetha and 96, has slammed her Leo co-actor Mansoor Ali Khan for speaking about her in a “vile manner”. Khan recently said that when he learnt that he was working with Krishnan, he thought there would be a bedroom scene. Krishnan wrote on X: “A recent video has come to my notice where Mr Mansoor Ali Khan has spoken about me in a vile and disgusting manner. I find it sexist, disrespectful, misogynistic, repulsive and in bad taste. “I am grateful never to have shared screen space with someone as pathetic as him and I will make sure it never happens for the rest of my film career as well. “People like him bring a bad name to…

4 eggs 125ml sugar 125ml water 5ml vanilla essence 125ml self-raising flour 40ml cocoa powder 20ml sugar, for rolling 50ml to 65ml strawberry jam 20ml hot water 250ml fresh cream 30ml icing sugar drop of vanilla essence cocoa powder, to dust Grease a Swiss roll tin with non-stick spray and baking paper. Beat the eggs in a mixing bowl of a stand mixer with a whisk attachment. The eggs should triple in volume and become pale and meringue-like in appearance. Reduce the speed and gradually add the sugar until thick and fluffy. The mixture should leave a ribbon on the surface that remains visible for 3 to 5 seconds. Add the water and vanilla essence, and use a large metal spoon to fold this in. Take care not to…

375g cake flour pinch of salt 170g cold butter 20ml baking powder 20ml sugar 80g milk chocolate chips, chopped 2 eggs 140ml fresh cream To glaze: 1 egg 10ml milk strawberry jam, to serve whipped cream, to serve Place the flour into a bowl and add the salt. Chop the butter into small pieces and rub into the flour until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add the baking powder, sugar and chocolate chips and mix lightly. Make a well in the centre and pour in the fresh cream and eggs. Use a fork to lightly beat the egg into the cream and gradually draw the dry ingredients to the centre to form a soft dough. Knead lightly on a lightly floured surface until smooth and use a rolling pin to…

A BUSINESSWOMAN and her son who were snatched by hijackers outside their plush Pretoria estate were held overnight in a rondavel, as the suspects demanded her husband do e-wallet transfers to several cellphone numbers. Masela Pillay, 54, and her son Deeshaan, 23, a university student, were leaving their Silver Stone Estate, in Centurion, when they were cornered by the suspects. A relative, who did not want to be named, said the mother and son were shaken after their ordeal and were receiving counselling. She said they were travelling to a relative’s home in the nearby Stoneridge Country Estate when a VW Polo boxed them in. “About five armed men jumped out of the vehicles and rushed towards them. Masela and Deeshaan tried to flee but the suspects chased after them…

l Amnesty International is actively involved in addressing the case of South African traditional healer Bongolethu “Dr Khehlelezi” Mzozo, who is facing court proceedings for a video on YouTube that allegedly disseminated misinformation about individuals with albinism in April this year. Together with the National Albinism Task Force, Amnesty International is calling on the government to protect individuals with albinism from discrimination and violence. The Thembisilemadlala Albinism Foundation, with support from the National Albinism Task Force, has taken legal action in the Equality Court, citing discrimination and “hate speech” under the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act. Amnesty International underscores the rights of individuals with albinism to be free from discrimination, condemning influential figures for perpetuating hate and discrimination, and highlighting the potential harm faced by this…

A PHOENIX mother has claimed that a local drug dealer had put a “hit” on her only child after he was shot dead execution-style at the weekend. Jermaine Kyle Govindsamy, 16, of Waltham Drive, was killed two days before his birthday, on November 17. His aunt, Melanie Govindsamy, said he was shot just outside her gate. “On Friday night, Jermaine was at my home when his girlfriend phoned and he left with my son. As they reached the front gate, two guys shot at Jermaine. He was hit in the head and stomach. The suspects then jumped into an awaiting car and sped off.” Melanie’s son was unharmed. She described the killing as a “set-up”. Jermaine’s mother, Chantal Govindsamy, said they believed a “local drug dealer had put a hit”…

YOUTH in KwaZulu-Natal this week spoke to the POST about their struggle to find jobs in a tough economic environment, and whether voting would change things for them. l Jazmeen Hamid, 19, of Unit 15 in Phoenix, matriculated last year and is still searching for a job. “It’s been a difficult journey trying to find a job. My main challenge is that even a simple role requires at least a year of experience. This is something I don’t have because I only just finished school. My mom is a single parent and my plan was to find a job so I could study part-time and contribute to our household. I would like to pursue a career in teaching at some stage.” Hamid said despite the challenges she still…

THERE will be another opportunity for those who did not register to vote over the weekend. The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) is expected to announce a second registration date. This will be the last opportunity for voter registration. The IEC has, however, encouraged eligible voters to use their online portals to register. It is available 24/7, according to Sy Mamabolo, the IEC chief electoral officer. This platform can be used until the date on which the elections is proclaimed. More than 2.9 million eligible voters showed up at voting stations across the country over the weekend to register for next year's national general elections, or to update their personal details to ensure their vote was correctly counted. More than 196 500 voters used the online portal to do…

THE South African Hindu Dharma Sabha has lodged an official complaint against David Campbell, to the South African Human Rights Commission. We will not tolerate racial and/or religious intolerance. No individual or group shall be allowed to trample upon Hindu sensitivities with impunity. Campbell’s comments amount to hate speech. It is imperative that decisive, appropriate and effective action be taken. We request the South African Human Rights Commission to approach the Equality Court and institute proceedings in terms of Section 20 of the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act (Act No. 4 of 2000). Clearly, Campbell’s racist and/or religious rant constitutes a blatant violation of provisions enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (Act No. 108 of 1996). Due cognisance must be accorded…

HAVING lived through the boycott era of apartheid, I am fully supportive of sanctions against an apartheid state, so I hope that the following message is not going to be seen as trivialising an extremely serious issue or being facetious about it. There are so many lists doing the rounds about boycotting companies or goods to bring down the Israeli oppressors in Gaza that I am totally confused about them. I just need the compilers of these lists to explain to me what the reason or logic behind them are, rather than just a generic call to boycott them. I can understand when there might be shops stocking Israeli imports, but how do the individual products make the list? Because they might be imported from Israel or contain ingredients that…

SAPS officers’ recent spate of arrests and killings of suspected criminals who were shooting at them is highly lauded. Police have a right to defend themselves in maintaining law and order. While there may be little or no danger in a work shift, just a minute can be crucial as it could result in an officer being injured or, at worst, losing their life in the line of duty. Thugs these days are brazen, callous and ruthless. They will not hesitate to maim or kill. The scoundrels have easy access to arms and ammunition, including explosives that are used in ATM bombings and cash-in-transit robberies. In reality, there are four classes of police. Class 1 is made up of the top personnel who perform beyond the call of normal duty…

THE POST, November 14-19, story titled: “Green light for 1860 monument”, refers. This monument was supposed to be a form of a physical historical record of an extremely important chapter in the lives of the people of Indian origin. Why has the theme “unity in diversity” been incorporated into the design? This is a historical event of a people. If one lives “on the ground” in South Africa, it is clear that no one cares about our contribution to national cohesion! Yet, Indians do a lot in this area. I do not know Seelan Achary, but I agree with his sentiments and the design he and his teammates originally, presented. It reflected, to some extent, the extreme hardships and bleeding evolution that the Indian indentured labourers underwent. The 1860 monument…

SRI Lanka are free to compete internationally but next year's Under-19 Cricket World Cup will now be hosted by South Africa, as the International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed the terms of suspension of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on Tuesday. Sri Lanka’s membership of the ICC was suspended with immediate effect for government interference on November 10, after Sri Lanka’s ministry of sport dismissed SLC’s board and replaced it with an interim committee. This followed the country’s poor performance at this year’s World Cup, but the sacking was stayed by Sri Lanka’s Court of Appeal. “After hearing representation from SLC, the ICC board decided that Sri Lanka can continue to compete internationally both in bilateral cricket and ICC events after being suspended recently for breaching its obligations as a member, in…