Table of contents for 2023-12-06 in Post

CALL me old-fashioned but I strongly believe that at a certain age we are no longer our parents’ responsibility. In fact, as our parents get older, I am of the opinion that it is our duty to take care of them, and not the other way around. This sense of entitlement that many children have is terribly sad and I’m not sure what led to such a mentality. The idea that your parents have to care for your adult self and you live off their hard work is selfish and abusive. This is more prevalent by the day as adults enjoy the benefits of a rent-free home and food on the table, while their parents use their retirement funds or salaries, if still working, to support them. It is true…

The age-old topic of relationships between daughters-in-law and mothers-in-law has evolved in many ways. Back in the day, when marriage took place, the daughter-in-law was expected to adapt to a new home, household and family and embrace the lifestyle, traditions and practices. Today, the scenario of being expected to live with one’s in-laws is not always the case but some matters remain the same. The relationship between the mother and daughter-in-law is one that happens by default. Naturally, the relationship did not develop around mutual friendship or like-mindedness. Rather, it happened by default via a mutual link to the son, who then becomes a husband. For the mother he will always remain her son, and for the daughter-in-law (who is now the wife), the mutual link is her husband. Here…

500g soft butter 425g sugar 8 eggs 10ml vanilla essence 450g cake flour pinch of salt 20ml baking powder 200ml full-cream milk Cream the butter in a stand mixer using the paddle attachment until pale in colour. Gradually add the sugar and continue beating until the sugar dissolves into the butter and becomes fluffy. Add the vanilla essence and one egg at a time with a teaspoon of the weighed flour. Beat well after each addition. Fold in the flour, salt and baking powder with a large metal spoon alternating with the milk. Scrape the bottom of the bowl to ensure all the ingredients are well combined. Grease a rectangular baking tin with butter or non-stick spray, and line with baking paper. Fill the tin with batter and use a…

500g boneless lamb, small cubes 10ml ginger and garlic paste 20ml red chilli powder 5ml ground cumin 5ml ground coriander 5ml garam masala 2ml turmeric 60ml sunflower oil small cinnamon stick 1 small bay leaf 2.5ml cumin seeds 1 onion, finely chopped 5ml salt 1 small tomato, grated 15ml tomato sauce 15ml hot mustard 30ml chopped coriander 1 x roll puff pastry or pastry sheets 1 egg, beaten Place the lamb cubes in a glass or stainless steel mixing bowl. Add the ginger and garlic paste, red chilli, ground cumin, coriander, garam masala and turmeric. Stir well to combine and leave to marinate for 30 minutes. Heat the sunflower oil in a 28cm AMC Chef’s Pan. Add the cinnamon stick and bay leaf. Once fragrant, stir in the cumin…

A REPORT by the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (JICS) has detailed allegations of the “cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment” of a group of inmates – including the rape of a juvenile and the death of Jeetendra Jaikissoon – by officials of the Department of Correctional Services (DCS). Known as the Phoenix awaiting-trial inmates, they were arrested and charged with murder during the July 2021 looting in KwaZulu-Natal. As part of the investigation by the JICS, the Phoenix awaiting trial inmates alleged that when they were admitted at the Durban correctional facility on August 23, 2021, “officials on duty degraded them, spat on them and incited and instigated other inmates present that they were the people from Phoenix who killed rioters”. Acquitted On November 17, Christopher Pillay,…

A 21-YEAR-OLD woman has alleged that when her family found out she had a boyfriend, she was threatened with a taser before being brutally beaten by her brothers, because she “needed to be disciplined”. Her policeman father, who was supposed to “serve and protect”, just watched. The woman has opened a charge of kidnapping and assault against her brothers and is being kept at a safe house as she fears for her life. She said her parents were separated and she lived in oThongathi (Tongaat) with her mother, while her father and two elder brothers lived in Verulam. Her alleged abuse began on August 30. “I’d been in a relationship for just over two years. I didn’t tell my family because I was scared how they’d react. They’ve always been…

UMGENI-uThukela Water spokesman, Siyabonga Maphumulo, confirmed that the work related to both shutdowns was completed and that the matter was resolved on their end. He said the issues were now pertaining to water reticulation systems, which concerned the municipality. He referred the POST to a previous statement which read: “Our water infrastructure was one of the casualties of the April 2022 floods. The disastrous effects of the floods took a heavy toll on two of our aqueducts. “These large diameter pipelines are the mainstay of our bulk water provision system to the greater eThekwini Metro region as they are responsible for churning out 550 mega litres of water daily which the city’s residents consume.” eThekwini Municipality’s spokesperson, Gugu Sisilana, said the city had anticipated that the entire system would take…

In a civilised society, a government is expected to provide basic services to its citizens. The municipalities are entrusted with the task of ensuring that citizens have access to basic amenities, including clean water, proper sanitation facilities and electricity. However, in Durban, the situation has reached a stage where citizens are afraid to open their bills fearing the astronomical amounts charged by the municipality. There are several cases of residents who have been billed incorrectly for water and electricity in Durban, and the situation borders on criminality on the part of the municipality. The eThekwini Municipality has been incompetent and mismanaged the situation, leading to fake billing. The situation has become so untenable that residents are left bewildered with the unexplained water and electricity bills that they receive. A classic…

THE matric examinations for 2023 are over. It has become common practice that many matriculants will discard their school uniforms without consideration. Let’s stop and think about all the underprivileged pupils. Due to inflation and the dire economic situation, every year, parents face a dilemma of providing proper school clothing to their children. School uniforms are overpriced and the narrative exists that there is no consideration for the poor, average income earners or employed parents. It would not be surprising if some stores are involved in price-fixing. The only people who win in the situation are the money makers. As a result, many schools will insist that limited school suppliers will provide uniforms. This is unacceptable and violates the rights of a consumer. I am therefore surprised that there has…

I really believe Joe would have prolonged this word (mightily expressive to my mind of some architecture that I know) into a perfect Chorus, but for his attention being providentially attracted by his hat, which was toppling. Indeed, it demanded from him a constant attention, and a quickness of eye and hand, very like that exacted by wicket-keeping. | Richie Ryall has lent this book his masterful portrait of Kingsmead, which adorns the cover. Some might call the painting a landscape, for it depicts a sweep of space about 1,2 hectares wide, beyond the tree line and southern stands and city-buildings. But Richie has painted a person as much as a place. For Kingsmead is Durban’s oldest host, its grandest dame and, for some of us, a tetchy uncle who…

WE HAVE known for a long time that the police service has been infiltrated by crooks and criminals. What we don’t know is how many police officers are criminals themselves. We thought, like any profession, you would find some, probably a minority, who were not fit to wear the police uniform. But Police Minister Bheki Cele has surprised us. In answer to a question in Parliament, the minister told the house that as many as 5 489 police officers have been charged with more than 80 crimes. While 5 489 is a large number, the number of crimes (80) seems inappropriate. If we divide 5 489 by 80, we get 68. Could 68 police officers be involved in each of the crimes? It doesn’t make sense. Cele…

JUST a year after Seelan Pillay was shot dead in a drive-by shooting on Lenny Naidu Drive, in Bayview, his brother, Terrance Subramoney, suffered the same fate on Sunday. Their family are struggling to come to terms with losing two brothers. Yesterday, the family dismissed allegations that the killings could have been drug related. On October 8, 2022, Seelan, a former policeman and the then chairperson of the Bayview Community Police Forum, was fatally shot in a drive-by shooting, on Lenny Naidu Drive. Seelan had stopped his vehicle to buy food at fast-food outlet, Kara Nicha’s. It was alleged that when he returned to his vehicle, and while handing money to the car guard, an SUV drove up to his vehicle and two suspects fired several shots at him and…

JURGEN Klopp and his Liverpool side will be the first ones to welcome back Chris Wilder in the English Premier League tonight as his return to the Sheffield United dugout is confirmed. Reports from yesterday were that Sheffield, who faces Liverpool tonight, are set to bring back Wilder as their new manager to replace Paul Heckingbottom. Heckingbottom is the first Premier League managerial casualty this term, although Wolverhampton Wanderers parted ways with Julen Lopetegui three days before the start of the season. Sheffield owner Prince Abdullah, spoke of Wilder’s return. “Yes (I have made the decision),” Prince Abdullah told Talk Sport. “Chris has done great things for the club and in my opinion he’s the best guy on planet earth to take over the club right now in these circumstances.”…

OUR huge annual clearance sale is here! Massive discounts on samples, soiled trade show stock, seconds, repairs and end of ranges are available – only at our 53 Hunter Street branch. The sale runs from tomorrow (8-5pm), Friday the 8th (8-5pm), Saturday the 9th (8-1pm) and Sunday the 10th (8-1pm). Masses of rods, reels and terminal tackle. The summer fishing has been hot! The sand sharks have been the one of the main targets for our shore anglers, along with the bigger flatfish like the honeycomb or backbreaking thorntail. The north coast has been blowing hot and cold with the varied conditions we are having. The northeast wind has not been cooling the water down as much as usual, so an extra day of proper NE wind has been needed…

A FIERCELY independent and mightily proud friend in his 70s who lived on his own began showing signs that the time had come for him to move to a retirement home. He had some serious health issues with a steady decline in overall strength and mobility. Loneliness and depression had also set in following the death of his female companion, who cooked tasty meals for him when he visited for long chats while holding hands and looking into her eyes. My friend was all too aware that he could not continue living on his own and that he required assisted care. He had the financial means to become part of a senior living community with opportunities to socialise and facilities for medical emergencies. However, he was reluctant to take residence…

Open and respectful communication: Take the time to work on the root cause of the problem. Understand the real issue. Do not assume, do not predict and do not pre-decide. Create a forum for open and clear communication, with a third party present if you feel that is necessary. Work on solutions and do not dwell on the problem. Let go of expectations: Remember that although a mother and daughter-in-law relationship has stemmed through marriage, you cannot have an expectation from the other party. The mother-in-law cannot expect her daughter-in-law to visit every week (and fuss if she doesn’t). In the same breath, the daughter-in-law cannot have undue expectations from her mother-in-law. A previous generation of grandmothers openly and lovingly took care of grandchildren. Today, the world seems…

HOLLYWOOD actor-producer Michael Douglas was conferred with the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award at the closing ceremony of the 54th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Panjali. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Douglas’s wife, award-winning actress, Catherine Zeta Jones were there. After receiving the award, Douglas termed Ray a world-class film-maker. “Cinema is one of the few mediums that have the power to unite and transform us. Today, the global language of cinema is more meaningful than ever. “IFFI is a reminder of the magic of film-making and cross-cultural artistic expressions, transcending time, language and geographies,” Douglas said. In his career spanning six decades, Douglas has been nominated for two Oscars and won both – as producer of the Best Picture winner One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest…

NAYANTHARA, who shared the screen with Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan in the action-thriller Jawan, celebrated her 39th birthday recently. As a birthday gift, her husband, director Vignesh Shivan, gave her a Mercedes Maybach. Nayanthara took to Instagram to share pictures and express gratitude to her husband. The actress celebrated her birthday with her sons, Uyir and Ulag. Thanking her husband, the Iraivan actress wrote in the caption: “My dear husband, Thank u for the most sweetest Birthday gift; Love you. A video of Nayanthara unveiling her gift and getting surprised is going viral. Shivan is seen showering her with kisses on her forehead. Nayanthara, who made her Instagram debut ahead of Jawan’s release, and Shivan met while working on the 2015 film, Naanum Rowdy Dhaan, which the latter helmed.…

IF THE films of director Sandeep Reddy Vanga, Arjun Reddy and Kabir Singh troubled you, wait until you see Animal, starring Ranbir Kapoor. In Vanga’s third feature film, revered anti-hero Ranvijay Singh (Ranbir) worships and idolises his father Balbir Singh (Anil Kapoor). He spends every day chasing after him in futile attempts to win his love. Consequently, his relationship issues with his father manifest early and impact most of his formative years. Together with his brother Pranay, Reddy Vanga and Saurabh Gupta, Vanga co-wrote the screenplay, which handles all the suspenseful segments and makes sure that every frame is a retina-tingling treat. However, in the midst of all of this, logic falls by the wayside and the narrative is continually drawn out, particularly in the second half. This flashy action…

1 000ml cake flour 60ml milk powder 20ml sugar 10g dried yeast 7.5ml salt 150ml milk 400ml lukewarm water 60ml butter, melted sesame seeds 50ml melted butter, to brush filling: 45ml sunflower oil 1 small bay leaf 2.5ml cumin seeds 1 small onion, finely chopped 5ml coarse salt 10ml crushed garlic 25ml red chilli powder 400g chicken fillet, small cubes 2.5ml ground cumin 5ml ground coriander 5ml garam masala 1ml turmeric 2 small tomatoes, grated 45ml chopped coriander 4 green chillies, finely chopped 30ml fresh cream, optional sesame seeds, to sprinkle Place the cake flour, milk powder, sugar, yeast and salt in a mixing bowl. Combine the milk and lukewarm water. Using a dough attachment on a low speed, gradually add the liquid to the dry ingredients and process…

SHUTTLE operators at King Shaka International Airport claim that they face daily threats, intimidation and harassment from the “transport mafia” – a local syndicate that wants a monopoly over the “lucrative” airport routes. Speaking to the POST, drivers said they believed the murder of Sagren Kaniappen was linked to the ongoing threats over the routes. Kaniappen, 59, a shuttle operator, left his home in Phoenix, to fetch a passenger from the airport on the morning of November 24. He was meant to drop the passenger off in Hillcrest and return home. His family reported him missing at the Phoenix police station and with the assistance of Renegade Search and Rescue, they circulated his picture on social media, asking people to be on the look-out for him. Kaniappen’s vehicle was…

BAD breeding, poor living conditions, frustration and anxiety could be some of the triggers for pit bull attacks. Lehanda Rheeder, spokesperson for the Pit Bull Federation of South Africa, said the properly bred American pit bull terrier was a human-friendly dog who loved spending time with his humans. “They tend to be aggressive towards other animals and especially dogs. They are no more vicious than any other dog breed, but when they bite they can inflict much more damage than the average dog.” Referring to the recent spate of attacks by pit bulls, Rheeder said there was no single trigger. “It’s a culmination of events or circumstances that leads up to an attack. One also has to realise that a dog doesn’t just attack. “There are always warning signs beforehand…

I WRITE out of concern about the woeful lack of credibility and quality journalism in South Africa. As a direct consequence, our constitutional democracy is in distress and barely escaped from being a foster child of an incestuous relationship. The evidence arising from the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture serves as a template for this letter. It is also evident, if the latest experience of journalists being killed in Gaza is a live example, that around the world independent public interest media is under threat. Traditional business models, which had been eroding for a decade or more, are beginning to collapse, particularly as sources of advertising revenue shrink and move online. These problems, which are most acute in low- and middle-income countries, were only exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.…

SINCE President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Senzo Mchunu as the minister of water and sanitation in August 2021, there has been a shift and a productive way of doing things under his leadership. He got on the ground to solve problems in areas affected by water shortages. He has been making sure that he gets first-hand information about the bottlenecks that cause water challenges in the country. Be it projects in progress, stalled and those that commenced, he wants to see wheels in motion and good results. The municipalities in the country are rated among the highest of unaccounted potable water loss getting wasted through unattended pipe bursts and leakages. Apart from leakages, the municipalities are also major contributors to our water resource pollution as they fail to adhere to the…

Those whom God hath put together, let no man put asunder” is an age-old wedding vow and was once the cornerstone of faithful marriages. Sadly, the holy matrimonial covenant is being violated daily by people intent on a risk-filled trajectory of lustful adventure. Marital infidelity is a 21st-century social cancer that is contaminating society. This is just the tip of the iceberg, crystallised from thousands of illicit extramarital affairs. Who can blame the wife who went on a spree last week on social media sharing pornographic videos of her husband and his “mistress”? Now she risks being charged under South African law. What drives such risky behaviour and the inexplicable alchemy of attraction is a psychologist’s dream. I remember something Nietzsche once said: “There are two things wanted by a…

Distinguished educationist Dr Morgan Naidoo died last Friday afternoon following a long illness. Dr Naidoo, who served education for more than 40 years, was regarded as an expert on normalisation processes which aim to ensure objectivity and fairness in exams. Earlier this year, the National Examinations and Assessment Committee presented an award to Dr Naidoo for his significant contributions to the successful administration of national public exams in South Africa. Although Dr Naidoo retired at the end of February 2010 after handling the matriculation exam in KwaZulu-Natal since 1976, the award was only made in April this year. Having started teaching in 1967, he taught for nine years before being promoted into education management. Dr Naidoo who was the Chief Director: Examinations Assurance and Assessment in KwaZulu-Natal, contributed nationally by…

A MAN who was accused of stealing, was allegedly beaten with a cricket bat and a spade before being set alight in a “kangaroo court”. It has been alleged that Kumarasen Trevino Naidoo was kidnapped and taken to an isolated area in Silverglen, on November 5, where he was brutally beaten with a cricket bat and a spade. He was allegedly forced to drink petrol and when that failed to kill him, he was necklaced. A resident went to his rescue and tried to douse the flames with a towel before calling for an ambulance. Naidoo, 29, of Montford in Chatsworth, sustained burns to his face, chest and hands. Despite his injuries he was making steady progress in hospital but on November 23 his condition took a turn for the…

THE family of Sergeant Riyadh Adams say knowing that two of his alleged killers were dead had left them with mixed feelings. On November 29, two suspects were shot and killed in KwaMashu. Adams was shot dead after responding to a call about a robbery at a jewellery store at the Pavilion Shopping Centre last month. “While we welcome the news that they got the suspects, this doesn’t change the fact that they killed my brother,” said Adams’s sister, Nadia. She added: “At least someone out there will probably be kept safe from these suspects. Someone else’s life will be saved and they won’t be able to rob another jewellery store. But my brother is never coming back.” Adams was stationed at the Cato Manor police station under the Trio…

UNDER-FIRE Erik ten Hag is confident he retains the backing of Manchester United’s players after the club were angered by reports he had lost some of the dressing room. The Dutchman’s challenging second campaign in charge continued on Saturday when his team fell to a meek 1-0 defeat at Newcastle. A 10th defeat of the season in all competitions led to some reports that Ten Hag had lost the confidence of up to half of his players, with references to concerns over his style, tactics and signings. As a result, the club banned four media outlets shortly before yesterday’s press conference to preview the midweek Premier League clash against Chelsea. United said the action was taken for not “contacting us first to give us the opportunity to comment, challenge or…

WHILE most parents strive to give their children what they never had growing up, what is more valuable is teaching your children what you never knew. While it might feel natural for parents to care for their children, there should be appropriate boundaries and limits in our giving. Every generation tries to do better than the one before. Socio-politically, we can understand why some generations of parents have done more than was necessary for their children. A parent’s generosity towards their child often arises out of the best intentions. In fact, most parents would argue that they work hard to provide a better life for their children than they had growing up. Some parents, out of guilt for working hard (and thereby spending less quality time with their children), overcompensate…

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. ARIES (March 21 – April 19) Reconnect in nature to heal, grow and expand with activities. Solitude will give understanding. Embrace opportunities to share knowledge and wisdom. Don’t fear external changes, small or global. Welcome them. Magic number: 5. TAURUS (April 20 – May 20) Positive news confirms great outcomes that have weighed heavy for yourself or a loved one. The wait is over. Celebrate now with thankfulness, acceptance and joy together. It will only get better. Magic number: 10. GEMINI (May 21 –…

SONAM Kapoor, known for her work in Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, Raanjhanaa, Neerja and Aisha, has a strong affinity for hand-made clothing and likes to buy items that are “made by local artisans, are vintage, and even resold”. Kapoor is one of the most influential voices in fashion globally and has attended the Cannes Film Festival as a fashion icon. The actress said: “To me, having a product with longevity is luxury. My mother and grandmother would preserve expensive saris in a mal mal (muslin) cloth.”…

CARNATIC songs accompanied by jazz drums and electric guitars are attracting youth the world over, making this classical art form cool to young audiences. Carnatic music is a South Indian system of music that evolved from the Hindu text, Samaveda. This classical style has 72 parent raagams (melodies) called Melakartha, with many branches of secondary raagams. These raagams form the basis for the composition of Tamil film songs. Every song composed in Tamil cinema has a raagam structure. Some basic Carnatic elements that are always adhered to when composing Tamil film songs include: raagam (melody), thaalam (timing), sruthi (tone/pitch), swara (sound of the musical note), gamakams and brigas (embellishments), aroganam (ascending) and avaroganam (descending) notes, which can be overwhelming for a first-time listener. According to international performing artist, award- winning…

250ml warm milk 125ml soft butter 4 large eggs 250ml sugar 5ml vanilla essence 500ml cake flour 20ml baking powder pinch of salt Combine the warm milk and butter, and stir until the butter melts. Place the eggs into the bowl of a stand mixer. Use the whisk attachment to whip the eggs until they triple in volume. Reduce the speed. Gradually add the sugar and whisk until the mixture leaves a ribbon on the surface that is visible for 3 seconds. Stir in the vanilla essence. Use a large metal spoon to fold the flour, baking powder and salt into the egg mixture, alternating with the milk. Scrape the bottom of the bowl to ensure the ingredients are well combined. Grease and line a square baking tin with…

12 chicken drumsticks 10ml ginger and garlic paste 10ml red chilli powder 2.5ml ground cumin 2.5ml ground coriander 2ml turmeric 1 chicken stock cube few sprigs of fresh thyme 500ml cold water salt, to season cake flour, to dust 2 eggs, lightly beaten bread or panko crumbs, to coat sunflower oil, to fry Place the chicken drumsticks in a 30cm AMC Gourmet Roaster. Add the ginger and garlic, red chilli, ground cumin and coriander and turmeric. Crumble the stock cube over the chicken piece. Add the thyme and water to the pot. Season with salt, and simmer until the chicken has cooked and comes away from the bone easily. Drain off the water and leave to cool slightly. Dust the drumsticks in flour, dip in the beaten egg and roll…

l According to DRK Tactical, on December 4, a one-year-old boy was bitten by his family’s pit bull in Hillary, near Queensburgh. It was reported that the dog had been kept separately as it was known to bite. It allegedly got out of its enclosure when a family member opened the door by mistake. DRK said the child’s parents were able to get the victim away from the pit bull safely, and “no other injuries were reported”. “They managed to get the dog back into its enclosure safely after the incident. “The baby was assessed and stabilised, then transported to a local facility for further treatment and observations. The family had reportedly contacted the SPCA for advice and will be deciding their next steps regarding the dog.” l According to…

LET this be an awakening! That was the message from WomanPACT founder Pamela Padaychee at the foundation’s 16 Days of Activism benefit on Saturday night. The event also recognised KwaZulu- Natal’s community heroes who go beyond the call of duty to assist victims of gender-based violence. Padaychee had the audience in tears when she recited a poem written by a mother of a child who had been raped in a Durban township. “This poem holds within its verses the power to conjure up hauntingly vivid images. Many may wish to forget it, but for an innocent child out there, this isn’t a mere poem – it’s the harrowing reality she faces daily. It’s a reality that defines her mental state, shaping every aspect of her life,” said Padayachee. “While we…

IN THE wake of the lack of water in some areas for more than three weeks, the POST asked human rights expert Professor Karthy Govender for his insights. What the Constitution and statutory law says: There is a constitutional obligation that people should have access to water. Then there are statutory legislative obligations which stipulate that people are entitled to a certain free quantity of water every month, and over and above that people have to pay. Still, there is a direct statutory duty on municipalities to provide water. So that is the first principle, simply because water sustains life and it is a fundamental principle of governance that the authority that is in charge must provide that service. The question that then arises is: what is the government doing…

ACCESS to safe drinking water is critical to public health, says Dr Avashri Harrichandparsad, a consultant on public health medicine at the University of KZN. “Clean water is essential for hydration, domestic use, safe food preparation and recreation. For those with chronic and acute illnesses, it can affect their ability to adhere to treatment. When this is compromised, the key immediate health hazards are those related to not being able to wash hands and not having access to a functional toilet. “With prolonged lack of access to clean water, there is an increased risk of the spread of infectious diseases such as influenza, from not being able to wash hands, and water-borne diseases like diarrhoea, cholera and bilharzia (in endemic areas), in communities having to resort to unsafe water supplies.”…

I wrote a poem in the light of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children Campaign against gender-based violence, which is commemorated from November 25 to December 10. Tears cocoon fear in the eyes of our girls who were raised to conform to the double standards set by the same oppressors who stalk the streets we walk while chanting prayers to reach home safely. It is time to undress the targets from our bodies we are not wounds begging for attention we are women who desire the luxury that safety has become seeking justice for our sisters who turned into statistics. The revolution we require will not arise from complacency it is time to raise our voices and end the silence it is time to…

SOUTH Africa has experienced more than 15 years of load shedding. And there is still no light at the end of the long, dark tunnel. Households experience disruption of daily routines such as cooking, cleaning, studying and home entertainment. The country’s economy has taken a substantial dent. All sectors, from large corporations down to individual employees have been affected by reduced productivity, increased costs, job losses and reduced foreign investment. Communities have been affected by traffic problems, security issues and closure of public amenities during power cuts. Does President Ramaphosa really understand what load shedding is doing to the nation? Has he, personally, experienced load shedding at work or home? Most unlikely because the lights stay on at his offices in the Union Buildings and at Tuynhuys. There is no…

‘…cricket can be a unifier or divider…It is up to us.’ (Mike Marqusee, 1997). This is a story about a piece of turf that entranced me throughout my childhood years. In the mid-1960s, my father and I walked across the bridge from Prince Edward Street (now Dr Goonam), turned right, and wended our way to my old man’s Old Lady. Kingsmead. Grass. Picket fences. Everything in its place. And so were we. Near the Siedle clock, under the sign that ticked, ‘Non-European’, we sat. How minutely the adult spectators of the times analysed things. My vocabulary rioted with new words and phrases: the composition of an innings, the rhythm of a bowler and a pitch that was a featherbed. Geography lessons were imparted too, such as the demonstrable influence of…

I HAVE probably been asked a hundred times why India lost the 2023 Cricket World Cup (CWC). And the answer for me is simple: blame the Indian Premier League (IPL). You’re probably asking why – because the IPL is seen as the main factor that has led to the overall improvement of Indian cricket. Yes, it has, but if George Bailey, the chief Aussie selector, hadn’t spent five seasons at Chennai Super Kings, he would not have known about the finer Indian tactics, and the doctoring of wickets. Ironically, CWC23 was the quintessential example of how the IPL didn’t benefit Indian cricket. In this case, the Indians imported black soil from Orissa and used it in Ahmedabad, a region with red soil. This resulted in the wicket not breaking up,…

WHERE Ottniel Baartman hails from, ostriches are more famous than people. And particularly cricketers. But over the past few years, the Oudtshoorn-born seamer has quietly gone about forging a reputation as one of the most distinguished white-ball bowlers in the country. Baartman, 30, was ultimately rewarded for his consistency – he averages 23.11 per wicket in List A cricket and 17.39 in T20s – when he received a maiden call-up to the Proteas T20 and ODI squads for the upcoming series against India this week. “I was quite surprised,” Baartman told Independent Media. “I didn’t expect it at all. I was just focusing on red-ball cricket and didn’t expect to feature in the series. “It really came as a surprise to me. It was only after a chat with Immy…

ENGLISH referee Tom Foley, who received death threats after acting as television match official (TMO) at the Rugby World Cup final, will step away from officiating Test rugby for the foreseeable future, it was announced on Monday. Foley was TMO for October’s final between South Africa and New Zealand in Paris, which the Springboks won 12-11 and in which the All Blacks had skipper Sam Cane sent off. The 38-year-old said last month that death threats had been aimed at him and his family since the World Cup, and he had to warn his children’s school. Wayne Barnes, who refereed the final, announced his retirement last month and referenced the online abuse he had faced, while family members were also targeted. And Foley’s decision comes after England captain Owen Farrell…