Table of contents for 2024-12-04 in Post

Shoojit Sircar has made a career out of exploring grief, death and the quiet triumph of hope, with his films often finding profound power in silence. I Want To Talk is no exception, completing a trilogy of sorts that started with Piku and continued with October (with hints of Hollywood’s Whale). Its a cinematic exploration of loneliness, mortality, and emotional hesitation. It is like reading a diary entry you weren't meant to see. Its deeply personal, somewhat flawed, and not always as poignant as it aims to be. At its core, I Want To Talk tells the tale of a man facing a grim medical diagnosis, yet it’s really about the intricate and often messy relationship between a father, Arjun (Abhishek Bachchan), and his daughter, Reya (Ahilya Bamroo). The…

4 packets dried fruit (400g packs) 2 cups white vinegar 3 cups boiling hot water 2 cups brown sugar 2 cups pickle masala 3 tbs white sesame seeds 500g dried figs, washed 3 times and then soaked in boiling water 2 tsp jeera seeds 2 tsp mustard seeds ¾ cup oil 10 cloves garlic, cut into pieces 8 curry leaves, cut into pieces Cut the dried fruit into pieces. Place in a large pot. Add the sugar, vinegar and water. Boil on medium heat for 20 to 25 minutes. Mix every 5 minutes. After 10 minutes, add the soaked figs without the water. In saucepan, heat the oil. Add the mustard, jeera, garlic and curry leaves. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Watch that it does not burn. Take the…

1½ cups pea dhal 1 small onion, sliced ½ sprig curry leaves, chopped 2 dried red chillies, broken up 1 tsp jeera seeds 1 tsp mustard seeds 2 tsp Kashmiri masala ½ tsp turmeric powder chopped dhania 1 small tomato, chopped 4 tsp salt 1 tsp sugar 1½ cups cake flour 2 tsp veggie seasoning 150g butter/ghee 1 tbs oil 1 cup water 5 cloves garlic Clean and wash the pea dhal. Cook with 4 cups boiling water, turmeric and 2 tsp salt. As the dhal boils, remove the white foam. Cook for 25 minutes. Add more water if necessary, if the dhal is not soft. In a mixing bowl, add the flour, veggie seasoning and 1 tsp salt. Mix together before adding 50g butter/ghee, and rub it through the…

FIVE teenagers, accused of killing a schoolboy and seriously injuring another, have been released on bail. The accused, aged between 15 and 19, appeared in the Verulam Magistrate’s Court last Wednesday. They are facing charges of murder and attempted murder and were granted bail of R1 000 each. Last Monday, a gang of 15 teenagers allegedly armed with scissors and knives stabbed Aldane Reddy in Palmview, Phoenix. Aldane, 17, a former Grade 9 pupil at Lenarea Secondary School in Lenham, was going to a friend’s house when the group attacked him. He was stabbed in the back and then fell to the ground where he was stabbed multiple times. Aldane had left school due to bullying. Keaton Rasen, also 17, a Grade 11 pupil at Palmview Secondary School, was going…

Q: Where does your interest in indenture and colonial Natal stem from? A: My Master’s dissertation, “Sir John Robinson, the Mercury and the Indian Question 1860-1897”; and my PhD dissertation, “Sugar and Settlers: The colonisation of the Natal South Coast 1850-1910”. Q: Why do you have an interest in indenture? A: My ancestor, James du Bois, was a Byrne settler, arriving in Durban from London in 1850, just 10 years earlier than the beginning of Indian immigration. Indians are fellow settlers. Their roots were Asian, mine European. But their historical experience in colonial Natal was very different from that of my forebears. Q: There have been delays regarding the erection of an 1860 monument to pay tribute to the arrival of Indian indentured workers. What is your view on this?…

GIVEN KwaZulu-Natal’s popularity as a premier holiday destination, it is understandable that KZN roads will carry heavy traffic volumes over the festive season. However, the province should buck the trend and aim to reduce road accidents. KZN has too often hogged the notorious record of having the highest fatalities during the year-end holidays. Road crashes in South Africa cost the country's economy more than R205bn in 2023, which translated into 2.74% of GDP, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy said during the launch of the festive season road safety campaign at Limpopo on Sunday. On the eve of each silly season, the SAPS, metro police and the KZN Department of Transport embark on a vigorous road safety campaign, vowing to clamp down on drunken and reckless drivers. But the death rate…

IN 1986 Oliver Stone made a great film, about the American war on Vietnam, called Platoon. The line that has always stayed with me from this movie is one where a young American soldier was asked why he joined the Marines. His response was something to the effect that he “wanted to see other countries, meet people from ancient cultures … and kill them”. As I tour Vietnam, I am reminded of these haunting words reflecting the brutality and dehumanisation that accompanies the barbarism of war. Wars begun by political elites in the interests of their upper social class counterparts, who exercise economic control and profit from war itself and extractivism. And where young “combatants” follow orders to kill, maim and humiliate under the guise of protecting illusionary democracies, contested…

DESPITE the recent police statistics showing a decline in some violent crimes, community crime fighters continue to wage a daily war against home invasions, hijackings and copper theft. Last week, Senzo Mchunu, the Minister of Police, released the quarterly crime statistics for the 2024/2025 financial year (July to September 2024). Among the top 30 police stations which had the highest number of serious crime cases reported in the province were Chatsworth, Phoenix and Verulam. Mchunu said from July 1 to September 30, the 17 community-reported serious crimes showed an overall decline of 5.1%. He said specifically, contact crimes had decreased by 3%, property-related crimes saw a reduction of 9.9%, and other serious crimes decreased by 3.4%. Focusing on contact crime, Mchunu said the statistics indicated that murder had decreased by…

COMMUNITY activists in Phoenix have welcomed the recent announcement of the launch of the KwaZulu-Natal Council Against Crime (KZN CAC) by Premier Thami Ntuli. The forum is meant to support the work of the police in the province, under the leadership of provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Among the main objectives are: Providing guidance on development of safety and crime prevention strategies Guiding the implementation of safety and crime prevention Strategising and monitoring these strategies. “To be successful, the police are working closely with community safety structures, the private security industry and all the broadest range of stakeholders united against crime,” said Ntuli at a recent press briefing. "One of the outputs of this council is that the government, traditional leaders, the faith-based communities, teachers and academia must lead…

The Durban Hindu Temple hosted a fund-raising movie night at the Suncoast Cinecentre. At the event were:…

Ikg lamb chops 1 large onion, sliced 10 to 12 tomatoes, liquidised 1 heaped tbs ginger/garlic/chilli paste 1 tbs steak-and-chops marinade salt pepper 150ml water 2 tbs oil 2 green chillies 1 tsp salt 2 tsp sugar 1 bay leaf 1 piece of cinnamon 1 star anise 2 elachi dhania 1 tbs Kashmiri masala 1 tsp dried mint Wash the chops and place them in a large flat pot to cook. Season with salt and black pepper. Add 150ml water and steam for 5 minutes. Add the ginger-garlic paste, mint, and steak-and-chops marinade. Mix into the chops and cook for 10 minutes. The water will start to dry and the chops will fry. Add the oil. Sprinkle the onion, chillies and aromatics over the chops with the dry spices. Cook…

Maidstone Memoirs is dedicated to our forefathers who had the vision and the foresight to create a better life for us, their descendants. We salute the different generations from the Maidstone Barracks for their sweat and toil, and their belief in education being the gateway to real freedom. “There can be no doubt history will not deny the Indian’s contribution to the development and prosperity of Britain’s Colonial Empire in the 19th century. Separated from their native land they proved to be hardy pioneers. They triumphed over adversities, of which there were many, such as the hazards of the indentured systems, the hostility of nature and the oppression of the white man whose antipathy towards them was expressed in different ways in different parts of the world. | By…

THE family of a Chatsworth man, who was killed after allegedly stealing a cellphone, is seeking justice for his death. Byron Wesley Pillay, 35, from Unit 10, was brutally assaulted and dumped on Silverglen Drive last Monday. His legs were broken and he had multiple bruises on his face. Stephanie John, his aunt, said: “I arrived home from work at 5pm and my mother told me that someone came to our house earlier. “The person said Byron had been assaulted in Silverglen. “My brother came home about an hour later and I told him what had happened. “He went to the scene with our mother and a neighbour. Byron had already died. My brother viewed his body and saw the bruises on his face." John said her brother did not…

THEFT of infrastructure like electricity box fuses and tuck shop robberies have grown in frequency in Phoenix, north of Durban. Opportunistic criminals have even earmarked time-slots for each of these crimes, said Mark Nadesan, the chairman of the Phoenix Community Policing Forum. Between 1am and 3am is when the fuse box thieves come out, and from 5pm to 10pm is the common time that tuck shops are robbed, said Nadesan. “Fuse box theft is an inconvenience to the community. When criminals steal the fuses, the power goes out. The community then remains in the dark for days as they wait for the eThekwini Municipality to replace the fuses. While sitting in the dark, the sugar boys climb into yards to steal copper pipes." Nadesan, a businessman and volunteer community crime…

This is the keynote address delivered by Dr Ismail Mahomed at the recent launch of Robin Sewlal’s legacy publication, My Radio Memory: Listening to the Listener, at Suncoast Cinecentre ROBIN Sewlal’s focal point on memory in his book titled, My Radio Memory: Listening to the Listener, is a reminder about the famous line by the late South African poet, novelist, journalist and political activist, Don Mattera, who wrote, Memory is the weapon. For Mattera, memory was a vital force for constant reflection in South Africa. Memory is the fuel that drives inspiration. Memory is also an anchored rock. It carries both the scars and wounds of life as well as life’s enormous joys and celebrations and victories. I think about Oscar Wilde who wrote: “Memory is the diary that we…

THE Chatsworth Community Police Forum (CPF) is urging the eThekwini Municipality to fix the street lights on the Higginson Highway following more than 10 incidents of rock throwing and boulders being placed on the highway, in the last month. The latest victim, Mikhael Sankar, 27, a paramedic at Amawele Emergency Services, was on the highway near the Westcliff off-ramp when a boulder was thrown at his vehicle on Thursday night. “I saw two men and they suddenly threw a boulder at me. The boulder hit the front left tyre and I veered off the road and hit a tree. The car went down an embankment. As soon as I hit the tree, I went on to WhatsApp and sent a voicenote to a crime group. “Before I knew it, a…

The Australian government’s decision to ban social media for children under the age of 16 has sparked debate, with South Africans weighing in on the conversation. The aim of the ban, which was approved on Thursday, is due to concerns about the negative impact of social media on children. While social media has become part of modern life, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the measure “will deliver greater protections for young Australians during critical stages of their development". Vee Gani, the chairperson of the KwaZulu-Natal Parents Association, said: “The vast amount of incorrect information available on social media prompted the government to make this decision. “Aside from all of the unregulated, unfiltered information that is on social media, there is also the risk of cyberbullying, which is a major…

Chelsea’s players have been able to implement Enzo Maresca's style of play quicker than the Italian manager expected, but he said on Tuesday that the team still had room for improvement ahead of a Premier League game against Southampton. Maresca was brought in earlier this year and tasked with returning Chelsea to the Champions League, after the London outfit finished sixth last season and 12th in the 2022-23 campaign. Chelsea are third in the standings with 25 points from 13 games, level with second-placed Arsenal and nine points behind leaders Liverpool. Asked if he was surprised at how well his side were doing, Maresca said: “For sure. I still consider this a big job, but this doesn't mean, because it's a big job, you are not thinking to do the…

Actor and producer Luversan Gerard's film, Neelan & Kevin, premiered at Nu Metro at the Pavillion on Saturday and is now available on eVod, e.tv’s free streaming platform, and its app. The app works on phones and tablets, and you can access it on any browser on a computer or Smart TV. It’s free. “It’s incredibly humbling. Etv/Evod has shown great support for local stories and first-time producers. It’s amazing to be part of a platform that champions diversity and creativity,” said Gerard. Gerard, who is formerly from Pietermaritzburg but currently lives in Fourways, Johannesburg, is also a screenwriter and when the opportunity arises, he consults on story development. “I started studying IT at the Durban Institute of Technology (now known as the Durban University of Technology) but left…

Part 1 Marinade: chicken – best done the day before 6 chicken fillets, cubed 2 tbs double-cream plain yoghurt 1 tsp dried coriander 1 tbs butter chicken spice 1 tbs Kashmiri masala 1 heaped tsp ginger-garlic paste 1 tsp salt Mix well and store in the fridge in an airtight container. Prawns: 500g prawns, cleaned and deveined 1 tbs fish masala 2 tbs mayonnaise 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste 1 tsp dried coriander 1 tbs Kashmiri masala Mix and marinate in the fridge for an hour. Part 2 150g butter 1 tsp jeera and mustard seeds 1 medium onion, sliced 1 tsp kasurie methi 6 tomatoes, grated 1 tsp salt 1 tsp sugar 50ml water 1 tbs butter chicken spice 1 tbs Kashmiri masala 4 tbs double-thick plain yoghurt Heat a…

A RESERVOIR Hills father wants a full investigation into his son’s death after it emerged he was shot dead during a high-speed chase on the Inanda highway, and did not die as a result of a car crash. Rajesh Suknandan said his youngest son, Maldon Rajesh Suknandan, 20, died in his arms in the ambulance, while on their way to hospital at around 10am on Monday last week. The father and son ran a carpentry business together. It has been alleged that Maldon’s white Opel Corsa bakkie was travelling at high speed on the Inanda highway when his vehicle veered off the road, overturned and crashed through a fence before landing on Barvale Drive in Newlands. Suknandan said he had received a call from one of Maldon’s friends informing him…

AIMED at honouring and preserving the rich history of indentured labourers and their descendants, who had lived in the Maidstone Barracks in Tongaat, a more than a century-old bell tower has been relocated to a local temple. The Maidstone Bell Tower, which was used to alert indentured labourers who worked in the sugar cane fields and mill of their working hours, has now been erected at the premises of the Shree Veeraboga Emperumal Temple in Gandhi’s Hill. For the stakeholders involved in the relocation and the community at large, the tower holds great significance. They said it served as a stark reminder of the struggles and successes of indentured labourers, who journeyed to South Africa in November 1860 and thereafter settled in the barracks. Henry Reddy, an honorary life vice-president…

THE case against the wife of a Phoenix pastor, who is accused of stealing more than R4 million from her former employer, will continue in the Pinetown Magistrates Court next year. Lingasperi Madurai, 55, together with her co-accused, Senamile Mthabela, Zanab Bibi Cassim, Mehmood Nizaam Cassim and Manormoney Archari, have been charged with fraud or alternatively theft. Madurai, is also charged with money-laundering, along with her husband, Dhanapalan Madurai. The accused, who are currently out on bail, appeared briefly in court last week. In April this year, Lingasperi, a former HR Manager at Pinion and Adams (P&A) Fabricators, a sheet metal fabrication company situated in Pinetown, was arrested and charged with fraud and money-laundering. Following her arrest, her husband and the other co-accused, who were either employees or suppliers…

PIONEER residents of Havenside in Chatsworth, who were instrumental in contributing towards the development of facilities in the community, celebrated the area’s 60th anniversary on Saturday It was also the Havenside Civic Association’s 60th year of existence, and residents marked the event with a dinner and dance at the local civic hall. Members from the association reminisced about the good old days, and the contributions that were made to ensure Havenside was “a cut above the rest”. Anja Pillay, 83, promoted the Indian language and culture. She moved to Havenside in 1964 and performed songs in the Tamil and Hindi vernacular at funerals, ceremonies, housewarming prayers and christenings. Pillay rendered a free service and was the first Tamil school teacher at Evergreen Primary. “I loved to promote language and culture.…

HISTORICAL novels serve a useful purpose in conveying understanding and appreciation of aspects of the past because they are woven within plots that reflect, inter alia, drama, tragedy, exploitation, collusion, romance, neglect and politics. Challenges in a Colonial County, a new novel by Duncan Du Bois, set amid the cane fields of Alexandra County on the Natal South Coast about 140 years ago, gives expression to those elements. Du Bois, 71, of the Bluff, a historian and researcher, said the book, published by Sakura Book Publishing, took eight months to complete. “It is a sequel to Liaisons Life in a Colonial County. As such, it advances the history of Alexandra County from 1876 where Liaisons ended, to 1889. I believe historical novels appeal to a wider readership and serve to…

“YOU know that community WhatsApp groups are where humanity goes to die,” came the text response from fellow journo during our discussion on the social “policing” of topics related to Zionism and Israel. It was a fairly busy morning for fingers across the neighbourhood chat with the text that started it all calling for the community to “bid vir die Joode” even as Israel had already killed more than 3 000 Palestinian civilians in Gaza by the middle of October 2023. Writing in English for the benefit of the many neighbours, who do not speak Afrikaans, I suggested that we are praying for the innocent Palestinians killed by the illegal occupation force. It was of course bound to flare up but what I was not expecting was the shallowness of…

SOUTH Africa and India will mark 30 years of diplomatic relations this year, an important milestone between a developing economy that is a powerhouse on the African continent, and another that is making its considerable mark on a global scale. The India South Africa Chamber of Commerce (Isacc) is honoured to host a business conclave session in India between December 2 and 6 to strategically grow and strengthen economic ties between both countries. This is a momentous occasion that ties in with the visit of a government delegation, over the same period, led by the Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille, members of portfolio committees on International Relations and Trade Industry and Competition, including Home Affairs. Why the need to strengthen economic ties between the two countries? South Africa and…

THREE stolen brass cooking degs (pots), that were more than 50 years old and used to feed devotees at temple festivals in Verulam, were recovered on Monday. But another temple in Tinley Manor is still without its stolen items. Rayseelan Naidoo, the chairperson of the management board at the Shri Siva Subramaniar Alayam in Umdloti Drift, said the temple’s caretaker had called him about a break-in. Brass pots as well as metal cooking utensils, dishes and electricity cables were stolen. Prem Balram, of Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa), said a scrap dealer had reported to them that the pots, and damaged and stolen copper pipes, were sold to him for R10 600. In Tinley Manor, the Shri Siva Soobramaniar Temple was robbed of infrastructure, a freezer and a gas stove.…

VIOLATIONS against women and children remain a “pandemic” in the country. As the country commemorates the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children Campaign, which runs annually from November 25 to December 10, the calls for urgent interventions have heightened. Despite the recent SAPS crime statistics showing a slight decrease in reports of some sexual offences, violations against women and children continue unabated. According to the statistics, there were 12 765 sexual offences reported across the country during the three month period. Of these offences were 10 191 rape – of which 2 046 were reported in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). There were also 1 839 sexual assaults of which 348 were reported in the province. During this period, 957 women and 315 children were killed. In addition,…

LIFE often leads us down unforeseen paths, reinventing us through trials that both siphon and shape us. My story weaves together the adversities of a chronic illness, mental health struggles, and spiritual transformation into a tapestry of resilience, compassion, and wisdom. It began in October 2020, a few days after completing Roaccutane for my acne, when a painful lump developed in my right underarm. Despite rounds of antibiotics, my condition worsened. By December, another lump appeared in my tailbone area, rendering me unable to walk. On Christmas Eve, I was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery as sepsis loomed. Both surgical sites required intensive wound care with a vacuum-assisted closure machine. While I had regained my ability to walk, my relief was ephemeral. The surgery was merely the start…

Laura Wolvaardt relishes any form of responsibility. She has done so ever since childhood when every form of leadership from head girl to chief scout was placed on her slight shoulders. But even for someone of Wolvaardt’s temperament, the last 12 months have been utterly exhausting. It was November last year that she was appointed full time Proteas Women’s captain across all formats. Since then she’s needed to mould together a fractured squad that was divided straight down the middle after long-serving coach Hilton Moreeng had moved to the United States after 12 long years at the helm. This all had to be done without a full time replacement with bowling coach Dillon du Preez performing the duty on a part-time basis. It seemed like the relationship, along with batting…

Our huge annual clearance sale is here! Massive discounts on samples, soiled trade show stock, seconds, repairs and end of ranges! Only at our 53 Hunter Street branch. Sale runs from Thursday 5th 8-5pm, Friday the 6th 8-5pm, Saturday the 7th 8-1pm and Sunday the 8th 8-1pm of December 2024. Masses of rods, reels and terminal tackle. Offshore To some, it's known as the “chicken of the sea,” while others refer to it as the ”green and gold.“ Internationally, it's called Mahi Mahi, but this past week, we've been shouting out its name as Dorado-o-o-o-o-o! The dorado has been the hot topic among offshore anglers from north to south, with catches ranging from juveniles to massive bulls. North The North Coast has seen plenty of action from both boats and…

Hitting high shots in golf can be a challenging but rewarding skill to master. Whether you're trying to escape a difficult lie, reach an elevated green, or simply add some variety to your game, hitting high shots requires a combination of technique, practice, and patience. To start, it's essential to make some adjustments to your setup. Move the ball forward in your stance, just in front of your left foot for right-handed golfers. This helps you hit the ball on the upswing, which is critical for achieving a high trajectory. Additionally, shift your weight slightly onto your left foot to help you maintain balance and generate upward momentum. Next, open the clubface slightly to increase the loft and promote a higher trajectory. This may feel counterintuitive, but it's essential for…

Ruud van Nistelrooy said he was “astonished” by the number of offers he received as a result of his spell as Manchester United interim manager as he plots how to keep Leicester in the Premier League. The Dutchman had four games in caretaker charge at Old Trafford - two of them against Leicester - following Erik ten Hag's sacking at the end of October, but left the club when Ruben Amorim arrived last month. Van Nistelrooy, speaking at his first press conference since replacing the sacked Steve Cooper at the King Power, said offers had poured in. “What happened after the games and the amount of interest, the options that all of a sudden were there for me and the options that came along, I was a little bit astonished,”…

England and New Zealand have been fined for maintaining a slow over-rate in the first Test in Christchurch. Both teams have been fined 15% of their match fees and penalised three World Test Championship (WTC) competition points, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Tuesday. “David Boon of the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanctions after both Ben Stokes and Tom Latham’s sides were ruled to be three overs short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration,” the ICC said in a statement. In accordance with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minimum over-rate offences, players are fined five per cent of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl…