Table of contents for Wednesday, November 4, 2020 in Post

Employee linked to killing Fresh produce businessman was stabbed 35 times CHARLENE SOMDUTH Facebook and Supplied ASHVEER Sukwa was killed by someone who worked for him. This is the angle police are investigating. Sukwa, 35, who ran a fresh produce distribution business was stabbed 35 times at his home in Fairbreeze, Tongaat, on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast on Saturday morning. His body was found wrapped in a sheet and blanket on the floor of his bedroom. His father, Rajesh Sukwa, 67, was stabbed four times and locked in a cold room in a warehouse on their property. The suspects ransacked the home, fleeing with cash and other items. Swift work by members from Tongaat police station and a private security company led to the arrest of three suspects, one of…

‘Pay salary increases or prepare for a fight’ Public servant unions warn government not to back down on wage agreement CHANELLE LUTCHMAN AND CHARLENE SOMDUTH PUBLIC servants are not interested in how empty the state’s coffers are. They want the money promised to them. In 2018, the government agreed to a three-year wage deal with workers – among them teachers, nurses and police. For the first two years, they received salary increases of between 4.3% and 5.4%. However, there was no increase this year. Mandla Shabangu, the Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA KZN provincial secretary, said: “We had an agreement and government cannot keep to it. “I don’t understand why (Finance Minister) Tito Mboweni was allowed to make such an announcement instead of the minister of public service. Our members…

Land chosen for project ‘not suited for building’ CHANELLE LUTCHMAN RESIDENTS in Barton Place in Clare Estate want answers from the eThekwini Municipality after they found out that a housing project, similar to Cornubia, is being built on their road. Leeshan Maharaj, a resident and the chairperson of a committee that has been formed to approach the city, said they suspected something was happening late last year. “Barton Place has about 50 homes. There’s only one way in and out of the area and it’s very quiet. “Last year, we noticed contractors coming to the vacant land opposite the homes. We approached one of the contractors that was on the site and we found out that the land was going to be used to build 198 low-cost homes.” Maharaj said…

Top honours for UKZN science professors THANDEKA MGQIBI this prestigious society,” said Govender. She said she was grateful to her parents, family, teachers, mentors and students, who had all contributed to this achievement. Govender is a professor of pharmacy in the discipline of pharmaceutical sciences and the head of the drug delivery research proto-unit at UZKN. She is also the head of the NanoHealth Pillar, a multidisciplinary team focusing on using nanotechnology for the treatment of infectious diseases, at the university’s Nanotechnology Platform. She completed her PhD at the University of Nottingham, in England, through a Commonwealth Scholarship. “For my PhD, I used nanotechnology to design novel nano-medicines that could target cancer cells for superior treatment as compared to conventional available medicines.” Govender has focused her research on the development…

1860 events ◆ A mobile museum that exhibits the heritage and the early history of indentured Indians is on-site at the Phoenix Plaza Shopping Centre until November 10. It will move to the Chatsworth Centre from November 13 to 22. ◆From Indenture to Stage … Voices Across Waters, a virtual global dance conference commemorating the 160th anniversary, will be launched on November 16. The conference, which is being hosted by the SA Indian Dance Alliance, will be held on November 21 and 22. Registration is free at www.saida.org.za ◆The Coolie Oddessy, an award-winning play written and directed by Rajesh Gopie, will be streamed from November 11 to 30. The play was staged and recorded at The Playhouse in Durban. The narrative jumps between the present and the past, speaking to…

Cop fired for escorting ‘Teddy Mafia’ CHANELLE LUTCHMAN A CHATSWORTH policeman was dismissed after video footage went viral of him escorting an accused to his home after getting bail. In April, Yaganathan Pillay, aka Teddy Mafia, 62, was arrested in a multi-disciplinary police operation at his home in Shallcross. The police found unlicensed firearms, and they seized R700 000 in cash as well as gold and silver coins estimated to be valued at R250 000. Weeks later, Pillay, who faced charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, was released from prison on R5 000 bail at the Chatsworth Magistrate’s Court. A video began circulating of a four-car convoy, including a state police vehicle, as Pillay arrived home to cheers in a Nissan bakkie. Brigadier Jay Naicker, a provincial police…

Durban High Court to hear principal murder case JANINE MOODLEY THE case of retired principal Shirley James, who was found dead in her garage, will be heard in the Durban High Court. The former principal at Collegevale Primary School in Overport was found in the garage of her Mallcastle Place home in Newlands West on August 7 last year by officers from a private security company. James, 79, who lived alone, was lying on her back with a piece of cloth wrapped around her face. It is alleged that her body was found three days after her death. Police said her body was in a state of decomposition and that she had suffered assault wounds to the head. A week later, her 45-year-old gardener, Mzwakhe France Mbulawa, was arrested in…

No liberty, equality and fraternity in insulting Islam MOULANA EBRAHIM BHAM Reuters THE French are doubling down on Laïcité, their virulent form of secularist fundamentalism. President Emmanuel Macron’s obsession with, and intended crackdown on, Islam and Muslims, calls to question the true nature of the French state – which sloganeers the motto: “liberté, égalité, fraternité” (liberty, equality, fraternity). Prior to the beheading of Samuel Paty, the teacher who chose to teach children using demeaning illustrations of caricatures of the Prophet, Macron was already prepping the public about what he called “separatism”. This is the notion that Muslims choose to remain exclusive and not assimilate in the mould that France has always tried to make everyone French. The allegation of separatism levelled against Muslims by the president underscores the failure of…

Mboweni dons three cloaks TITO Mboweni, the Minister of Finance, seems to have donned three invisible cloaks in his Medium-term Budget Policy Statement last week. Firstly, that of his official financial slashing role of the budgets of many government departments, then that of a reluctant Father Christmas to the cash-strapped SAA. Lastly, that of the country’s prophet when he quoted from the Bible: ”You are going to have the light just a little longer. Walk while you have the light before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going.” That many of us are in the dark and do not really know where we are going, perhaps can be regarded as a truism. PREM SINGH Pietermaritzburg…

Wonderful childhood memories WHEN my son, now a journalist abroad, requested that I send him clips of his young days of cricket at Pitlochry and soccer at Chiltern Football Club, it made me wonder. Our present generation of men in their post-30s, most likely, will remember how they used to participate in sporting activities at school. In a similar fashion, the present generation of young women will also recall their sporting days at school. The present older generation of men will also remember that in addition to school sports, the days they used to play street soccer, break windowpanes in the restricted spaces of city flats, play cricket in narrow passages and hide-and-seek in any area available. What is more awesome to record is that our present older ladies will…

The cartoons promote hate THE killing of Samuel Paty, a French middle-school teacher in Paris, is unacceptable and it is not something that has come from the books and teachings of Islam. According to reports, the perpetrator, Abdoullakh Abouyedovich Anzorov, an 18-year-old Muslim Russian-born refugee of Chechen descent, killed and beheaded Paty with a knife. Anzorov was shot and killed by police minutes later. His alleged motive for the killing was that Paty had, in a class on freedom of expression, shown his pupils Charlie Hebdo cartoons depicting the Islamic Prophet Muhammad. It included one cartoon which depicted Muhammad naked. As much as I find the killing unacceptable, I don’t see it as acceptable to show such offensive Hebdo caricatures of Prophet Muhammad to pupils. I cannot understand the merits…

Create decor magic in your workspace … and enjoy the benefits of working from home LATOYA NEWMAN Supplied THE Covid-19 pandemic has unexpectedly resulted in a large number of South African employees working from home. And after more than seven months, many people continue to work this way as they navigate life in a pandemic. Working from home brings with it many challenges including making a workspace friendly and presentable for the virtual meetings that we have had to become accustomed to. Renate Albrecht, the co-founder of Wallpaper Online, said working from home had its perks and challenges. She said a dedicated working space was key to overcoming most of these issues. “While working from home has many perks, it can also pose new challenges in inspiring productivity. “Another drawback…

Cultural right to use fireworks – but do so responsibly CHANELLE LUTCHMAN IT IS AGAINST your cultural rights to be told not to set off fireworks in a gated community. This information emerged during a webinar hosted by the South African Hindu Maha Sabha on Saturday. It was titled “Covid-19 Diwali and Fireworks: Tolerance, Cultural Rights and Responsible Use” and aimed to educate the Hindu community. The speakers included professors Karthy Gov-ender, Salim Abdool Karim and Nalini Moodley, as well as Lokesh Ramnath Maharajh. Govender, a professor of law, said: “If you prevent people from engaging in their culture, then that is discrimination.” He said one could not prevent another person from exercising his or her cultural rights. Govender said those living in gated communities should speak to their neighbours…

Let’s spread light and unity I WANT to wish a happy Diwali to all of you who are celebrating the Festival of Lights here in the kingdom and around the world. For Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists, lighting the lamp, the diya, is a chance to remember, even in the midst of darkness, that light will ultimately prevail. Knowledge will defeat ignorance and compassion will triumph over despair. Diwali is also a reminder that we must each do our part to achieve that victory, by dedicating ourselves to the service of others. If we affirm our commitments to one another and strive to lift one another up, then together we will continue moving closer to that brighter future we all seek. There is an air of freedom, festivity and friendliness…

Novak aced for trying to divide tennis NOVAK Djokovic, pictured, has been accused of “trying to divide tennis” at the worst possible time by legend Martina Navratilova. Earlier this year, Djokovic resigned from his position on the ATP Players Council to set up a rival independent players union, the Professional Tennis Players’ Association (PTPA). While many have joined it, many more have rejected it, creating a political divide in tennis. And that, says Navratilova, is the last thing the sport needs right now. “This is not helpful on any level,” Navratilova told the Irish Times, of Djokovic’s PTPA “Do that when you stop playing tennis but it’s controversial and not helpful. “During Covid, you’re trying to divide us further when we should be trying to bring the game together and…

Sharks can go all the way, says Van Vuuren MIKE GREENAWAY EARLIER this year, powerful hooker Kerron van Vuuren, pictured, was in the vanguard of the Sharks’ surge to the top of the standings, and it may not entirely be a coincidence that when the Sharks struggled when rugby resumed postlockdown, Van Vuuren wasn’t there. The muscular 25-year-old was nursing his first-ever rugby injury, after a freak accident in the gym not long after training was once more permitted, and it has only been in the last two Sharks games that he has been able to mount a comeback, with impressive showings off the bench, which included two tries off the back of driving mauls last week against the Pumas. “My injury (a pectoral tear) took me by surprise because…

Make helmets mandatory – Tendulkar SACHIN Tendulkar, pictured, yesterday called on the authorities to make the use of helmets mandatory for batsmen at professional level. The Indian batting maestro, who rarely batted without a helmet during his playing days, tweeted a video of an incident from an October 24 Indian Premier League (IPL) match between Kings XI Punjab and SunRisers Hyderabad. During the game, Vijay Shankar was hit in the face by a throw from KXIP fielder Nicholas Pooran while the SRH batsman was reaching the crease to complete a run. “The game has become faster but is it getting safer? Recently we witnessed an incident which could’ve been nasty. Be it a spinner or pacer, wearing a helmet should be mandatory for batsmen at professional levels,” said Tendulkar along…

Fanaticism about EPL led to Rangers’ demise? ESHLIN VEDAN SOUTH African Football Association (Safa) technical committee member and head of high performance for the South African Football Coaches Association, Sudesh Singh, believes that given the raw natural talent and rich diversity of South Africa, the national men’s football team can re-establish itself as a giant within African football. South Africa has struggled to compete with other African powerhouses since 2005. The only World Cup which it has played in since then was the 2010 edition, into which it had automatic qualification by virtue of being the host nation. “One aspect I feel we need to improve on is our quality of coaching at all levels of the game, as we need a new breed of coaches who are critical thinkers,…

Facebook tributes to Ashveer Sukwa • Shameen Thakur Rajbansi (MF leader): Aum Sadgati to a son in our family. This brutal murder is too tragic when it occurs in one’s family. Our farmers are robbed of yet another lifelong farmer in the North Coast. Farmer murders must stop. The perpetrators are none other than workers who kill the goose that lays the golden egg or bite the very hand that feeds them. Will land reform really heal the wounds and divisions being created in our country currently with rising farmer murders? I call on the Hon MEC of Safety and Security and the MEC of Agriculture to at least visit the home and (pay) their respects. Our people now need to protest in droves about farmer murders, and our Hon…

Online ethics course aimed at slashing corruption JANINE MOODLEY AN ONLINE ethics course for state employees aims to eradicate future acts of unethical behaviour. This is according to Senzo Mchunu, the Minister of Public Service and Administration, regarding an ethics in the public service online course. The course is offered by the National School of Government (NSG) and is compulsory for all government officials. In an interview with the POST, Mchunu said ethical conduct and organisational integrity were key in eradicating fraud and corruption in the public service. He said the course would assist in equipping public officials with the skills and competencies to make ethical decisions and to develop organisational integrity. The NSG developed the course in partnership with the Department of Public Service and Administration and the Office…

Baijnath is a Rising Star, makes history THANDEKA MGQIBI BIOANALYTICAL scientist Dr Sooraj Baijnath made history when he won the international 2020 Bioanalysis Rising Star Award. The honorary research fellow in University of KwaZulu-Natal Discipline of Pharmaceutical Sciences is the first African to win the prize. He was nominated by Dr Sanil Singh, a vet, who he regards as his mentor. Baijnath competed against young scientists from the US, the UK, India and China. He said he was overwhelmed by the support he received after he won. “I usually go about my business quietly in my little corner in the lab. I am not really one for much show. But it has been touching to see the number of likes, shares and votes that I have received, especially the comments…

Indian settlers displayed initiative DUNCAN DU BOIS Supplied WITHIN 10 years of the arrival of the first indentured Indians in Natal, a quiet socio-economic transformation commenced. Having completed their indenture contracts, they became commercial pioneers to the extent that in 1875 Sir Garnet Wolseley, the Administrator of Natal, said that “without Indians the commerce of Natal would languish and its revenue would be seriously reduced”. Released from toil in the cane fields and with few desiring to return to India, the majority lost no time in generating an independent living. Following the suspension of indentured immigration between 1866 and 1874 and with African labour in short supply, there was great scope for Indian employment and endeavour. Some hired themselves out as cooks, laundrymen, artisans or domestic servants. In 1874, the…

EDITOR’S VIEW SA must live frugally, for children’s sake NOVEMBER marks 160 years since Indians first arrived to work on the sugar cane fields of KwaZulu-Natal. Those who left India did so in search of better opportunities. They knew it would not be easy. But they were prepared to make sacrifices, so that their children would be better off. This month, as we reflect on this milestone, we should consider the future we are bequeathing to our children. The future was sketched by Tito Mboweni, our Finance Minister, when he recently updated the country on the state of our finances. While our forefathers lived frugally, we are living beyond our means. To afford our lifestyle, our country has to borrow R2.1billion every day. To put this into context, 2.1billion seconds…

Law should not be biased THE government has reprimanded Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, for allowing several members from the ANC to join her on an official visit, using an aircraft from the SA Air Force. A statement from the presidency said that she did not act in the best interest of governance. In a recent parliamentary session, parliamentarians said that the minister misused state resources and would thus have her salary docked for three months starting in October. The docked funds will be utilised in the country’s battle against the coronavirus pandemic. Mapisa-Nqakula is facing pressure from opposition parties to resign despite the ANC stating that it would resolve the excess costs from the error of judgment in using the aircraft. No one should be…

We are sitting ducks in SA’s killing fields An open letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa MR PRESIDENT, in reading, you might have in your duties and responsibilities as the first citizen of South Africa, stumbled upon an article or perhaps it was brought to your attention about the killing of one of our mothers. Sukdey Ramataur, 85, of Dundee, according to the article, “Killed in her wheelchair” (the POST, October 21-25), had her leg amputated two years ago. Her killers repeatedly stabbed her with a knife and ultimately took her last God-given breath away. What has happened is revolting, unforgivable, unnecessary and unacceptable, given that the poor soul could not even move from her wheelchair. The incident happened in her husband’s presence and he was unable to defend himself. I…

Can Reddy extend his sell-by date? FOR those who want to know how Visvin Reddy became the leader of the African Democratic Change (ADeC) overnight – the party is already listed on the ballot papers – here is interesting information. The party was formed in 2017 by Makhosi Khoza, a former ANC MP. She resigned in 2018 and handed over the reins to Moses Mapekiso. The party formed a coalition with the Dagga Party to fight the 2019 elections but it did not gain a single seat. And so, Reddy gets to be the president of ADeC – with his eye on the local government elections next year. If he wins a ticket into local government, he can throw away his loudhailer act screaming for lower fuel prices and look…

Critical factors for matric results FAMILIES are facing uncertain futures with job losses, and matric pupils are facing the greatest challenge to get into a university. I wish all Grade 12 pupils the best for their exams. It takes determination, perseverance and sacrifice to overcome one of the greatest challenges that young people will face as they embark on a journey that will determine their future. Preparation and approach are critical factors in ensuring good results and, most importantly, eliminating anxiety and fear. This will establish a greater skill set for the future of the country. It will also help in retaining professionals in the future and to prevent them from seeking opportunities abroad. Corporate companies should take up a greater responsibility in offering more opportunities to students who have…

Confusion over festival dates resolved POST REPORTER MEMBERS of the priests’ council of the South African Hindu Maha Sabha recently met to discuss the confusion that arose regarding Hindu festival dates. The Sabha represents linguistic and ideological diversity in the Hindu sector. Lokesh Ramnath Maharajh, the head of the council, said sometimes there was confusion due to time- zone differences with India. “And other times, there are different interpretations of the scriptural principles to calculate festival dates. Krishna Ashtami 2020 and Navaratri 2020 were two examples of how different interpretations led to confusion among the Hindu public,” said Maharajh. “The council convened meetings of priests from the Gujarati, Hindi, Telugu and Tamil-speaking communities to discuss the different rules or principles influencing the calculation of festival dates. “The purpose was to…

King saluted for promoting peace IT IS INDEED breathtaking to note and experience this wonderful work of His Majesty, King Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu, and the Sivananda World Peace Foundation to promote peace, working together and instilling the spirit of charity in the hearts of the people. I have no doubt that this Diwali festival will provide a rare opportunity worldwide for the human race across colour, religion and ethnicity to exercise humanity towards each other to make this world a better place to live in. What delights me more about this festival is that this year’s celebration will also highlight the 160 years since the arrival of indentured labourers to the shores of KwaZulu-Natal, from India. This festival provides all of us an opportunity to learn more about the hardship and…

TV GUIDE WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 4 Cycling: La Vuelta a Espana, Stage 14: Lugo-Ourense (205.8km), 4.35pm, SSM, VR1 Hockey: FIH Pro League, Women: Belgium v Netherlands, 4.30pm, VR2; FIH Pro League, Men: Belgium v Netherlands, 7pm, ACT Soccer: Serie A: Genoa v Torino, 5.50pm, FTB; UEFA Champions League: Istanbul Basaksehir v Manchester United, 7.40pm, SSM, EPL; Zenit St Petersburg v Lazio, 7.50pm, VR1; Club Brugge v Borussia Dortmund, 9.55pm, VR3; Sevilla v Krasnodar, 9.55pm, LIG; Ferencvarosi v Juventus, 9.55pm, VR2; Chelsea v Rennes, 9.55pm, EPL; Barcelona v Dynamo Kyiv, 0.55pm, VR1, SSM; RB Leipzig v Paris Saint-Germain, 9.55pm, ACT Tennis: ATP World Tour Masters 1000: Rolex Paris Masters, Day 3,12 noon, TEN, GSD THURSDAY NOVEMBER 5  Cricket: Indian Premier League T20: Qualifier 1, 3.50pm, GSD, CRI Cycling: La Vuelta a Espana,…

SA FOOTBALLER JETS OFF TO SPAIN ESHLIN VEDAN TYRESE Pillay, pictured, is set to embark on a stint with Spanish Tercera Division (fourth-tier) side CD La Virgen del Camino from next month. “My eventual aim will be to use this as an opportunity to move up the ranks and eventually win a contract with a Spanish La Liga (top-flight) side,” said the 20-year-old, who is adept in playing in a variety of attacking positions. “I know it will be tough but it is such a great opportunity. I will have to make my parents proud,” he said. Pillay previously travelled to Spain in 2018 to attend club trials. During this time, he had the opportunity to train with the reserve side of Spanish side Leganés. “The academies are worlds apart.…

Higgo climbs rankings SOUTH AFRICA’S Garrick Higgo on Monday rose to a career-high 94th in the world golf rankings. The 21-year-old finished tied third in the Cyprus Open on Sunday, on 18-under – two behind England’s Callum Shinkwin, who claimed the title. In just his second year as a professional, the talented left-hander has already earned an incredible R5 029 603, in 10 events on the European Tour this season. The GolfRSA National Squad member won in just his seventh start on the European Tour when he captured the Open de Portugal at Royal Obidos in September. Before his success in Europe, Higgo had already won twice on the South African Sunshine Tour and once on the Big Easy IGT Challenge Tour. His two wins on the Sunshine Tour last…

IPL FINDS LIKE the previous 12 IPL seasons, the present edition too has unearthed a plethora of young Indian cricketers --Devdutt Padikkal, Rahul Tewatia, Ravi Bishnoi, T. Natarajan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh --who have caught the eye and promised to make it big sooner or later. Some other youngsters like Kartik Tyagi, Tushar Deshpande, Riyan Parag, Priyam Garg, and Abdul Samad, too impressed in the limited opportunities they got. These players also hold promise and going forward they would carry the rich experience of playing against and with stalwarts in the Indian Premier League in the United Arab Emirates. Overall, the IPL, in its 13-year history, has never been so closely fought. Every franchise has spent considerable time in evaluating and analysing their squad and all of them…

Retired principal robbed, bound, left in bathtub CHARLENE SOMDUTH A RETIRED school principal spent more than 24 hours in her bathtub, bound and gagged, following a robbery at her home in Woodhurst, Chatsworth. Dolly Roopnarian, 81, the former principal of Redfern Primary School in Phoenix, is now recovering in hospital. She sustained cuts to her wrists from the cable ties. Sadha Roopnarian, a family spokesperson, said he became concerned when his phone calls to her on her landline and cellphone went unanswered on Saturday morning. Sadha then contacted his nephew, Viren Roopnarian, who lives in Kharwastan, to check on her. “She lived alone. Even when she missed a call, she always called back. When Viren got to the house, he called out to her but there was no answer. The…

IFP chairperson welcomes new members CHANELLE LUTCHMAN CONSIDER the IFP your home. That was the message to the Indian community after the IFP welcomed five new members. On Friday, the party, led by its founder and former president, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, announced its plans ahead of the national and local government elections. Thami Ntuli, the IFP KwaZulu-Natal provincial chairperson, said he was pleased to welcome new members from the Indian community. He said Buthelezi held the Indian community in high regard. Jonathan Annipen, former eThekwini councillor with the Minority Front; Yusuf Mohammed Essack, a legal consultant; Yacoob Mansoor, former ANC member from Isipingo; Valla Pillay, an Isipingo resident; and Toney Pillay, a former DA member and ex-chairperson of the Croftdene Civic Association, were introduced as new members on Friday. Ntuli…

Final push for Class of 2020 Some anxiety among pupils ahead of the largest exams administered in the country THANDEKA MGQIBI FROM this week, Grade 12 pupils will write the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination with English, Afrikaans and Indian language subjects, including Tamil, Telugu and Gujarati. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown, the Department of Education postponed the June exams and has combined it with the final exams. This combined exams makes it the largest public examination that has been administered in the country. According to the Education Department, 1 058 699 candidates are expected to sit for the exams. This includes part-time candidates who did not meet the pass requirements in the 2019 final exams, as well as those who sought to rewrite to improve their…

Indentured brought craft skills to SA Bamboo basket was symbol of economic freedom A CLOSE reading of the Protector of Immigrants files suggests that 60% to 70% of the indentured workers who came to South Africa from 1860 to 1880 worked in the labour-intensive sugar-cane plantations. Plantation workers were often overworked – working for as many as 18 hours a day during the crushing and planting seasons. There is evidence in the Protector files to suggest that overwork, malnourishment and squalid living conditions formed the pattern of daily life for most agricultural workers. By the 1880s, there were considerable numbers of free Indians in Natal in addition to the indentured. Many of these workers were employed in fields of labour beyond the sugar plantations. As agricultural workers, they were employed…

Man on trial for alleged murder of his wife State advocate questions the accused about his lack of emotion NADIA KHAN “EVERYONE grieves differently. You grieve differently, I grieve differently. I was in shock”. So said Chatsworth man, Navin Chanderlal, 54, in response to why he was unemotional following the death of his wife. Chanderlal, who is unemployed, is standing trial for the murder of Vathaniagee “Jennifer” Pillay, 65, a retired nurse and community activist. The mother of two was found dead on the bathroom floor of her home in Silver-glen on December 24, 2018. She shared the house with Chanderlal, whom she married in 2003. Chanderlal, who is represented by attorney Chris Gounden, was arrested in January 2019. At the start of the trial last month, he pleaded not…

Irate rape accused swears at judge JANINE MOODLEY CLOSING arguments are expected to be heard in the Durban High Court this week in the trial of a Verulam stepfather accused of rape. The defence finalised its case last Thursday after the 45-year-old accused lost his temper under cross-examination and swore at the judge and State advocate. He said he no longer wished to testify. Cheryl Naidu, a senior State advocate, was questioning the accused on allegations that he often wore woman’s underwear, which he denied. She then produced a photograph of the accused in what appeared to be white lacy underwear. He said it was boxers. Thereafter, he tried to question Naidu but Judge Mohini Moodley intervened. The accused then lashed out and said he had had enough of the…

The buzz about Queen Bees and their fight for the corporate throne In a patriarchal society, women – especially African women – must work harder than men for success DR ARADHANA RAMNUND-MANSINGH Pickpik. com GENDER parity in the workplace continues to be a challenge. The number of women in senior positions remains dismal. In a 2020 report on executive directors, PwC says that 19 JSE chief executives are women – just 6% of all chief executives. Including women at executive director level, the representation rises to 14%. In a country where women outnumber men, this is an indictment of South Africa’s ability to create opportunities for women to run large companies. Women are deliberately prevented from reaching the top by men. Despite all the efforts women make to advance their…

Not safe even in city hall I AM an executive member of the IFP Durban Metro. On October 28, I was attending a council meeting at the Durban City Hall. I was confronted on the staircase by two men with knives. I defended myself and the criminals walked away. I reported the matter to the caucus chair and was asked to report the matter to the police. I reported the incident to Durban Metro Police HOD Steve Middleton, who was remorseful and asked the relevant departments to ensure that police were deployed in the vicinity of the city hall. My concern is that councillors attending important meetings are not safe in the vicinity of the city hall. How safe are our streets? The IFP Durban Metro District is asking the…

‘Macron is a misguided hypocrite’ THE history of the French foreign policy is enmeshed in shameful hypocrisy for over 80 years. During the 1954 to 1962 war, they killed 1.5 million Algerians in the quest for imperial domination. During July 1942, at the Vel d’Hiv round-up, 13 000 Jews were seized by French authorities and sent to Nazi gas chambers. France in defiance of world opinion tested atomic weapons in the atmosphere until 1974. In defiance of the UN, it supplied Mirage warplanes to apartheid South Africa. It’s global hypocrisy and double standards defy logic and sanity. The continued hurtful slander and mockery launched against Prophet Muhammed will never tarnish his legacy to mankind. Prophet Muhammad was indeed the mercy to all mankind. He was gifted with mighty powers of…

Your Stars SHARRON DUFF Aries (March 21 – April 19 This week is all about connections, whether it is a love connection or great friendships. If you have been feeling lonely or disconnected, put yourself out there to attract and broaden your social circle. If you are already in a relationship, use the energies this week to strengthen your bond. Lucky colour: orange. Taurus (April 20 – May 20) When meeting new people, be aware that things are not always how it seems and it is important to rely on your intuition. If something feels off, then there is a good chance that it is. You may get some great social invites. Step out of your comfort zone and spread your wings. You never know what’s coming your way. Lucky…

Diwali feast Kreolin Govender and Eugene Ramcharan, founders of SomethingSweet, an online bakery and confectionery business in Durban, share recipes for their favourite traditional sweetmeats. Follow them on www. somethingsweetdbn.co.za, Facebook and Instagram: @somethingsweet.dbn Burfee 1¼ cups water 1 cup sugar 1 tsp cardamom/elachi powder 500g milk powder 175g dessert cream 200g almond powder 20g butter Mix the dessert cream and milk powder together to resemble crumbs. Allow to dry for 45 to 60 minutes. Sift or pulse in a food processor until it resembles fine crumbs. Combine the water and sugar. Bring to a boil to form a syrup. Add the butter and the cardamom/elachi and almond powders to the syrup. Reduce the heat and add the dessert cream and milk powder mixture. Mix until smooth and allow to…

Park lights up for festival NADIA KHAN SIBONELO NGCOBO African News Agency (ANA) and Supplied THE rain did not keep visitors away from the Green Diwali Festival at Durban’s Mitchell Park over the weekend. This year’s theme was job recreation using recycled material. On Friday night, the park was transformed into a fantasy land of lights, keeping with the theme of being ecofriendly during Diwali. Visitors were entertained by instrumental and multicultural music and a heritage cooking demonstration. They were also shown how to make a gudri (handmade quilt). Among the stallholders was Tristal Kiara Kuppan, 21, of Chatsworth, who sold home-made body scrubs. “I have three different types of body scrubs. They are made from natural ingredients such as coffee, coconut oil, honey, turmeric and sugar. Each scrub is…

THE RACEGOER Punters deserve a ‘KISS’ ANDREW HARRISON IN the days of yore, runners in a Novice or Graduation Plate all carried the same weights regardless of their merit ratings – MR’s none existent at the time. One-time winners carried so much, two-time winners so much. The best rated did not always win but at least punters were served up a possible banker in their exotics and a decent horse could progress to a point where it was not ‘handicapped’ out of winning another race. So now we have ‘Conditional’ Novice and Graduation Plates where weights are allocated according to merit rating ‘bands’. The handicapping system in South Africa has become such a complicated affair that it is little wonder that trying to get new punters into the sport is…

Leeds boss sets sights on Europe LEEDS United owner Andrea Radrizzani, pictured, said he is proud to have helped the club rebuild its reputation from their ‘Dirty Leeds’ days to becoming a favoured team of many young fans in the UK. The club enjoyed great success under manager Don Revie in the 1960s and 1970s but were often criticised for their physical approach on the pitch, with Brian Clough describing them as “the dirtiest, most cynical team in the league”. Under current coach Marcelo Bielsa, however, the club have won plaudits for their high-octane pressing game and secured a return to the Premier League in July for the first time since 2004. “Recently I’ve seen on social media … about how Leeds became a second team for many youngsters in…

getting HOOKED Top tips to target poenskop, coppers and hammerheads THE sea has been a bit bumpy with the more prevalent north-east wind but there are more summer fish being landed every day. The North Coast is seeing quite a lot of summer fish in the catch reports. Dorado have been the main target for the early summer game fish but most of the anglers have returned with tuna in the hatch. Trolling lipped lures has been the most productive method this past week. Lipped lures with a purple or pink colour are the most successful lures for both tuna and dorado. Tinley Manor has been a very productive spot this week with plenty of successful reports coming from there. The Durban coast has seen a bit of action with…

MARADONA IN HOSPITAL FOOTBALL legend Diego Maradona, who recently turned 60, has been admitted to a hospital in Argentina, reports Ians Maradona has been reportedly taken to the Ipensa clinic in La Plata, about an hour from Buenos Aires. Goal.com quoted one of the local media outlets as reporting that his condition is not serious and is not related to Covid-19 as he had tested negative for the coronavirus in recent days. Maradona, who coaches Gimnasia y Esgrima, was last seen in public last Friday and he was presented with a commemorative plaque ahead of his side’s game with Patronato. In January last year, he was admitted to hospital with internal bleeding in the stomach, while he fell ill at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Widely rated as one of…

Calvert-Lewin keeps on scoring ESHLIN VEDAN LIVERPOOL moved to the top of the Premier League standings following a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over West Ham. With the score square at 1-1 deep in the second half, Reds manager Jurgen Klopp pulled off a tactical masterclass by introducing attackers Xherdan Shaqiri and Diogo Jota as substitutes. The duo combined to create Liverpool’s 85th minute winner, which was scored by the latter. Everton’s 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United saw the Toffees drop to fourth place on the standings, behind Liverpool, Leicester – who beat Leeds 4-1 on Monday – and Tottenham. The only consolation which the Toffees can take from their loss is the fact that Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored a consolation in second half stoppage time. The striker has scored eight goals from…