Table of contents for 2024-08-07 in Post

A MARBLE memorial bust of Dr Kesaveloo Goonrathnam Naidoo, fondly known as Dr Goonam, will be unveiled on National Women’s Day on Friday. The unveiling is a collaborative effort by the Mount Edgecombe Hindu Trust, the Shri Mariammen Temple Society, and the Mount Edgecombe Arts and Cultural Council. The idea to have a bust in memory of Dr Goonam was the brainchild of Seelan Achary, the chairperson of the Shri Mariammen Temple, and the late playwright, Ronnie Govender. “In 2018, Ronnie and I discussed the idea. He said he wanted to do something to honour Dr Goonam. “The idea for the bust was in the pipeline but we had some delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the July 2021 unrest and the floods. It was decided that we should unveil…

Karan Johar’s film production brand Dharma Productions, usually associated with soppy romances and family dramas such as Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, presents this ultra-violent action thriller that’s daringly different. Following the critical acclaim and box office success of Animal, Bollywood is more at ease with producing gruesome and action-packed entertainers. Johar too, opts for a similar and no-holds barred treatment of an ordinary love story, which excels mostly due to the high pitch and dynamic execution of action sequences. Plot Army commando Amrit (Lakshya) boards a night train to New Delhi to rescue his girlfiend Tulika (Tanya Maniktala) from an arranged marriage against her will. The feared gang of bandits led by Fani (Raghav Juyal) begin to terrorise the innocent passengers on the train, pushing…

I HOPE you are not hungry. I promise you will feel like snacking as you reach the end of this column. I must confess to a weakness. It’s for something that’s usually crispy, has a sweet-salty taste, lots of green and red chillies, chopped spring onion and aniseed. It is traditionally prepared for South Indian religious occasions and is at its best made from freshly-ground pea dhal. If you guessed vades, then you scored a hole in one. Now let me set the record straight; I grew up in a family steeped in Tamil tradition and practices, but more especially as I have previously stated, we Devans know how to cook. So, you better know that I am extremely picky when it comes to vades as I was gifted to…

THE construction of the 1860 indentured monument to commemorate the arrival of Indian labourers on South African soil, was at an advanced staged and was expected to be completed in the 2024/25 financial year, the KZN Department of Sports, Arts and Culture said on Monday. This statement comes amid ongoing objections to the design, which has been described as an “arch of unity bell tower”. November 16 will mark the 164th anniversary since the first group of Indians landed in Durban aboard the SS Truro from Madras, to work in the sugar cane plantation of the then Port-Natal. Ntando Mnyandu, the department’s media liaison officer, said the process to erect the monument was under way. “The only snag is the accessibility of the site where the monument is to…

AS A mother of a matric pupil, I recently experienced the whirlwind of excitement and emotions that accompanies the matric dance. It is as much of a memory for the parents as it is for the kids. It starts with the anticipation of asking a partner to the dance, often accompanied by a thoughtful gift, and quickly escalates to the preparation of the perfect outfit and the quest for a memorable ride to the event. Exciting for many but for some parents who are financially strained, it can be a burden that is difficult to bear. The pressure to keep up with peers and the desire to create a magical night can weigh heavily on both pupils and parents. Witnessing my son’s matric dance first hand, I was filled with…

IN 1995, as a young graduate, entering the field of law and eagerly anticipating obtaining a position as a candidate attorney, I got a rude awaking to the fact that we were not all equal, and women were handicapped by gender. It was post-apartheid, and I went into the legal fraternity with rose-tinted glasses in the hope that I was invincible. The reality was that after 100 job applications that were turned down because I was a woman, who had the potential to marry, have children, become ill, or have family responsibilities, this posed a liability to any prospective employer. I was offered a secretarial position and told by the senior attorney of the firm, I looked the part. Being a woman posed challenges I never anticipated and it was…

THE above metaphoric sonnet was written by John Donne in the 1600s. It has much meaning as does the following one from the Bible book of 1st Corinthians: “Death where is thy sting?” Both quotations openly challenge the subject of death as if it is a real-life character. No pun intended. However, death is a reality and not to be taken lightly or mocked. This issue of death hit me hard in the solar plexus last week when my gracious father-in-law sadly shuffled off this mortal coil after an extended illness. He had enjoyed a full life, having travelled extensively locally and abroad and through sheer dint of hard work built up an impressive portfolio of properties, having been a building contractor himself. This noble soul accepted me into his…

HIS book name is Thanasagren (Sagren) Rubbanathan Moodley and his stage name is Karou Charou While he nudges the boundaries of persiflage with daring nuances, many have discounted his stage antics as poppycock trash, but behind the salty and idiomatic language lies a well-muscled mind. Now there’ a new tiger in town. The last great Indian leader in local politics was the late Amichand Rajbansi, affectionately known as The Bengal Tiger who passed on in 2011. He was a fearless advocate for the rights and representation of the Indian community. Since then, we have been starved of a legitimate leader, one without a mask. Our last two members of Parliament at national level, Pravin Gordhan and Ebrahim Patel, are now relics gone to pasture. And by fluke of the Government…

“WHO was looking after his ailing mother when he was on vacation?” This was a question posed by uMlazi Court magistrate Z Ngcobo before denying Ramith Aneerudh bail last week. Aneerudh, 38, of Newlands West, is accused of attempting to kill his wife, Sarika Bridgmohan. He and his co-accused Deon Tyler Naidu, 46, of Umzinto, and Kyle Goldstone, 37, of Ifafa Beach, were arrested for allegedly kidnapping, robbing and attempting to kill Bridgmohan earlier this year. They were charged for conspiracy to commit murder, kidnapping, attempted murder, and robbery with aggravating circumstances. Aneerudh and Goldstone were nabbed in Coffee Bay, Eastern Cape, on April 16. Naidu was also denied bail. He was arrested by the investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Kenneth Khanyase, of Amanzimtoti SAPS, at a house in Umzinto…

Some fans and critics may view Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s selection as the starting flyhalf for the Springboks against Australia on Saturday as a risk, but not Rassie Erasmus. The Stormers playmaker may be just 22 and only have four Test caps to his name, but the Bok coach has confidence that Feinberg-Mngomezulu can handle the expected Suncorp Stadium cauldron in the Rugby Championship opener in Brisbane (6.30am start, SA time). Feinberg-Mngomezulu was chosen yesterday ahead of double World Cup-winning pivot Handré Pollard – who is on the bench. The Boks don’t have a good record in Australia, especially Brisbane, where they have lost four Tests in a row since the emphatic 38-12 victory in 2013. But Feinberg-Mngomezulu will hope to conjure up a performance for the ages against a Wallaby team…

THE Olympic golf event proved exciting this past Sunday with many names having a chance to win gold. Jon Rahm had the tournament in the bag, but suffered a terrible collapse in the last eight holes to hand Scottie Scheffler his first gold medal at the Olympics. The prize money is much less compared to the earnings they make in normal PGA Tour events, making this event the epitome of national pride. Scottie played some amazing golf on the back nine to equal the course record, hitting fairways and making bridies, while Rahm made bogeys. It was a very demanding course that required you to hit fairways to give yourself an opportunity to make birdies or pars to keep a good score going. In recent years, the driving iron and…

TATJANA Smith, South Africa’s most-decorated Olympian, is hoping to use her experience on the global stage to guide the careers of future swimming stars after calling it quits in Paris. Smith bowed out with gold in the 100m breaststroke and silver in the 200m breaststroke. Now, at the still tender age of 27, she is planning a career out of the pool. Smith said that while she is looking forward to adjusting to a less-regimented life, she is already sketching out a role in athlete representation. “I’d love to do that. Especially in South Africa, we don’t have anyone that really truly represents swimmers, understands how we think as swimmers,” she said. Smith is motivated to help the next generation reach the top, and is acutely aware of the obstacles…

500g butter, salted ¾ cup icing sugar 1 large egg yolk 2 tsp vanilla essence 1 tbs brandy 5½ cups cake flour 1 cup flaked almonds, lightly roasted 2 cups icing sugar, for dusting the cookies Preheat the oven to 170ºC. Line two large pans with baking paper and set aside. Beat the room temperature butter and icing sugar in a stand mixer or a hand mixer for approximately 10 minutes. The mixture should be light and fluffy. Add the egg yolk and mix. Mix in the vanilla essence and brandy. Roast the almonds on the stove top until slightly brown. Crush them a little with your hands and add to the mixture. Add the flour, a little at a time, until a soft and pliable dough is formed.…

ACCESS to “functional fire hydrants” was one of the challenges firefighters faced during a blaze on Saturday afternoon, which left seven businesses destroyed at an industrial complex in Willowton, Pietermaritzburg. The other challenges included a lack of water, and insufficient manpower, vehicles and equipment. The Msunduzi Municipality confirmed that the fire started at a shoe factory then spread to other premises on Manchester and Failsworth roads. This included a tyre shop and a warehouse. “Access to functional fire hydrants was also a challenge for teams as the nearest working hydrant was 200 metres away from the incident zone,” said Ntobeko Ngcobo, a municipal spokesperson. She said the emergency services unit immediately responded to the fire at about 5.30pm. “A team of 20 firefighters was dispatched to the scene with two…

“INNI, we are independent!” My 26-year-old cousin chanted from Shahbagh, a neighbourhood in Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka, as millions joined a major protest march on Monday to Parliament House. Soon after, social media was flooded with news of “a new independence” – a free Bangladesh reborn after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the autocratic leader for more than 15 years, fled the country in the face of defiant public demand for her resignation. It was the startling culmination of weeks of unrest that resulted in some 300 deaths and thousands of arrests. Now, the youth who instigated the protests have a real opportunity to contribute to the political discourse in a previously discriminatory system of government. Will the interim government listen and bring real change to the country? What has been happening…

IF MEMORY serves me well, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had a fat lot to say about the attempted assassination on Donald Trump during his US Congress address. He said that the attack on the president was an attack on “democracy and our democratic process, and we will not and do not tolerate political violence of any kind”. Less than two weeks after his emphatic denouncement, Israel authorised a strike that killed Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Israel constantly draws red lines for everyone else to follow and has made it clear that it creates and changes the rules of engagement as it sees fit. But dare it get a taste of its own medicine? The tit-for-tat rule does not exist in Israel. Interestingly enough, what it fails over…

KAMALA Harris could be on the threshold of making history. If she becomes the next president after Joe Biden, it would be one of the biggest upsets in US history with the world’s biggest superpower ruled by a woman for the very first time since independence. The founding fathers of the US nation, like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, would never have dreamt that one day their beloved America would not only be governed by a female president but also by a black, Asian-American woman. They could be having nightmares in their graves. Kamala Harris is a mere stone’s throw away from reaching the White House. But standing in her way are two huge obstacles: Donald Trump and her own public image. Trump is conceited, arrogant, brash and…

POLICE are still searching for Rajathi Gnanaraj, who was kidnapped in Gqeberha on August 2. The 41-year-old was kidnapped outside her workplace in Deal Party on Friday at around 6pm. On Tuesday morning, the South African Police Service confirmed that Gnanaraj was still missing. Eastern Cape police spokesperson, Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg, said it was alleged that Gnanaraj and her husband were in their vehicle in Old Grahamstown Road when gunmen approached their car. “Approximately seven armed suspects approached their vehicle. When the victim refused to open her door, the suspects smashed the window. The suspects pulled the victim from her vehicle and into a silver Toyota Corolla. They drove off in the direction of New Brighton.” Police said the suspects then got into a red Haval and drove…

CHELSEA manager Enzo Maresca said Premier League clubs are having to sell academy players due to the league’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR). Chelsea have sold a slew of players who came through their academy over the past couple of years, with midfielder Conor Gallagher the latest to be linked with an exit to Spanish side Atletico Madrid. Gallagher, who has been at Chelsea since the age of 8, has a contract until next year, after which he could leave the club for nothing. With the sale of a player developed in the academy able to be marked as pure profit on a club’s books, some Premier League sides have looked at home-grown players as a source of revenue to help them limit losses. “But this is not Chelsea’s problem,…

THE Rage Community Outreach, which is committed to uplifting and supporting the community through various programmes, will host a Women’s Day event on Sunday at 10am at the Liberty Hall on 1 356 North Coast Road. “Our annual Women’s Day event is one of the many ways we show our appreciation for the strength and resilience of the women in our community where we will give back to them. This event is a cherished tradition of Rage Community Outreach,” said Petty Singh, the organisation’s secretary. “There will be live music courtesy of the talented Retro Vibes, inspirational speakers who will share empowering messages, and much more. “Each guest will receive a special goody bag, enjoy a delicious lunch, and stand a chance to win exciting prizes. The event is to…

Aurets is a healer, psychic medium, intuitive mentor, masseuse and regression therapist. She also teaches meditation and breath work. She is passionate about holistic care and offers a small range of holistic products. Aurets practises in the Upper Highway, KZN. Find her on https://www.facebook.com/healing 1920. Contact her at 079 356 4657 or theeternalbreath @gmail.com ARIES (March 21 – April 19) Doors will open. All the knowledge you require is within to fulfil your dreams. Release ego based fears; stepping into your divine path and leaping forward confidently. You are supported in new directions for new adventures. Be brave. Magic number: 5. TAURUS (April 20 – May 20) Trust softer surfacing emotions to build intuition with respect and honour as your true self; allowing yourself to evolve into…

125g or ½ cup butter, at room temperature 3 large eggs, at room temperature 1 cup castor sugar 1 tbs lemon zest 2 tbs fresh lemon juice 12/3 cups cake wheat flour ¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda ½ cup sour cream, at room temperature Preheat the oven to 180ºC. Grease a 22cmx11cm loaf pan with butter. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper. Sift the flour and bicarbonate of soda, and set aside. In a large bowl, beat the butter and sour cream together for at least 1 minute using an electric hand mixer. Rub the lemon zest into the sugar. Add it to the butter mixture and beat for 4 minutes, on medium speed, until light in colour. Add the eggs, one at a time. Mix…

Selvan Naidoo, the director and curator at the 1860 Heritage Centre, said following a community engagement process, he was approached to be a part of the current 1860 Commemoration Monument Committee, alongside other community members. “Following a series of meetings together with the KZN Department of Sports, Arts and Culture and the committee, ‘a call for public expression of concept’ advert was placed in relevant media houses. “However, given my research output and documentation of indentured history, together with my professional training as a fine artist, I requested to recuse myself from the committee as I expressed an intention to submit a concept design for consideration. “Once submissions were made, the 1860 Commemoration Monument Committee deliberated over several submissions and subsequently chose my concept design to be submitted to the…

NATIONAL Women’s Day falls on Friday which is a public holiday. While many South Africans will kick back and relax, enjoying an extended weekend, let’s not forget the true significance of August 9. Inaugurated in 1994 when South Africa attained democracy, Women’s Day celebrates the political strength, female solidarity and inner fortitude of 20 000 women who took part in the 1956 march led by Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Albertina Sisulu and Sophia Williams-De Bruyn, to protest against the racist law that required blacks to carry a “pass”, which restricted their free movement. There are many other brave women of South Africa who fought for freedom and were instrumental in the Struggle against apartheid. Women like Fatima Meer, Valliamma Munuswami Mudaliar, Ama Naidoo, Amina Cachalia, Dr Kesaveloo Goonaruthnum Naidoo and…

AUGUST is a special month. Let’s not forget the enormous contribution made by women and a reminder of what we can do to honour them. It is where we remember and pay tribute to all women who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our democracy. As we celebrate women’s strength and resilience, we must not forget that on August 9, 1956, about 20 000 brave women marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria. As a nation, we owe so much to them. These courageous women wrote the history books in our country. Many women still endure abuse and gender-based violence continues to soar. Many domestic violence cases are not reported because of fear and some of them are treated as unequal citizens. Let us all work together to ensure that…

MY RECENT letter, “Mind-boggling what ministers, deputies earn”, the POST, July 24-28”, refers. President Cyril Ramaphosa is the Robin Hood of modern times. He robs the poor to pay the rich. He has no conscience in awarding more than R200 000 per month to his ministers and deputy ministers. Where are the various political parties who were very vocal about a large Cabinet in the previous Parliament? They are conspicuous by their silence. Why will they object to such a large payment given to them, making the poor poorer by “legally stealing” our money? To the robbed people of South Africa, we must exercise our people’s power. Don’t attend any functions or meetings called up in the name of ministers or their deputies. Boycott them. We should not invite them…

A SHOCKING study by the Institute for Security Studies has revealed that in the past 12 months, the number of kidnappings in the country had increased by over 250%. The latest victim was Ashruf Kaka, a Gauteng businessman and attorney, who was kidnapped on July 5, outside a mosque in Helderkruin in Roodepoort. The Jable Nur Trust confirmed that Kaka, the chairperson of Safraaz Group, had been taken from outside its business premises but declined to comment further. National police spokesperson, Briga- dier Athlende Mathe, said Kaka had been rescued from a house in Lenasia, last Wednesday (July 31). Eight suspects were arrested, including three Tanzanian nationals who are suspected of being part of a transnational crime syndicate. Two suspects were arrested this month, while the other six suspects…

THOLSI Mudly, a Tongaat resident and chairperson of the oThongathi Museum Committee, said she was delighted and proud to know that the Sibhudu Cave had been declared a World Heritage Site. “I have been following reports about the Sibhudu Cave for many years. I am quite intrigued to know that one of the artefacts found was a cache of glass beads. “After investigations were done, some of these beads were found to be linked to Indians. This is fascinating as it shows that man has been travelling the world since time immemorial. “Furthermore, this wonderful news brings hope and positivity for Tongaat residents who have been thrown many challenges over the past few years. “It will also open up a whole new world for tourism in Tongaat. Locals will benefit…

Tyrone Pillay’s message on Facebook “The time has come to say goodbye. Deeply saddened by the fact that I can’t be included in team South Africa for the Paris Paralympics. “Was meant to be my 3rd & final game for team South Africa but it wasn’t meant to be. “I feel a lot of disappointment and sadness but I also feel I have given my all for the last 15 years and sometimes in life we don’t always have the fairy-tale ending that we want or expect. “I always dreamt of competing for my country from the time I was 3 years old and it’s all I ever wanted to do, so I got to live out my dreams and along the way I got to inspire and motivate others…

A DETERMINED group of women from Phoenix are gearing up to showcase their prowess in the third all-female soccer league tournament on Women’s Day at the Eastbury Indoor Courts. The all-women’s league, which started in 2002 and comprises 18 teams with just under 300 players, is divided into three leagues: primary school, high school and open league. Mimi Poonsamy, Chanell Heramanee and Jenine Rangana, who are part of the open league (18 and older), are doubling up their training ahead of Friday’s showdown. “The competition among the players can sometimes get intense,” said Poonsamy, one of the Phoenix Local Football Association’s (PLFA) women’s league coordinators. Poonsamy, 50, a South African Football Association (Safa) approved coach, plays and trains with Phoenix Rising FC. She plays in defense. The mother-of-one fell in…

COMING out of high school, Iqbal Khan began a career in freelance journalism, which included covering sport for Capital Radio. In January 1980, his journey into full-time mainstream journalism began when he first stepped into the offices of The Argus Group (now called Independent Newspapers). In a period spanning 35 years until the day he retired at the age of 65 on April 9, 2015, Khan was indelibly intertwined into the daily lives of all those who followed his reporting. He had a talent for finding a good story if there was one to be found, whether it was covering golf, cricket, soccer and rugby or other sports. Along the way, he interviewed numerous high-profile sportsmen and administrators. Among them were boxing Impresario Don King; champion boxer Larry Holmes; cricketers…

Another month under our belts and we are officially on the downslope of 2024! The fishing has been great this week, even with the colder weather. Up north, the rain has made for some colour lines around the river mouths. These conditions are brilliant for catching snapper salmon and kob. Paddle tails and chokka baits are the way to go for both of these species. There have been some early summer fish around so be prepared for some drag screaming! In the Durban area, stumpies, shad and snoek have been on the menu for the past week. The fishing along the beachfront and off the piers has been good. Cracker shrimp and prawn have been the best baits with chokka falling slightly behind. Remember you can fish these baits directly…