Table of contents for Wednesday, April 14, 2021 in Post

Maggots infest wound Upset family demand answers from hospital NADIA KHAN nadia.khan@inl.co.za Supplied RANI Nadesan was admitted to hospital because she had sores on her leg. But, given the treatment she received, she begged to be discharged. When she eventually returned home, her wound was infested with maggots. More than 10 years ago, Nadesan, 55, was diagnosed with osteoarthritis. Over the years, it became more difficult for her to walk. Her legs would often swell and she needed ongoing treatment. Nadesan lives in Canelands with her family. Her husband works as a part-time driver, and they have three children. Her sons, 36 and 26, have left home while her teenage daughter lives with her. Mary Naidoo, her sister, said that in February this year, Nadesan developed three blisters on her…

PRIMARY HEALTH CARE ON WHEELS Low-cost treatment for all on train CHANELLE LUTCHMAN chanelle.lutchman@inl.co.za SIBONELO NGCOBO African News Agency (ANA) RESIDENTS have until Friday to seek treatment aboard the Transnet-Phelophepa Healthcare Train. The train is the world’s first primary health-care hospital on wheels. It was open for consultations and treatment in Phoenix last week. The name – Phelophepa – combines elements of Sotho and Tswana and, roughly translated, means good, clean health. Avasha Gopaulsingh, spokesperson for the train in KwaZulu-Natal, said the service started 26 years ago. “Since then, it has grown significantly. It has 19 fully refurbished and equipped coaches that provide facilities for health, oral and vision-screening programmes, basic health education awareness and community counselling workshops. The train also has a pharmacy,” she said. Gopaulsingh said the staff…

CRISIS IN UGU DISTRICT DA alerts international advocacy groups CHANELLE LUTCHMAN chanelle.lutchman@inl.co.za THERE is a water crisis in the Ugu District Municipality, says the DA. The party has written to international advocacy groups such as UN Water, the World Bank, the World Water Council, and Amnesty International to alert them to this. Chris Pappas, a DA MP, said he wrote to them to raise human rights and constitutional issues relating to the lack of water supply to residents in the Ugu District which includes Scottburgh, Margate and Umzinto. Pappas said the decision was taken after the municipality ignored the DA’s requests for a multiparty meeting. “The DA’s request was made in writing to both premier, Sihle Zikalala, and Sipho Hlomuka, his Co-operative Governance MEC, with a warning and final demand…

GRATEFUL FOR COURT RULING Parents can now bury miscarriage babies NOKUTHULA MABUzA nokuthula.mabuza@inl.co.za KESHNIE Mathi was unable to give her son the funeral he deserved when she miscarried six years ago, and she has not come to terms with this. “I didn’t get a chance to bury my son Aaron, to hold him, or even to see him, although he would have been the size of a grapefruit,” said Mathi, 39, of Johannesburg. She said she was glad the Pretoria High Court had ruled last week that women who miscarried at 26 weeks or less of pregnancy could now bury their babies. The women would also be issued death certificates on request. In her ruling, Judge Nomonde Mngqibisa-Thusi said the previous Birth and Death Registration Act (Badra), which declared the…

DEBUT NOVEL Story inspired by own experiences LATOYA NEWMAN latoya.newman@inl.co.za ASHWIN Singh, an award-winning theatre practitioner, recently released his debut novel, Shooting. The launch came two weeks after it was announced that Singh – also an actor and film-maker – had one of his documentary films, The Cane Cutter’s Transcendence, selected for screening at an international film festival. Singh said Shooting was an adaptation of his play of the same title – which was staged to critical acclaim in Durban and at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival in 2010 and 2011, respectively. The one-man play was performed at that time by Dhaveshan Govender. In an interview with the POST, Singh said the book spanned a quarter of a century and traced the impact of a hard-won democracy on the lives…

COULD BE A COVID-19 SUPER-SPREADER EVENT OPINION Kumbh Mela will be a massive gathering TULASI SRINIVAS MASSIVE crowds are expected to gather at India’s northern city of Haridwar throughout April for the religious festival of Kumbh Mela, despite the country grappling with a Covid-19 surge. The Kumbh Mela is a Hindu pilgrimage held every 12 years at sacred tirthas, or river-ford sites, along the Ganges River in India. This year the government expects over a million pilgrims a day to bathe in the sacred river. More than 5 million people are expected per day on the most auspicious days – April 12, 14 and 21 – for a total of 100 million celebrants. As a scholar of Hinduism, I celebrate this peaceful mammoth congregation of humanity. Shaped by mythology, astrology and…

DEVOTEES MUST WEAR MASKS AT ALL TIMES Chatsworth temple will observe Kavady CHANELLE LUTCHMAN chanelle.lutchman@inl.co.za THE Montford Shree Siva Soobramoniar Temple in Chatsworth will observe Chitraparvum Kavady this month. Marlon Etty, the temple’s vice-chairman, said devotees would be allowed to participate and observe the Kavady at its premises. The flag hoisting, which will be done by members of the temple committee, will be on Saturday. The daily prayers will start at 6pm. “In order for us to have a safe Kavady, we have had to make a few changes to be within the sphere of the Covid-19 protocols and, more importantly, for us not to drop our guards during this pandemic. The devotees’ attendance numbers will be restricted,” said Etty. He said that on the main Kavady day, on April…

LOWER-CASTE GROUPS ACHIEVE CLOSE TO ZERO REPRESENTATION IN SENIOR ROLES Caste in India: ‘blind recruitment’ for civil service won’t fix the system “WHAT is your full name?” The question, when asked of an Indian is often intended to determine the respondent’s caste. In a society where rigid hierarchies run deep, the answer to an innocuous question can hold the key to many doors, especially when it comes to employment. Naming conventions in India are marked by explicit connotations of caste lineage and, at times, even the intricate details of subcategories within a caste group too. Today, names are typically shorter, with a first name and a surname which connote the caste group to which the person belongs. A draft report commissioned by the Indian Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment…

Impact of 4IR is a major concern DUE to the Covid-19 pandemic, it seems the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) has been slowed down. A recent study by Price Waterhouse Cooper (PwC) has reflected the concerns of many people with regard to the impact the 4IR would have on their working lives. Some fear that the advances in the world of technology and robotics will cost them their jobs. Others are more sceptical. Many want to advance their technological skills in order to cope with their jobs. The Covid-19 pandemic has seen many employees working from home, and this trend looks like the future norm with many companies. A good example of what could be the effects of the 4IR was my recent visit to Durban's Suncoast complex which experienced a…

Ramadaan reinforces morals THE Covid-19 pandemic is not over and it is too soon to believe that the coronavirus curve has been flattened. This is the second Ramadaan to take place under an unpleasant or cold environment created by the pandemic. However, values such as God-consciousness, increased prayers and the importance of self-control, spirituality, empathy and generosity towards the less privileged that Ramadaan teaches Muslims and promotes remains the same. The previous Ramadaan was unusual. With the lowered lockdown regulations and relaxations on communal worship, Muslims can, cautiously, easily satisfy Ramadaan commandments as prescribed by the Qur’an and practices of Prophet Muhammed. Sadly, difficult days are facing some Muslim communities as Islamophobia becomes more widespread in countries like France. Regrettably, some humans become less tolerant towards people of different religions,…

Concourt decision on Zuma misguided I WAS dumbfounded by the near-unprecedented direction of the Concourt in requesting that former president Jacob Zuma file an affidavit stating that if the court found him guilty of contempt, what he thought his punishment should be. This ruling not only borders on the ridiculous, but it waylaid the ultimate jurisdiction of legal power that the Concourt commands as the country’s last bastion of fair and accountable justice. Zuma, a private citizen, has shown disdain for the court. He has not only made scurrilous claims against judges – that they are in the pockets of politicians – but he also displayed disrespect for the rule of law. This was the rule of law that he once swore an oath to uphold to the best of…

DALE STEYN PLAYS BIG ROLE Sakariya’s rise to IPL stardom RAJASTHAN Royals pace bowler Chetan Sakariya has overcome many hurdles in his life like working at his uncle’s stationery shop while in school in lieu of money to cover his cricket expenses as his father couldnt afford equipment and coaching fees. Earlier this year, he and his family overcame the death of his younger brother, who had committed suicide. These have been harsh enough tests to endure early in life, especially for someone who’s just turned 23. So it wasn't surprising to see him maintain composure and calmness while bowling a series of slower balls in the last over on Monday night against Punjab Kings and deceiving the batsmen while conceding five runs and picking two wickets. RR director of…

ECONOMY NEEDS HOME FANS FOR LIONS TOUR SA Rugby lobbying hard for fans SOUTH Africa's economy is set to lose R6.6 billion ($453 million) if this year's British & Irish Lions tour goes ahead without fans. This is according to a study commissioned by SA Rugby, which admits it will "do anything" to get some supporters into stadiums. The Lions are set to tour South Africa for eight matches, including three tests against the world champion Springboks, between July 3-August 7, but at this stage games are scheduled to go ahead behind closed doors due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The pace of vaccination in Africa's most industrialised nation has been slow, with health experts, trade unions and businesses urging the government to speed up once more supplies become available. SA…

MOURINHO FIRED UP I always get fed, says Ole’s son after Spurs spat THE son of Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has weighed in on his father's spat with Tottenham Hotspur boss Jose Mourinho after the Norwegian coach said he wouldn't feed his son if he simulated an injury. The row erupted following Sunday's 3-1 win in the Premier League for United when Solskjaer senior criticised Spurs attacker Son Heung-min for exaggerating a blow to the face. United had a goal disallowed after Son appeared to be struck by Scott McTominay in the build-up, with Solskjaer saying afterwards that if his son, who plays for Kristiansund in his native Norway, went down the way Son did, he wouldn't feed him. That prompted an angry response from Mourinho, who said…

KWAZULU-NATAL SOCCER ON THE UP AmaZulu legends Govender and Pillay happy with team ESHLIN VEDAN eshlin.vedan@inl.co.za AMAZULU have been arguably the biggest success story in the DStv Premiership this season. After being perennial strugglers since the inception of the PSL, Usuthu find themselves second in the league standings under coach Benni McCarthy. When Sandile Zungu took over the ownership of the club prior to the start of the season, the businessman declared that he wanted the club to finish in the top four this season. This is something most fans and pundits alike thought was a little over-ambitious. As things stand, Usuthu have an outside chance of winning the league. They are six points behind log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns but have played two games more. The Durban club is also…

TRIAL WITHIN A TRIAL Alleged killers of a petrol station owner claim they were assaulted NADIA KHAN nadia.khan@inl.co.za DOCTOR NGCOBO African News Agency (ANA) Archives TWO men accused of killing a Durban petrol station owner claim they were assaulted at the time of their arrest and forced into signing statements. The allegations emerged at the start of the trial involving Menziwa Afrika Mdakane, 35, and Zakhele Dubazane, 32, both of Dobsonville in Soweto. They were arrested and charged for the killing of Kidesh Ramjettan outside his business, south of Durban, during August 2018. Ramjettan, a father of one, was in the parking lot of his Clairwood petrol station when a gunman walked up to him and shot him in the head. He died at the scene. Mdakane and Dubazane are…

CAGE FIGHTER ON TRIAL FOR WIFE’S KILLING Accused blames killing on intruder JANINE MOODLEY janine.moodley@inl.co.za IOL DOUBLE-murder accused Rameez Patel was unable to explain why the jacket he wore on the day his wife was killed, was moved. Patel was testifying in the Limpopo High Court, in Polokwane, where he is on trial for the murder of his 28-year-old wife Fatima, the mother of his three children. Fatima was shot in the face in their rented Nirvana, Polokwane, flat, in April 2015. Her skull and cheekbones were shattered. She was also strangled and her jaw had dislocated. Patel, a cage fighter-cum-businessman, has pleaded not guilty. He blamed the murder on an intruder. During his brother Razeen Patel’s evidence, it emerged that Patel had changed his clothing. Razeen said he believed…

’SITUATION IN LADYSMITH BECOMING UNTENABLE’ ‘Spare us water cuts during Ramadaan’ CHANELLE LUTCHMAN chanelle.lutchman@inl.co.za AN ATTORNEY, representing Muslim clients, wrote to the Uthukela District Municipality in Ladysmith last week requesting that frequent water disruptions be stopped during Ramadaan. Muslims will start the month-long fast, from dusk until dawn, today. The fast is a time of prayer, reflection and community. The residents have claimed that they have had frequent water disruptions over 10 years and they hoped there would be no further stoppages during Ramadaan. The letter, by attorney Anwar Jessop, said: “As you are aware, we have been experiencing water interruptions on a regular basis. We have been approached by members of the community who have requested us to address this letter to you. “We are instructed to inform you…

MUNICIPALITY ADDRESSES OUTAGE CONCERNS Verulam residents upbeat after supply crisis NADIA KHAN nadia.khan@inl.co.za RESOLUTIONS and plans to address the ongoing water outages in Trenance Park, Verulam, have been met with optimism. On Friday, members of the Trenance Park Water Crisis Committee, acting on behalf of the residents, met officials from the eThekwini Water and Sanitation (EWS) depot, in Ottawa. The POST reported last week that residents did not have water over the Easter weekend. They subsequently protested and set tyres alight outside the Trenance Park 3 reservoir on Madrona Drive on Easter Monday. At the meeting, the residents raised questions which included the reason for the recent water outages, the lack of communication between the residents and city officials, and the city’s long-term plans to avoid repeat occurrences. Mervin Govender,…

BELIEVED IN FREEDOM AND EQUALITY Stalwart was ‘courageous’ CHANELLE LUTCHMAN chanelle.lutchman@inl.co.za ROOPIE Bugwandeen, a Struggle stalwart and member of the ANC Women’s League, died in hospital on Sunday. Bugwandeen, 82, of Reservoir Hills, died following a fall in her home. She was married to Rabi Bugwandeen, also a Struggle stalwart. He died in 2001. In their early years, members of the Natal Indian Congress and the ANC sought refuge at Ashoka Hotel, in Reservoir Hills, which they owned. According to their friends, they were instrumental in founding the Reservoir Hills branch of the ANC. Shikar Bugwandeen, their eldest son, said: “Our mom was the glue that held everyone together. She was the backbone for us and also our pillar of strength. My mom taught us to do good. “On Sunday,…

SERIES ON COVID-19 Hope for children JANINE MOODLEY janine.moodley@inl.co.za A BOOk series titled Duma Says tells the story of Covid-19 through the eyes of impoverished children. The series by Nathi Ngubane has not only been endorsed by the national Department of Health but is also making an impact in the US. Ngubane, formerly of Mayville, in Durban, and now living in Protea Glen, Soweto, said he and his friend, Azad Essa, a US-based publisher, came up with the idea when the pandemic started. Ngubane said they saw a gap in representing marginalised children during the pandemic and they began working on the project. Ngubane said he met Essa in 2010, while he was at school. Essa’s mother was Ngubane’s teacher. “He gave me my first job as a professional cartoonist…

THANKSGIVING New year celebrations POST REPORTER THE new year for the Tamil-speaking community, referred to as Puthaandu, will be observed today (Wednesday). The Hindi-speaking community celebrated its new year on Monday and the Telegu-speaking community on Tuesday. “Puthu means new, and Aandu means year. Tamil-speaking people celebrate Puthaandu, which typically falls on April 14. People celebrate it to attract newer opportunities and to seek growth in their lives,”said Lokesh Maharajh, the chairperson of the Priests’ Council at the South African Hindu Maha Sabha. “New year’s day carries special importance for Hindus since it’s regarded as the day on which Lord Brahma created the universe. In many homes, the day begins with ritual showers with oil, followed by prayers. Some families traditionally gather to enjoy satvik feasts (free of meat and…

CUISINE CULTURE Celebrating the potato … a good curry’s chum YOGIN DEVAN Pixabay THE humble potato, the butt of countless jokes and erroneously blamed for weight gain, is to come into its own. The servile tuber – aloo in Hindi or uralaikilangu in Tamil – is to be honoured next month in an event that could eclipse President Cyril Ramaphosa’s dreary State of the Nation Address (Sona). An inaugural State of the Potato Industry Address (Sopia) is being organised for May 5 by Potatoes SA, the mouthpiece of the potato industry. This will form part of the organisation’s #WhenHopeWhispers campaign that aims to highlight the indomitable spirit and contributions of unsung heroes from the potato industry – producers, distributors, retailers, informal traders and consumers – during the Covid-19 pandemic. Sopia…

Don’t ignore terrorism in Mozambique AREN'T you worried? Islamic militants are right at our doorstep. Isis-backed Islamic militants and jihadists didn’t concern us much as they seemed so far away, spreading fear and mayhem in Nigeria, the horn of Africa and the volatile Middle East. Now they have moved down the east coast of the continent and are right next to us, Malawi and Zimbabwe, destabilising the oil and gas-rich northern Mozambique region. These insurgents have captured parts of the strategic town of Palma and killed dozens of people. Tourists fleeing from a hotel were ambushed by the militants. One South African was among the casualties. Islamic terrorists have found it easy to infiltrate Mozambique. The country has a long history of strife and instability – ever since it expelled…

LASHLEY DESTROYS MCINTYRE WrestleMania 37 a great success ESHLIN VEDAN eshlin.vedan@inl.co.za WITH the fitting tag line “back in business”, WWE WrestleMania 37 delivered to expectations. Not only did fans return to live action with over 50 000 in attendance over two days at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, US, but the matches also lived up to their star billing. Unlike in previous editions of the “grandest stage of them all” this year was different in that the good guys and fan favourites did not always win, making the event more memorable than in recent years. Night one featured Bobby Lashley defending his WWE Championship against Drew Mclntyre. Since he stopped caring about the public’s perception of him, Lashley’s career has gone to another level and he fully deserved…

KINGFISHER ENSURES BURNING REELS Far north is the coast for edibles THE shore anglers have reported mixed results of edibles and inedibles. The gullies are doing well for scratching and the points are throwing some bigger fish, pick your preference. Those looking for decent edibles along the lines of speckled snapper, stumpnose and kingfish should aim for the reef/ledges in the far north. The areas around Sodwana and Cape Vidal are the most productive for these fish during summer. The water is generally crystal clear, so you should fish the more turbulent waters or the darker hours of the day (dusk and dawn). In terms of baits, you can use prawn, chokka and fleshy fish baits. These areas can produce big inedibles as well, so do not fish too light…

COMMENT ENGLAND NEED TO SELECT LINGARD FOR EUROS ESHLIN VEDAN eshlin.vedan@inl.co.za THE American Major League Soccer (MLS) is often criticised by football fanatics because of its unorthodox American-style format which is different from the league formats used throughout Africa and Europe. However, the one idea other leagues can take from the MLS is the comeback player of the year award which honours a player who has overcome a career setback. Should that award exist in England there is no doubt that on-loan West Ham midfielder Jesse Lingard would be a frontrunner. Just four months ago, Lingard’s career was in limbo and seemingly over at a high level. He was a 28-year-old who was virtually written off by parent club Manchester United. It is a pity that Lingard’s remarkable rise will…

PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA TO MAKE THE FINAL DECISION Judges battle for ConCourt seats JANINE MOODLEY janine.moodley@inl.co.za EIGHT shortlisted candidates who are contesting for two seats in the Constitutional Court were interviewed by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) this week. The candidates are Judges Narandran Jody Kollapen, Dhaya Pillay, Bashier Vally, Fayeeza Kathree-Setiloane, Rammaka Steven Mathopo, David Nat Unterhalter, and Justice Mahube Betty Molemela. Advocate Alan Dodson was the only candidate who was not a sitting judge. The shortlisted candidates for other judiciary positions in the Supreme Court of Appeal, the Labour Court, and the high courts of KwaZulu-Natal the Eastern Cape, Free State, Northern Cape, North West, Limpopo and the Western Cape, will be interviewed from April 14 to 23. After the interviews, the JSC will deliberate on the candidates…

CALL FOR LIFE SENTENCE Miguel’s killer ‘showed no remorse’ JANINE MOODLEY janine.moodley@inl.co.za MOHAMMED Vahed Ebrahim, who kidnapped and murdered 9-year-old Miguel Louw, was cold, calculating and vicious. This was one of several submissions made by Kelvin Singh, a senior State advocate, during pre-sentence arguments in the Durban High Court on Monday. Ebrahim, who maintained his innocence from the start, was convicted of theft, kidnapping and premeditated murder in December last year. It emerged that he took the child after Miguel’s mother, Raylene Louw, rejected his romantic advances. Miguel, a pupil at Rippon Road Primary School in Sydenham, was last seen alive while in the company of Ebrahim in July 2018. Camera footage showed Ebrahim with Miguel at KFC and both of them later approaching a taxi. Miguel’s decomposing body was…

LEFT WITHOUT WATER FOR DAYS, WEEKS City ‘forgotten its priority, residents’ CHANELLE LUTCHMAN chanelle.lutchman@inl.co.za THE DA in KwaZulu-Natal has accused the eThekwini Municipality of not prioritising service delivery. Last week, some of the party members conducted oversight visits at the Springfield and Pinetown depots where materials are stored for plumbers contracted to the city. Mzamo Billy, a DA eThekwini councillor, said they visited the depots due to the number of water-related complaints from residents. “These complaints are not being resolved, leaving residents without water for days and even weeks. What we came to witness is shocking. In the Springfield and Pinetown depots, the shelves, which are supposed to have material to help plumbers fix leaks and burst pipes in the city, are empty. “The biggest challenge is the serious shortage…

SAFETY FEARS Seven Tanks farmers in long wait for homes CHANELLE LUTCHMAN chanelle.lutchman@inl.co.za FAMILIES living in the Seven Tanks community in Silverglen Nature Reserve in Chatsworth have grown tired of the government promising them homes. About 30 families, who are mainly small-scale farmers growing vegetables and herbs which they sell for as little as R5, live in wood-and-iron homes. In May 2018, the families came under attack by land-grabbers who wanted to build homes on the property. The invaders pegged the land around their homes, indicating where they intended to build. They also threw rocks at the community and petrol-bombed some of the wood-and-iron homes. At the time, the community said this was an attempt to force them out of their ancestral homes. They said their ancestors, who arrived from…

ADVENTURES AND CHALLENGES Medical school life revealed NADIA KHAN nadia.khan@inl.co.za ASHIQ Pramchand, a final year medical student, takes readers into his adventures, experiences and challenges in his debut book, The Great Medical Student Odyssey. Pramchand, 23, of uMhlanga, said the book reflected his experiences that have shaped his understanding of health and society. He shared some of the moments that have transformed him. “The book explores my incredible adventure and the harsh realities of medical students in South Africa.” Pramchand, a sixth-year student at the University of kwaZulu-Natal’s Nelson R Mandela School of Clinical Medicine, said he started writing the book in his second year. The self-published book was completed last month. “Many years ago, a good friend from Iowa in the US wrote a book. I realised then that…

WEBINAR Professor to share his expertise on Ramayan POST REPORTER ON MONDAY, Hindus began observing Ramayan Week, which will culminate in the celebration of Sri Ram Naumee on April 21. On April 17 at 2pm, the South African Hindu Maha Sabha will host a webinar on the Relevance of the Ramayan in the 21st century. The keynote speaker will be Anantanand Rambachan, a professor of religion at Saint Olaf College in Minnesota in the US. The webinar will be streamed live on the Sabha’s Facebook page. Rambachan, a scholar on Hindu scriptures, wrote Accomplishing the Accomplished: The Vedas as a Source of Valid Knowledge in Shankara and The Limits of Scripture: Vivekananda’s Reinterpretation of the Authority of the Vedas, among other books. His scholarly interests include the Advaita (non-dual) Vedanta…

Editor’s View Chief Justice’s game-changing move WE KNOW that former president Jacob Zuma enjoys a game of chess and, by most accounts, he is a fairly accomplished player. Over the years, Zuma has played a strategic game against his opponents, using every tactic possible to protect himself. However, a few days ago Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng made a move that caught almost everyone by surprise. Justice Mogoeng wrote to Zuma regarding his refusal to co-operate with the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into allegations of state capture, corruption and fraud in the public sector, including organs of state. Zuma refused, despite being ordered to appear and testify at the Zondo commission by the Constitutional Court. The chief justice asked the former president for his input on what sentence he should receive…

Veteran activists continue to defend democracy THE rise of mass democratic movements has brought some governments to their knees. However, in some countries like Belarus, Hong Kong and now Myanmar, military action and police intervention are quelling growing dissatisfaction with disregard for the sanctity of human life. In South Africa, we are fortunate that such movements gain momentum unhindered, become legitimate, and are eventually heard and given a seat at the bargaining table. This highlights that constructive dialogue can bring about solutions. It is encouraging that some old struggle stalwarts have come out, together with the leaders of several religious, business, labour organisations and civil society, to launch a campaign to Defend our Democracy. The key issues are Jacob Zuma’s defiance of a Constitutional Court (Concourt) ruling and corruption in…

India, Pakistan and common ground PEOPLE in the Indian community around the world need to take account of the fact that India was partitioned for religious reasons. As one who lectured in the department of science of religion at the University of Kwazulu-Natal, my studies long informed me that the search for common ground that is being discussed is an unfair one because the fields were never levelled and never will be. I challenge any person anywhere in the world to prove that dividing the country could have had any religious legitimacy. Any student who asks what religion is, realises that its meaning could never allow for divisions of a political nature. The decision was completely lacking in religious honesty or decency. The search for common ground makes for mockery…

BJP/RSS philosophy cannot be allowed in South Africa WITH reference to the letter by Anand Singh, “Pakistan embarrassed by Taliban’s atrocities” (the POST, April 7-14). Permit me to congratulate Professor Singh for punting the Bharatiya Janata Party/Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (BJP/RSS) mantra in his letter under scrutiny and which requires a response. Here in South Africa, where SafrIndians lived in relative peace and harmony, especially during the vilest of periods, namely apartheid, often co-operating in matters of mutual interest, it is great to learn that Singh’s is an imported pedagogy of hate whose tentacles extend from India. To let him go unchallenged is to condone that pedagogy, which is crude and, as Mike Neary, professor of sociology, wrote, “radical hate is the critical concept on which negative dialectics is based”. My…

Your Stars SHARRON DUFF ARIES (March 21 – April 19) This week’s energy is about relationships and rekindling old flames. Don’t be surprised to hear from an old friend. Be childlike and have fun with your family and friends. Life is short so make the most of it. Lucky colour: green. TAURUS (April 20 – May 20) The end of a difficult situation is here but you need to keep believing in your own power. You are never given more than you can manage. Make space for your dreams to come true. Lucky colour: purple. GEMINI (May 21 – June 20) You need some time out and this week brings an energy of quiet time away doing something that you love. Seek relief from stress that has built up. Ask…

Sterling wants to end ’weird’ season on a high RAHEEM Sterling has struggled to hit the same heights as previous campaigns but the Manchester City forward says he is still enjoying his football during this “weird” season. Sterling has scored 13 goals in 40 games in all competitions this season with manager Pep Guardiola rotating his squad amid a congested fixture schedule. He scored 30 goals in 51 games in the 2019-20 season. Despite the dip in form, Sterling is on course to add to his medal tally with Premier League leaders City, who are still competing on four fronts. “Don't get me wrong, this season for me personally has been a very weird one,” said Sterling, who was on the bench for their 2-1 Champions League victory over Borussia…