Table of contents for 2022-01-05 in Post

Duff is a psychic medium, soul coach, spiritual mentor, healer and animal communicator. She has been connecting with spirit for more than 20 years and runs her business, Quantum Soul, from Waterfall in KwaZulu-Natal. Watch her weekly predictions on GlowTV on Sundays after 8pm with Denver Naicker on the Get Real Show. She can be contacted at 072 986 5514 or email sharron@quantsoul.com SHARRON DUFF ARIES (March 21 – April 19) Make a stand for something you believe in. You may feel challenged by those around you but stand your ground. There may be a feeling of confusion around how to handle a challenging situation. Stop and breathe. You know the answer. Lucky colour: blue. TAURUS (April 20 – May 20) You need to stop, and balance work and…

Paying more for less delivery Charlene Somduth charlene.somduth@inl.co.za WHEN the ANC failed to win an outright majority in eThekwini, it also lost the ability to increase rates and utilities as it saw fit. This week, as the city invited stakeholders to provide input on how much rates should rise in 2022, opposition parties vowed to ensure that any increase remained affordable. Political analysts say that for the first time in many years the smaller parties have the muscle to make good on their promises. In recent times, those in charge of eThekwini pushed through above- inflation increases for rates and utilities despite protests from business leaders and ratepayer associations. These stakeholders pointed out that while they were paying more, the areas in which they lived and worked were not being…

TESLA founder and CEO Elon Musk took to Twitter to reveal how he chose Ashok Elluswamy from India to work as an autopilot team director at his electric vehicle company. Elluswamy was actually the first employee to be hired for Tesla’s Autopilot team, with Musk using Twitter to ask people to apply for the role back in 2015. “I tweeted that Tesla is about to launch an autopilot team. Through that tweet, Ashok was the first to be selected in the autopilot team,” Musk said in a tweet. Before joining Tesla, he worked with Wabco Vehicle Control System and has interned with Volkswagen Electronic Research Lab. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electronics and communication engineering from the College of Engineering Guindy, Chennai, and a Master’s degree in robotics system…

Professor Brij Maharaj Professor Brij Lal, pioneering trailblazer in the field of indentured labour and their origins in India, passed away on December 25, just after the publication of his last edited book which focused on autobiographical reflections of scholars on indenture, including South Africans like professors Goolam Vahed, Kalpana Hiralal (UKZN); Ashwin Desai (UJ); Rajend Mesthrie (UCT); and Uma Mesthrie (UWC). Blessed by Mother Saraswathi (Hindu Goddess of learning) with an extraordinary intellect, Professor Brij Lal was a multitalented, internationally renowned scholar and activist for human rights and social justice (for which he was exiled from his beloved Fiji and had to move to Australia), with enviable writing skills I knew Professor Brij Lal for about 20 years. He was the quintessential historian, and as an urban-political geographer, I…

It is unlikely you would have heard the name Corporal Tebogo Radebe. But remember him because he was the first casualty in our war against Islamic militants in Mozambique. In July, President Cyril Ramaphosa authorised the deployment of South African soldiers to the province of Cabo Delgado, situated in the northernmost part of that country. The South African troops formed part of a Southern African Development Community force that aims to prevent the militants from terrorising the local community and establishing an Islamic state in the north of Mozambique. The militants go by the name Ansar al-Sunna Wa Jamma or “al-Shabaab”. It is made up mainly of locals, but in recent months they have attracted fighters from Tanzania and Somalia. Radebe, who was 31 years old, was killed in an…

Lies will become truth if lies and these perpetrators are not exposed and rebutted. Therefore, I am prompted to reply to the ridiculous, misleading and well-orchestrated letter to the editor against the Democratic Liberal Congress (DLC) by the DA’s lackey Nethraj Rampersad, titled, “Councillor sold out Indian votes” (the POST, December 22-26). The recent attacks on the DLC through this medium is suspicious and is clearly an attempt to undermine the DLC. However, the DA have pulled it off and have earned the title as the biggest sell-outs of Indians to EFF of all times. It is obvious that the DA is now stuck between a rock and a hard place with their deceitful acts and sell-out of the Indian voters after they started to vote with the EFF for…

Bethuel Nephtal Nkuna “This is a special year for all of us. It is time for family and for enjoying quality time with those we love. For many of us, this is also the time to look back at the year we have been through – a time to reflect on the year that has gone by.” | Ramaphosa was at pains to explain to the nation issues which could have been averted or dealt with in a better way, had civil servants been up to the task before them. Issues such as that the Covid-19 pandemic could have been better mitigated if we didn’t squander the money allocated to purchase PPE. Many police and citizens’ lives were prematurely lost as a result of maladministration of funds…

Nonhlanhla Nozizwe Hlatshwayo nozizwe.hlatshwayo@inl.co.za The National Minimum Wage Commission has proposed a 1% increase in the national minimum wage. This comes after the commission’s annual review – where it proposed this year that the domestic workers’ minimum wage be equal to the national minimum wage in 2022. The current minimum wage for domestic workers is R19.09 an hour (R2 660 a month), while the national minimum wage is R21.69 an hour (R3 036 a month). Weighing in on the proposed increase in the minimum wage, Professor Irrshad Kaseeram, an economist, said this proposal was on the cards for three years. He said this meant there could be a 20% increase in domestic workers’ minimum wage. Kaseeram said the proposed rate was a bit steep for lower-income households but affordable for…

Nadia Khan nadia.khan@inl.co.za IT IS often said that when life gets you down, laughter is the best medicine. As we enter a new year – off the back of a widely stressful 2021 and with largely bleak predictions for 2022 – the POST spoke to local comedians about some of their survival tips for tough times. They’ve shared some less conventional advice and their hopes for the new year. Theshen Naicker, best known for his alter ego, Aunty Sheila, said cooking curry on an outside fire is a sure way to navigate challenging financial times. “Let me tell you, it’s got me through mother-in-law dramas, sister-in-law wars and plenty of uncles’ tricks. I always say, just add some extra birth masala and enjoy. Crushing those bones is therapeutic for me…

Smiso Msomi smiso.msomi@inl.co.za KwaZulu-NATAL Coastal’s Seshnie Naidu, 15, was recently selected for the South Africa Under-19 Girls Schools team, drawing her a step closer to achieving her dream of representing her country in the 2023 ICC Under-19 Women’s Cricket World Cup. The Amanzimtoti born all-rounder and leg spinner is no stranger to competitive cricket as she was drafted into the KZN Coastal team at the age of 14 and barely into high school. She admits that playing with a more experienced group of players has its difficulties but is nonetheless a valuable lesson. “Yes, it’s not easy to play amongst ladies who are nearly double your age, but being mentally prepared and listening to our coaches helps tremendously. Although I played in every game for KZN Coastal this past season,…

BEAUTIFUL weather and lovely sea conditions … this is the time to get out there and fish! The sea has been very kind to those venturing offshore. The dorado and tuna have kept the hatches full and the sea itself has been a pleasure to be out on. The KwaZulu-Natal North Coast has seen some amazing fishing, with the areas around Cape Vidal seeing tons of action. There have been a lot of billfish around for those looking for a big saily. Skirted lures have been the most consistent producers, but a hungry sailfish will not resist a live bait. They are hard fighters, but your standard couta tackle will handle the fight. The tuna have been fighting with the dorado for top spot. Most methods will give you a…

Guruji Gopal Vyas (Hindu priest Vedic and numerology astrology consultant, and dharm guru): THE year 2022 has begun and we are all looking forward to seeing the new sunrise with renewed energy, positive news and a more progressive year. According to numerology, 2022 will be a number 6 (Virgo) year. However, according to Vedic astrology, this year begins on Saturday with Jyeshta Nakshatra in Scorpio moon sign. If we look at South Africa, it appears that this year will be a slow-growth year, but in comparison to other African nations, it will be a steady growth year. Our intellectual and think tank will bring positive solutions for the economy and industry at large. There will be few job creation opportunities, but entrepreneurship will increase and there will be growth in…

Janine Moodley janine.moodley@inl.co.za AFTER enduring years of deteriorating municipal infrastructure in Pietermaritzburg, residents in the province’s capital are threatening a rates boycott. Residents say the city has been poorly managed and is now unable to function properly. Adding to their frustration, over the festive season they had to endure several days without electricity. At a community meeting on Christmas Day, Ashin Singh, a community activist, raised the issue of a boycott. He addressed Ravi Pillay, the KZN MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs who was present at the meeting along with the deputy mayor and the ward councillor. Singh lives in Pietermaritzburg and is a founding member of Samrem, the South African Minority Rights Equality Movement. The crisis meeting was called following an attack on a police officer…

Nonhlanhla Nozizwe Hlatshwayo nozizwe.hlatshwayo@inl.co.za Phoenix resident Preya Moodley holds a personal memory of Archbishop Desmond Tutu after exchanging letters with him when she was a child. Tutu died on December 26. He was buried at the weekend. His funeral was held at St George’s Cathedral in Cape Town. It also happened to be the day that Moodley turned 38 years old. She recalled a time when Tutu replied to a letter she had written to him in 1993. She was 9 years old. “We were learning about apartheid, and he had just received the Nobel Peace Prize. I really admired him and I wanted to congratulate him not just on the award but also on the contribution he had made to our country and its people,” Moodley said. She said…

I am not an admirer of religious leaders; but Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu was an exception. I really admired him. He was an iconic figure respected and loved all over the world. So great was he that his death on December 26 was the first news item not only on our local TV channels but on several international channels – BBC, CNN, Sky News, Euro News and many more. Several world leaders and organisations, chief among them the UN and Amnesty International, have sent their condolences and paid tribute to a man of unwavering integrity who fought fiercely and tirelessly for the downtrodden. Even Queen Elizabeth paid him a tribute. Just after she had paid a tribute to her late husband, Prince Philip, in her Christmas message, she said in…

DESMOND Tutu dedicated his life to ending apartheid. Some called him Martin Luther King. The son of a teacher and a domestic worker, Tutu was an Anglican priest who rose to become general secretary of the South African Council of Churches and the first black South African Archbishop of Cape Town. He had been one of the anti-apartheid movement’s most visible and effective leaders. During his many travels, speeches and sermons, he raised the world’s consciousness about apartheid and convinced the world to help end it. He advocated non-violent change when others resorted to violence. He sought to build bridges and promote dialogue between black and white when others sought confrontation. In recognition of his efforts to end apartheid non-violently, Tutu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984, one…

Charlene Somduth charlene.somduth@inl.co.za A DURBAN family is demanding justice for their relative whose body was dumped in the boot of a car after he was beaten and bound with chains, for allegedly stealing. Sershen Arunajallem, 36, from Shallcross, an employee at a trucking company, was found dead in the boot of the car by police in Clairwood last Tuesday. His attackers alleged that he was stealing copper wires from a car. Colonel Thembeka Mbele, a police spokesperson, said at 1.35pm police were patrolling the area when they received information about a man being assaulted by five people on Flower Road in Clairwood. “When police arrived at the scene they noticed a group of men standing along the road and questioned them about the man who was being assaulted. The men…

Nonhlanhla Nozizwe Hlatshwayo nozizwe.hlatshwayo@inl.co.za THE man who ensured justice was served for a young Verulam girl who was repeatedly raped and abused by her stepfather, has been awarded for his hard work. Detective Warrant Officer Nervarge Lutchminarain, who serves at the Phoenix police station, was recently honoured by the SAPS at provincial level. Lutchminarain was awarded trophies for his dedication to the force and for his long-term service in the family violence, child protection and sexual offences (FSC) unit. He has served in the police force for 28 years and has been heralded for a number of major arrests. Lutchminarain said he initially wanted to become a civil engineer, but changed his path. “I wanted to become a civil engineer and that's the course I chose at school. However, in…

Sonja Overhiser and Alex Overhiser THERE is something about the process of making lunches that can zap the creativity right out of us. Instead of seizing the moment to create a nourishing, satisfying meal, we get stuck with the same old crutches: baby carrots and cheese sticks and some sort of drab, uninspired sandwich. Here's a solution for the back-to-school, back-to-the-office lunch conundrum: five delicious lunch ideas that work for everyone. They are kid- and adult-friendly, fun ideas that will have you counting down the hours until you get to open that lunch bag. Each lunch idea starts with the baseline: a simple, pared-back option designed to make eating fun for children. Then, it uses similar ingredients and flavours to transform it into a lunch that no-nonsense adults will love,…

Nonjabulo Bhengu Nonjabulo.Bhengu@inl.co.za THE family of Baby Arav Batohi is hoping his birth will bring blessings for them. The baby – who was born on New Year's Day – had seemingly set high goals for himself from the time he was in his mother’s womb. He is the first, longed-for boy to be born into his family. He also arrived in the world 10 days early and is the first baby to be born on January 1 at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital, at 00.40am. He weighed 3kg. His mother, Jerusha Gowtham Batohi, 30, from Unit 10 in Phoenix, said that the birth of her baby came as a surprise as she was expecting to deliver between January 12 and 17. “Around lunchtime (on December 31), I started feeling a lot…

Nonjabulo Bhengu Nonjabulo.Bhengu@inl.co.za LOCAL film-makers have released a documentary called Mother Shoal based on the fisherfolk community in Durban – in particular the fisherwomen. The film, directed by Kristen Horne and Pillay Laurenz, follows the story of a group of women who used the sardine run to help feed their communities during lockdown level 5. In an interview with the Post, Horne, who is also one of the producers of the film and who has written and produced films and documentaries for Nat Geo Wild, the Discovery and History channels, said: “I wanted to tell a story of hope where sometimes in the middle of despair kindness and strength of the human spirit can still bring hope in a community.” Horne said she found out about a group of women…

THE late Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu warned a number of people during his tenure as a man of God. To the ANC of those times he clearly expressed his stance against corruption. Result thus far: greedy hands have multiplied exponentially as the coffers of this country continue to be looted by the old and the new people in power. Fearlessly, he chided past president Thabo Mbeki for his “non-medical” diagnosis that there was no link between HIV and Aids. (“How can a virus cause a syndrome?”). This stance sent tens of thousands to a premature death who were denied the medication because they did not meet the minimum CD4 count (used to check the health of the immune system in people infected with HIV). Tutu also took former president Jacob…

There was a song Gimme Hope Jo'anna (by Eddy Grant) that was played during the apartheid days. In 1988 it was banned by the then regime. There is a verse in the lyrics that referred to Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu. That verse at that time inspired many South Africans. It said: “Even the preacher who works for Jesus, The Archbishop who’s a peaceful man, Together say that the freedom fighters Will overcome the very strong.” This verse epitomises the beacon of hope the Arch conveyed to the hopeless and underprivileged all over South Africa. The sad passing of this unique man has created a void in this world. Vijay Sewtahal Clare Estate…

Charlene Somduth charlene.somduth@inl.co.za A DAY out fishing turned to tragedy for a Newcastle pensioner who drowned last week. Dhaneshwar Badree Ramgoolam’s body was found at the Chelmsford Dam just outside Newcastle last Wednesday. Ramgoolam, 70, a businessman, left his home in Newcastle in the morning to go fishing. Nirakasha Singh, his niece, said when he failed to return home by the evening, her family began looking for him. "We were worried. He normally comes home before 6.30pm. We searched the neighbourhood and then went to the dam. We found his vehicle, a Toyota Hilux, still in the parking area. We looked around the dam and then found what looked like his shirt latched against some rocks." Singh said they called the park rangers at the dam and police for assistance.…

Nonjabulo Bhengu and Charlene Somduth A PHOENIX pensioner was strangled to death with the belt of her nightgown in her home in Eastbury on Monday evening. Saraswathi Mangray, 72, was found on her dining room floor by her brother. A police source who is close to the investigation said Mangray’s brother returned home from work to find the doors and gates open. “He called out for his sister but there was no response. He checked in her bedroom and noticed the bedroom cupboards were wide open. “He continued to look for his sister and found her motionless in the dining room. She had a small wound to her right palm and the belt of her nightgown was wrapped tightly around her neck.” The source said the only item missing at…

WHILE rising Covid-19 cases and rain will present logistical challenges to this week’s fourth Ashes test, another limp performance from England would be a threat to the already damaged credibility of the iconic series. Without a single century or five-wicket haul to their collective name in three heavy losses in the series to date, the tourists have only pride to play for when they take to Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) for day one today. Day three on Friday will mark exactly 11 years since England last won a Test match Down Under, a famous January morning when Andrew Strauss’s side mopped up the remaining three Australian wickets to secure an innings and 83-run victory. A crowd of 19 000 England fans celebrated wildly at the SCG as the wickets…