Table of contents for 2023-01-25 in Post

GRAMMY winner John Legend and his wife Chrissy Teigen’s family just got bigger as the couple welcomed another baby. The baby was born last Friday. Legend confirmed the news hours after his child’s arrival, People magazine reported. The 43-year-old told a crowd at a private concert that they welcomed “the little baby”. “What a blessed day,” he said. The singer added that while he did not get a lot of sleep, he felt energised after spending a lot of time at the hospital. Attendees at the special event immediately headed to social media to share the baby news. “@johnlegend just told us he had a baby this morning,” one concert-goer wrote, quoted by People. The birth of their baby comes after the couple experienced a pregnancy loss in October 2020.…

Aurets is a healer, psychic medium, intuitive mentor, masseuse and regression therapist who also teaches meditation and breath work. She practises in Upper Highway. Contact her at 079 356 4657 or email theeternalbreath @gmail.com ARIES (March 21 – April 19) Balance giving and receiving to keep your energies aligned. Too much of the one will disadvantage your life and health. To stay at an optimal functional level, keep the balance of receiving alongside giving. Magic number: 12. TAURUS (April 20 – May 20) Let go of the worries, proceeding with accepting abundant flow. Worry blocks the flow, solutions, and increases anxiety. Open up to help from the Divine and from others. Working as a team will be rewarding. Magic number: 9. GEMINI (May 21 – June 20) Release what you…

LAVINA Mulraj invested in a gas stove and rechargeable lights after her family was recently left without electricity for almost 40 hours. Mulraj, 43, from Unit 7 in Chatsworth, lives with her husband, 3-year-old son and elderly mother. She runs a home based online clothing store. She said when the electricity returned after load shedding, it caused a power surge that blew up a substation in the area. “Residents did not have power for 40 hours. It felt like our lives were on hold. My son is little and requires his meals on time and the same goes for my mother, who is on chronic medication. “The food in my fridge went bad and had to be thrown away. “My husband had to buy dry ice to put the meat…

UNTIL load shedding is minimised, businesses will continue to experience losses and consumers take financial strain. In addition to Eskom currently implementing stages 3 and 4 of load shedding, the price of petrol and diesel will increase next week, and the electricity tariff will rise by 18.65% from April. Load shedding has severely affected businesses, their employees, and ultimately customers. Oak Springs Dairy and Farm in Greytown Road in Mooi River supplies to Spar and Oxford. Robert Kendall-Brown, one of the managers, said: “The cost implications of diesel to run the generator and in turn, the factory, is overwhelming. “It also affects our pricing quite substantially. As a result, we have to cover our diesel costs when we do our customer pricing by about 5% due to the unexpected…

THE family of Deon Alam believe he was tortured to death. Alam, 35, a truck driver from Chats- worth, was found dead in the back seat of his car in the parking lot outside RK Khan Hospital on January 15. Kevin Alam, his brother, said he last saw him on January 13 when Deon visited him at his workplace in Verulam. “Deon was his usual jovial self. We chatted for a bit, took a picture together, and made plans to see each other the next day. “Instead, his wife called to tell me that Deon had left home the night before and had not returned home.” Kevin said he assumed Deon was out and told her to wait for him. “The next day (January 15) she called me again to…

Shreyah Ramluckan, 18, of Sunford, Phoenix: 7 As Study plan: Medicine. She is yet to decide on the university. Reason: I chose medicine because I have always had an interest in the intricacies of our bodies. More than that, I want to be able to better our understanding of reproductive health. Having a chronic condition (polycystic ovary syndrome and endometriosis) changed my perspective on life. There is a lot of stigma about women’s reproductive health, so I want to advocate for understanding and empathy as a member of the chronic illness community. A prime example of that was my writing my final exams with a medical flag on my desk. This did not mean I was given extra time, even though it was advised by my medical team. Matric advice:…

Athaliah Hannah Pillay, 18, of Northdale, Pietermaritzburg: 7 As Study plan: Electrical engineering at UCT. Reason: I hope to branch off into renewable energy. I feel it’s going to be the market of the future. It is the younger generation’s responsibility to try to save the planet and I feel inclined to do my part through this. Matric advice: Dedication and hard work is key. Constant prayer also helps calm the nerves. Ariya Beekrum, 18, of Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg: 7As Study plan: Civil engineering at the University of Pretoria. Reason: When I do my Master’s, I would like to specialise in sustainable development. My uncle had a construction company and from a young age, I found it interesting. My brother is also in the engineering field. Matric advice: Be consistent and…

Asma Jan, 18, of Essenwood: 7 As Study plan: Accepted at UKZN and UCT for medicine or a B.Sc. Reason: Life science was my favourite subject. Matric advice: Work hard and meet your goals. Don’t feel the need to compete with anyone. Layla Tarr, 18, of Musgrave: 7 As Study plan: Accepted at UKZN, Wits and UCT to study medicine. Reason: I have a passion for the health sciences. I want to be able to help people through what I do. Matric advice: Pace yourself. Take your time but stay focused. Make the year count and enjoy the first few months of matric because you only get to experience this once.…

PO Box 137 Durban 18th July 1972 My dear Ebrahim Your last letter is dated 11th April, 1972 – for which sincere thanks and many regrets for not replying earlier. Much has happened since that day. 1. My application for admission was refused – purely on legal grounds – at a cost of R300. 2. MD was released with the usual embellishments. 3. So too my cousin Siv who is having problems readjusting, poor devil. 4. Rumour has it that Vasendha eloped on the 23rd May, but this is a vicious rumour, engineered by the spouse and family to discredit her. The fact is simple but not very pleasant and you shall hear of it from cousin Poo. She is presently resident in Tongaat with AJ travelling daily to…

Timera Govender, 17, of Westbrook: 8 As, including advanced programme mathematics, an IEB subject. Study plan: Actuarial science at UCT. Reason: I want to pursue a challenging career. I also have a passion for maths and numbers. This will allow me to uplift our economy. Matric advice: Start learning from day one. Forget about a social life. Have a few friends but prioritise your studies. Set goals and be consistent in achieving them. Believe in yourself. Thashmika Moodley, 18, of Buffelsdale, Tongaat: 7 As Study plan: Medicine at UKZN. Reason: I always wanted to make a real difference in others’ lives. My parents taught me to help others. The profession is also intellectually challenging. I see it as my purpose and calling in life. Matric advice: Consistency is key. Leave…

SIMRAN Sheik, who was diagnosed with cancer and lupus, did not let her illness get her down. The Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High matriculant attained 7As in the National Senior Certificate exam. “In Grade 11, I found a tumour in my throat. A doctor then diagnosed me with thyroid cancer and the tumour was removed in March 2021. A month later, I underwent radiation and missed a lot of school due to doctor’s appointments. At least 40% of my Grade 11 year, which people say is the most important year for school, was spent at home.” Simran said she was then diagnosed with lupus the following year. Lupus is an inflammatory disease where the immune system attacks its own tissues. “I struggled with writing my finals due to the joint pains that…

Frank Lampard was unceremoniously sacked as Everton boss on Monday, after less than a year in charge of the troubled club. AFP Sport looks at the highs and lows of the former England midfielder’s playing and coaching career. Highs Titan of the Russian revolution Although signed before Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich’s takeover in 2003, Lampard played a pivotal role in transforming Chelsea into serial contenders for major trophies. He was the match-winner on the day a 50-year wait to win a league title ended, scoring twice in a 2-0 win at Bolton in 2005. Seven years on, Lampard scored a penalty in the shoot-out as Chelsea stunned Bayern Munich on home soil to win the club’s first Champions League. He also won two more Premier League titles, four FA Cups,…

BOLLYWOOD actress Raveena Tandon shared a series of pictures from her daughter Rasha Thadani’s farewell at Dhirubhai Ambani International School in Mumbai. In the pictures, Tandon and her husband, Anil Thadani, pose with their children and Karan Johar. With the pictures, Tandon penned a note expressing her feelings about the special moment in her daughter’s life. “Saying bye to the class of 2023 at #dais! What an emotional moment for all the moms and dads to see your baby grow up and actually prepare to now fly out of the nest! We wish you well and Godspeed #classof2023. Also was fun to see @karanjohar in his paternal avatar, ‘new parent at school’, enjoy Karan!” Tandon adopted two girls, Pooja and Chhaya, in 1995, and later in 2004, she got married…

THE condition of Lazarus Appalsamy, the victim of a pit bull attack, is slowly improving. Appalsamy, 44, from Trenance Park in Verulam, was mauled by his neighbour’s two pit bulls, Sam, 5, and Laeila, 3, while walking home on January 15. A day after the attack the owner of the dogs had them euthanised by the SPCA. Appalsamy’s flesh was ripped off his arms, legs and body. The iris of his left eye was bitten off and the arteries and veins in his right arm were damaged . Stanley Subbiah, his neighbour and friend, tried to help him but was also bitten. He sustained a bite to his left arm and an injury to his right leg. Appalsamy was taken to Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Memorial Hospital Mary Naidoo,…

KYLE Gounder and his girlfriend of two years, Monique Shunmugam, died in a crash on the M19 near the Reservoir Hills off-ramp on Saturday night. Gounder, a prepaid specialist for Vodacom, died in hospital, and Shunmugam, a stock investigation analyst at Power House, died at the scene. They were travelling in Gounder’s VW Golf 6. The couple, who were both 24, were from Unit 11 in Phoenix. Gareth Naidoo, of the KZN VIP Protection Services, said the car allegedly crashed into another vehicle before it veered off the roadway into an informal settlement. “The female passenger was ejected and declared deceased on impact. She sustained multiple serious injuries. The driver was entrapped in the wreckage. “Paramedics from life response worked on stabilising the patient before transporting him to the hospital.…

Jordan Elisha Nadasen, 17, of Mount Edgecombe: 7As. Jordan was also placed eighth in the province and third in the Pinetown district. She was awarded the top pupil for life sciences. Study plan: Medicine at UKZN. Reason: It has been my dream, and I love helping and caring for people. Matric advice: Don’t give up. Use every challenge as a stepping stone to success. Work hard and follow your dreams. Mahir Syed, 17, of Unit 8, Phoenix: 7As. Mahir was placed fifth in the Pinetown district. Study plan: Actuarial science. He is yet to decide on the university. Reason: I am passionate about working with numbers. Matric advice: Be committed. Work hard and consistently from the start of the year. Jared Appalsami, 18, of Foresthaven, Phoenix: 7As Study plan: Actuarial…

Shaylin Govender, 18, of uMhlanga: 8 As Study plan: Medicine at the University of Pretoria. Reason: I have always had the passion to help others. Medicine is a rewarding profession. I was also inspired by Dr Trivolen George. I watched him help so many people, which instilled the love of helping within me. Matric advice: Please start working hard from the first day of school. Start with a good attitude and you will be set for your matric year. Study hard and form a good mindset because your 12 years of schooling ends in one exam. Uwaiz Adam, 18, of Westville: 8 As Study plan: Medicine at UCT. Reason: I have always loved biology in school and I love helping others. I hope to help many people in the future.…

CONGRATULATIONS are in order for the Class of 2022 who graduated from school last week, after a couple of extremely challenging schooling years. It was great to see the National Senior Certificate pass rate rising to 80.1%, with KwaZulu-Natal’s pass rate going up from 76.8% to an excellent 83%. Even by the DA’s yardstick, the public schools pass rate went up from 50.4% to 54.6%. Viewed from whichever perspective, the Class of 2022 did exceptionally well. Compared to the previous cohorts, their performance was a clear improvement. A resounding success. They achieved this after toiling under trying conditions that included the Covid-19 pandemic, the floods and the July 2021 riots. Many young people excelled in the face of the usual social and economic odds inside and outside their schools and…

MOOROOGIAH Dhanapathy Naidoo, a South African lawyer who was an active opponent of apartheid, died on June 1 in his birthplace, Durban, South Africa. He was 75. Over the years, Mr Naidoo, who was widely known as MD Naidoo, belonged to the South African Indian Congress, the SA Communist Party and the African National Congress, along with its military wing. He was imprisoned for six months as one of the leaders of volunteers from the Indian Congress who set up tents on land that was reserved for whites in 1946 as an act of passive resistance. After studying at the University of Natal and in London, he was admitted to the South African bar in 1957 and practised in Durban. Later he was disbarred and sentenced to five years in…

Mariyah Seedat, 18, of Essenwood: 7 As Study plan: Business science at UCT. Reason: I am business minded and believe a degree such as this will position me well in the international market. Matric advice: Balance is key. Your matric year is a marathon, not a sprint. Smita Maharaj, 18, of uMhlanga: 7As Study plan: Medicine at UKZN Reason: I grew up in a family of philanthropists and academics. It has been ingrained in me to help those in need and give back to the community. My brother Sahil is a medical doctor. My sister Sandhya is a final year medical student and my other sibling, Suhana, is in her fourth year of medicine. My parents are also in the medical field. Matric advice: Stay focused and calm. Ignore the…

Dhyana Moodliar, 17, of the Bluff: 7 As Study plan: Medicine at UKZN. Reason: My dad had motor neurone disease and passed away in 2019. I think it will be helpful if more people study medicine. In that way we have a greater chance of finding cures for incurable diseases like my dad’s. Matric advice: Don’t be demotivated when you don’t do well throughout the year. Keep working towards the final exams. Stay focused, calm and direct your attention to your studies. You will do well. Tamika Reddy, 18, of Chatsworth: 7 As Study plan: Computer engineering at UKZN. Reason: Computers are the best option in our new world of technology. I have also always loved maths. I loved the stimulation it gives my brain. Matric advice: It is…

Pep Guardiola hit back at suggestions Erling Haaland would not adapt to Manchester City’s style of play after the Norwegian scored his fourth hat-trick of the season in a 3-0 win over Wolves. The 22-year-old now has 25 Premier League goals in just 19 appearances and 31 in total just halfway through his first season with the English champions. “The numbers are incredible,” said Guardiola. “He lives 24 hours for his profession, job, passion, love. “He’s not stressed much when it’s going well or going bad. He is stable.” Haaland’s remarkable scoring rate has slowed slightly in recent weeks and with City trailing Arsenal in the title race, questions had been asked over whether Guardiola’s men function better as a team without a natural striker. City have won the title…

Karen Khachanov harnessed the confidence he took from making the US Open semi-finals to match the feat at the Australian Open on Tuesday, helped by Sebastian Korda retiring hurt. Korda needed treatment on a wrist injury in the second set of their quarter-final before calling it quits when trailing 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, 3-0 to the Russian 18th seed on Rod Laver Arena. Khachanov’s reward is a clash with either Greek third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, or unseeded Czech Jiri Lehecka, who play later, for a spot in Sunday’s final. The victory equals the 26-year-old Khachanov’s best performance at a major after his semi-final run at last September’s US Open, where he lost to Norway’s Casper Ruud. He said his deep run at Flushing Meadows had helped immensely. “I would say I…

With the holidays over, we are back to having less time to fish. This means making sure we make the most of the time we get when fishing. Best way to do this is to keep an eye on the weather forecast, make sure your tackle is ready to go (not broken or missing) and that you have everything you need to enjoy the time you have. There have been some amazing fish caught in the offshore facet recently. The water is starting to clear … The North Coast has seen a lot of game fish action in the form of dorado and couta. There have been some good sailfish and small marlin caught in the past week. These majestic fish are extremely hard fighters and require some effort to…

I STARTED writing for a community newspaper in Phoenix in about 1980. And that’s where I published the first sentence as a wordsmith. Today, my journey into journalism recorded history in several forms. From community newspapers to a stint at Post Natal, I worked with Dennis Pather, Bobby Harripersadh, AI Khan, Brijlall Ramguthee, Vas Soni, Farouk Khan, and renowned photographers Ranjith Kally and Puri Devjee. Kanthan Pillay, Rashida Dhooma, Ismail Suder and a few others were cub reporters with me. Our seniors were the finest teachers in journalism. I then went on to do a formal course in journalism at the then Natal Technikon. Of course, the institution had its own baggage being an apartheid institution. I had to apply for a permit to study there as it was reserved…

1 small pineapple, peeled and cut into small bite size pieces 1 small paw-paw, peeled and seeds removed 1 big red apple, rinse, remove seeds and cut into bite size pieces 3 bananas, peeled and sliced 1 cup of red or black grapes, washed and sliced into halves 1 cup strawberries, washed and sliced 1 cup cherries de-seeded and cut into halves (if available) 1 orange, peeled and cut into small bite size pieces 1-2 guavas, peeled and cut into bite size pieces (if available) 4-6 granadillas (scoop out pulp) or 150g store bought granadilla pulp 1 Orley whip (whipped into stiff peaks) or serve as is Wash, cut and peel all the fruit as per the instruction. Place them in a big mixing bowl. You may pour in the…

FUNERAL parlours are incurring additional costs to run generators during load shedding. They hope for some relief from the government. Koushik Maharaj, from Newlands City Funeral Service, said he spent thousands of rand a week on diesel for his generator in addition to his electricity utility bill. “I have a facility to store the bodies and prepare them for the funeral. I have a generator in the event of load shedding or power outages. The generator is 15 000 watts and can power the office, cold room and security lights. “The cold room can store up to 40 bodies but I generally have about 10. Our main cost comes from the price of diesel. I currently spend R2 000 a week to run the generator. With diesel set to increase…

THE African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) protested in Cape Town on Monday against the amendment bill that seeks to decriminalise sex work. They said prostitution took away dignity, and was not an alternative or an avenue for employment. The Department of Justice and Correctional Services approved the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Bill of 2022 for public comment in December. The bill repeals the Sexual Offences Act (previously Immorality Act) and Section 11 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007, to decriminalise the sale and purchase of adult sexual services. POST garnered comments from the ACDP, a conservative Christian party based on Biblical principles, and some religious organisations on the bill. Comments on the bill can be directed to the Chief Directorate:…

Nikita Govender, 18, of Verulam: 7As. Placed first in the province and first in the Pinetown district. Study plan: Medicine at UKZN Reason: From a young age, I was sickly. I used to be in hospital so often that it became my second home. The experience showed me the kindness of doctors and how well they treated me. Now I want to do the same for others. I want to help, the way others helped me. I know I want to go into surgery, either neurosurgery, cardiovascular surgery or orthopaedic surgery but I can only choose after exploring the fields while at university. Matric advice: Always motivate yourself and believe in yourself because no one else can do it for you. Also, be confident when you enter the exam room,…

Jiya Naidoo, 18, of the Berea: 7 As in the IEB exams Study plan: Medicine at UCT. Reason: I chose medicine because I love both science and Seva, the art of selfless service, that has been instilled in me from a young age by my parents. My father is an actuary and my mother is a psychologist, and while I am not quite following in their footsteps, I like to think they are walking beside me on my journey to university. Matric advice: Remain consistent from the start. Know when to work and when to relax, and stay on top of your work. The phrase “consistency is key” is so clichéd but so true.…

I’M SITTING on my patio, gazing at a gorgeous view of the Indian Ocean, “safe” in the confines of a gated estate. I should be feeling great. But I’m not. There’s a gnawing feeling crawling inside of me, a foreboding. I don’t need to dwell much as to why there is this unwanted intrusion to my thoughts. We are not even on the precipice of a downward spiral anymore. It is in absolute free-fall. Remove accountability from our government, as this keeled over in South Africa some time back, we are racing towards a brick wall without a safety belt. We probably let it all happen, perhaps attributable to the slow creep of the degradation. It’s only when the provision of utilities like electricity and water takes a knock that…

Deolin Naidoo, 17, of Raisethorpe, Pietermaritzburg: 7As Study plan: Medicine at UKZN or actuarial science at Wits. Reason: As a doctor, I would love to have the chance to help people and make a difference. With actuarial science, I love maths and physics. Matric advice: Work as hard as you can. This is your last year of high school. Also, put your full trust and faith in God. He will lead you to places. Jordan Subramanien, 18, of Hayfields, Pietermaritzburg: 7As Study plan: Information technology at UKZN. Reason: The IT industry is growing exponentially. It is always in demand.” Matric advice: Start the year with the right mindset and consistently work towards your study goal. By the end of the year, it will make everything so much easier.…

HUSNAA Haffajee wants to help find cures for diseases that affect communities around the world. The 17-year-old of Al Falaah College was the country’s top matriculant in the 2022 National Senior Certificate exams, with 8 distinctions. Her award was announced last Thursday by Angie Motshekga, the Minister of Basic Education. Husnaa, of Glenwood, said she had always been a top achiever. “I’ve previously been recognised for many achievements at school but I’ve never been recognised at this scale.” She said she was weighing her university options. Husnaa applied to UKZN, Wits, Stellenbosch University and UCT to study medicine. “I would like to become a doctor so I can be of service to people. I hope to eventually specialise in research to help find cures for diseases. “I also want to…