Table of contents for 2023-11-15 in Post

I STRETCH archival fragments by reading along the bias grain to eke out extinguished and invisible but no less historically important lives. | In the mid-1990s I wanted to write on the experiences of the indentured in the journey over the Kala Pani. But I found it difficult to find historical evidence that would turn the numbers allocated to the indentured into real living human beings. And so, I took the scattered records available and tried to build a story of one person’s journey. Historians later would call this style of writing critical fabulation. It was first brought into the public domain by US historian Saidiya Hartman and followed by writers like Marisa Fuentes that forms the epigram of this column. My own writing resulted in a picture of the…

Muthal Naidoo. She was decorated with the highest civilian order – Order of Ikhamanga – by the president of the Republic of South Africa for her literary and theatrical work spanning six decades. Her citation by the Presidency records that: “She joined the Durban Academy of Theatre Arts in 1963 with, among others, Devi Bughwan, Pauline Morel, Fatima Meer, Ronnie Govender, Kessie Govender and Welcome Msomi. This company, which collaborated with Union Artists in Johannesburg, staged productions for mixed audiences. The government banned it when it brought the American production of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf to Durban.” She was co-founder in 1964 with Ronnie Govender of the Shah Theatre Academy. Her published works include Gansie in Kammaland children’s stories and a biography, The Keshwars from Dundee. Tyla Laura Seethal:…

As Indians completed their period of indenture and ventured into other sectors of the economy, they were perceived to be a threat to European interests. By the end of the 19th century, three classes of Indians could be identified in Natal: Indentured labourers. Those who had completed their indenture and worked as free Indians. Traders, or passenger Indians, who emigrated to Natal at their own cost. The free Indians played an important role in the economy of Natal. In 1877, the protector of Indian Immigrants reported: “All the fishing and nearly all the market gardening and hawking of fruit and vegetables are in the hands of Indians.” Little or no capital was required for engaging in such petty enterprises. At the turn of the century, they were also engaged in…

1kg prawns, shelled and de-veined 60ml sunflower oil 1 small cinnamon stick 1 bay leaf 5ml cumin seeds 1 onion, finely chopped 5ml coarse salt 2 sprigs of curry leaves 2 green chillies, sliced 15ml crushed garlic 15ml red chilli powder 200g tin chopped tomatoes 5ml roasted ground coriander 5ml roasted ground cumin 2.5ml garam masala 1ml turmeric pinch of sugar 5ml dried kasuri methi or dried fenugreek, optional 75ml fresh cream 100ml boiled water 400g tin brown lentils, drained 500ml cooked basmati rice, cooled 10ml magic masala 50ml butter drop of yellow food colouring boiled eggs, to garnish curry leaves fresh coriander, to garnish Heat the sunflower oil in a 30cm AMC paella pot. Add the cinnamon stick and bay leaf. Fry until the whole spices become fragrant. Sprinkle…

1kg prawns, shelled and deveined 50ml sunflower oil 5ml ajwain 1 onion, finely chopped 7ml coarse salt 6 cloves garlic, crushed 30ml red chilli powder 8 tomatoes, blanched and chopped 10ml ground coriander 5ml ground cumin 2.5ml turmeric 10ml tamarind 250ml boiled water pinch of sugar fresh curry leaves and coriander, chopped Heat the sunflower oil in a 30cm AMC Paella pot. Add the ajwain and fry until they sizzle. Add the onion and salt into the oil, and sauté until golden brown. Add the crushed garlic and fry for a few seconds until fragrant. Stir the red chilli powder into the oil and fry for 3-5 seconds. Add the chopped tomatoes. Stir the ground cumin, coriander and turmeric into the tomatoes, and simmer until the oil separates. Use the…

A PIETERMARITZBURG gun salesman who allegedly shot dead an off-duty policeman during a “road rage incident”, will remain behind bars until his bail application. The policeman’s family are now calling for swift justice for their son and brother, who performed his civic duties with “discipline and pride”. Asad Haniff Ramjan, 29, an employee at a local gun shop, allegedly shot Constable Thabani Gwala multiple times during the altercation in Oribi Road, Pietermaritzburg, on Monday morning. Gwala, 35, of KwaSwayimane, was a member of the Public Order Policing Unit, based at the Alexandra Road police station. Ramjan appeared in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday on a charge of murder. The courtroom was filled with Gwala’s family, friends and colleagues. Rajman’s attorney, Ashraf Mahomed, said the accused’s family were distraught. “Asad…

Actress and former beauty queen Sushmita Sen recently spoke about her transformative experience of working on Aarya. She said she had stagnated as an actor and after meeting film-maker Ram Madhavani, she said yes to the web series. “I was not learning anything and I wanted to learn. I did not want to do the old stuff again, almost like running a factory of what is almost a creative endeavour. Then I met Ram and he showed me Aarya. In five minutes flat, I said yes. “He came to me and said: ‘I’ll need you to do workshops. You’ll have to unlearn and relearn.’ So there was a lot to do there and the process was made friendly and warm that I came back as a newcomer with a…

VETERAN Telugu actor Chandra Mohan died on Saturday at the age of 82. He suffered from cardiac-related issues and was admitted to Apollo Hospital in Hyderabad. Actors NTR Jr, Chiranjeevi and Sai Dharam Tej have mourned his death. NTR Jr, who became a global sensation after RRR, wrote in Telugu on X: “It is very sad to see the untimely death of Chandra Mohan Garu, who has earned special recognition by playing different roles in films for many decades. “My deepest condolences to his family, and may his soul rest in peace.” Chiranjeevi wrote: “It is very sad to know that the senior actor and protagonist Chandra Mohan Garu, who left an indelible mark in the minds of Telugu people through his versatile acting skills, is no more.” He said:…

TIGER 3, Salman Khan's action drama, has finally been released in cinemas. The Maneesh Sharma directorial, which also features Katrina Kaif and Emraan Hashmi in central roles, chronicles the events of Pathaan, War and Tiger Zinda Hai. It is the fifth entry in the spy universe created by Yash Raj Films and a follow-up to Tiger Zinda Hai. This time, the story is more about brains than brawn. The film begins with a scene in London that swiftly gives the audience a running insight into the narrative that transports one to several cities around the globe. Khan, in the character of Tiger (Avinash Singh Rathore), does a great job with the familiar action plot. There is something magically captivating about Khan’s presence in this screenplay by Shridhar Raghavan. He gives…

THE arrival of the first group of Indians in South Africa in 1860 marked the beginning of a challenging journey for the Indian diaspora in the region. They have been subjected to discrimination, exploitation and marginalisation. Despite all this, they have managed to make significant contributions to the country’s development. South Africa is home to the largest population of people of Indian descent in Africa. Indians have played a significant role in the country’s history, including the Struggle against apartheid. Nelson Mandela understood the crucial role the Indian community played in the Struggle. He acknowledged their contributions, emphasising their helping to build a diverse and unified South Africa. “South Africans must recall the terrible price paid for freedom and the contributions made to its attainment by Indians in this country…

MONUMENTS memorialising the blood, sweat and tears of Indian indentured workers, or girmitiyas, are found in several countries that were complicit with the veiled system of slavery. Guyana has a bronze sculpture of the sailing ship, Whitby, that transported the first batch of Indian indentured immigrants on May 5, 1838. Mauritius has the Aapravasi Ghat World Heritage Site which comprises the remains of the Immigration Depot where indentured labourers disembarked and were processed before being sent to work on the island’s sugar estates. In India, the Indentured Indian Labourers Memorial and Clock Tower along the banks of the Hooghly River in Kolkata serves as a reminder of the more than one million men, women and children who were taken to British, French and Dutch colonies in different parts of the…

LAW enforcement agencies, especially the South African Police Service, have come under criticism recently for shoddy work, stagnant progress and their inability to make arrests. The POST recently highlighted how the family of murdered actor and show promoter Pranesh Maharaj only received the results of DNA analysis in October this year confirming his death. What an agonising wait for a family who desperately sought closure. Maharaj went missing in 2021. Seelan Pillay, a former policeman and community police forum head in Bayview, was gunned down more than a year ago in a drive-by shooting but still no arrests have been made. His family are distraught that no tangible progress has been made in the case. Are the police adopting a willy-nilly and perfunctory attitude? Just look at the glaring inconsistencies…

AN ALLEGED matric cheat has been caught at a school in KwaZulu-Natal. On October 31, a vigilant invigilator at a school in Newcastle noticed that an ID photo did not match that of the person writing the exam. With the exams now into their third week, education officials issued a stern warning against cheating. Aside from a five-year ban, criminal charges will be laid against offenders, the department warned. Muzi Mahlambi, head of communications at the KZN Department of Education, said: “The invigilator noticed someone sitting on behalf of the candidate who was supposed to be sitting as a part-time candidate. This matter has been reported to the SAPS.” In the Newcastle matter, both the 19-year-old who sat in for the pupil and the matric pupil were arrested and are…

MISS South Africa runner-up Bryoni Govender is in El Salvador to compete in the Miss Universe 2023 on Saturday, and judging by the videos and pictures posted on social media, she is loving every minute. According to the Miss South Africa organisers, the 26-year-old from Morningside, in Johannesburg, is emerging as one of the frontrunners at the competition. Speaking from El Salvador, Govender said: “I want the world to stop spinning on its axis so I can breathe it all in and savour this glorious time. Meeting wonderful women from all over the world and connecting with them at so many levels has been a true delight. It’s all going too quickly. I want more time to enjoy every precious moment.” The national costume show will be on Thursday. South…

National Gender-based Violence centre: 0800 428 428 Childline: 0800 055 555 National Shelter Movement of South Africa helpline 0800 001 005. Send a ‘please call me’ or WhatsApp message to 082 057 8600. Sahara Shelter for abused women and children: 031 500 3671 ABH VJ Kara Family Centre: 031 404 9523 or 084 568 2493 Sinika Uthando: 031 401 2744 Gender-based Violence SA: 0800 428 428 BAFDT Support Group at 081 431 7458 South African Outreach and Emergency Services at 063 405 2322 or 073 226 5657.…

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 15 Cricket: ICC Cricket World Cup: semi-final 1, 10am, CRI, VR4, GSD; ICC Cricket World Cup Wrap Show, semi-final 1, 7pm, VR4, GSD, CRI Soccer: Fifa Under-17 World Cup: USA v Burkina Faso, 10.45am, FTB; Mexico v Venezuela, 10.45am, SSM, FTB, VR3; France v Korea Republic, 1.45pm, FTB; NZ v Germany, 1.45pm, VR3, SSM; Uefa Euro 2024 Qualifier: Israel v Switz, 9.35pm, FTB; International Friendly: Belgium v Serbia, 9.35pm, SSM, EPL Tennis: NATP World Tour Finals, Day 4: Match 1, 3.30pm, TEN; Day 4: Match 2, 10pm, TEN WWE: WWE NXT, 3M, GSD, WWE, vr3 Thursday November 16 Cricket: ICC Cricket World Cup: semi-final 2, 10AM, CRI, GSD; ICC Cricket World Cup Wrap Show: semi-final 2, 7pm, GSD, CRI Soccer: Fifa Under-17 World Cup: Canada v Mali, 10.45am,…

AS BRITAIN tightened its grip over India, its officials and soldiers went about pillaging the country’s wealth and destroying the livelihoods of its people. Shashi Tharoor talks about hacking off the thumbs of weavers to stop them from earning an income from their looms. That destruction was a “push factor” driving people into indenture. In an elaborate “coolie catching” system, recruiters or “arkatiyas” deliberately targeted people driven to desperation. Not all who were shipped to the colonies were in such a sorry state. Peppered among these labour migrants were the handful of skilled people brought to Natal before 1860 by individual planters to assist in agricultural experimentation with crops like indigo. The first four Indians with experience in sugar cultivation were brought to the colony by Ephraim Rathbone in 1849.…

400g dry fish (rinsed and fried dry) 15ml oil 2 onions, chopped 1 tomato, chopped 2 green chillies 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste 1kg peekankai (loofers), cleaned and chopped 1 tsp heaped curry powder (your preferred choice) 1 stem curry leaves salt to taste In a flat pan, fry the onions. Add green chilli, ginger-garlic paste, tomato and curry leaves and cook for 2 minutes. Add your preferred choice of curry powder and toss until the tomatoes fry through. Add the peekankai and salt, and cook until the water drains out and the oil surfaces. Place the fried dry fish pieces on top and stir. Serve with fresh white bread.…

THE 1860 Heritage Centre will host a commemoration ceremony this Thursday on South Beach near the uShaka Marine World car park entrance (opposite Silver Sands Lifestyle Resorts) at 10am. Park and walk to the beach. There will be an interfaith prayer, playing of the national anthem, a bell-ringing ceremony and a keynote address. Visitors are encouraged to wear traditional clothing. Light snacks will be provided. The 1860 Commemoration Council, the Hindasa Foundation, Voice of Phoenix, Rage, Giving Hope Foundation, Phoenix Civic Movement and the Sivananda World Peace Foundation will host an interfaith prayer on Thursday at 6pm at the Shri Mariammen Temple in Mount Edgecombe. The Global Grimitiya’s Centre, under the stewardship of Professor Bugsy Singh, a keynote speaker at the event, will be launched. For information, call Sharon Naidoo…

DESPITE the records demonstrating that colonial Natal was among the most violent and vicious in the treatment of indentured workers, there are stories of goodwill and kindness that prevail. There are various instances throughout indentured history in South Africa that validate the inherent goodwill of humanity despite the varying contexts of time. In the initial years of indenture to South Africa, built into the initial five-year contract of indenture, was the offer of either a return passage to India or a plot of land after 10 years of service. The records reveal that the only crown land allocated to Indians in lieu of the return passage was 53 lots of 15 acres (6 hectares) in Braemar, on the Natal south coast. An example of goodwill is shown by sugar cane…

2kg lamb knuckles or leg of lamb, sliced 75ml sunflower oil 2 cinnamon sticks 1 large bay leaf 5ml cumin seeds 1 large onion, finely chopped 10ml coarse salt 15ml crushed ginger 15ml crushed garlic 50-75ml red chilli powder 7ml ground cumin 10ml ground coriander 5ml garam masala 2ml turmeric 4 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into quarters 2-3 small tomatoes, tinned or fresh fresh coriander, to garnish Heat the sunflower oil in a large, thick-bottomed pan. Add the cinnamon sticks and bay leaf. Once they become fragrant, add the cumin seeds. Once the seeds begin to sizzle, add in the onion and coarse salt, and sauté until golden brown. Spoon the ginger and garlic into the pan, and stir for a few seconds. Add the red chilli powder…

1.4kg bone-in chicken pieces 50ml sunflower oil 1 cinnamon stick 1 bay leaf 1 large onion, finely chopped 7.5ml coarse salt 10ml crushed ginger 10ml crushed garlic 45ml red chilli powder 5ml ground cumin 10ml ground coriander 5ml garam masala 2ml turmeric 4 jam tomatoes, blanched and chopped 250ml boiled water 20ml birth masala or marandh sellu fresh coriander, to garnish Heat the sunflower oil in a 30cm AMC Gourmet Roaster. Fry the cinnamon and bay leaf until fragrant. Add the onion and coarse salt, and sauté until the onion turns golden brown. Stir in the ginger and garlic, and heat for a few seconds. Add the red chilli and stir for 3 to 5 seconds before adding the chicken pieces. Coat the chicken pieces in the spices and…

After a 13-year delay, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Sport, Arts and Culture yesterday announced that the tender for the R4-million 1860 Indian indenture monument had finally been awarded to a service provider and that construction was imminent. The monument will be erected at uShaka Beach (next to the uShaka Marine World parking lot). Director at the department, Vusi Shongwe said they had been mandated in 2022 to manage the procurement process of finding a service provider to execute the design which had been finalised by the 1860 Commemoration Monument Committee. Reacting to claims that there has been conflict over the design – whether it should be abstract or a statue of a cane cutter – Shongwe said the public had been given opportunities through public adverts to make submissions to…

ONE-year after the death of her son and his fianceé in a crash on the N3 near the Mariannhill Toll Plaza, Minority Front MPL Shameen Thakur Rajbansi has called on the national and provincial government to build a separate road for trucks. In the KZN Legislature earlier this month, Thakur Rajbansi moved the motion, noting “the frequency of truck- related accidents on the Peter Brown N2 exit resulting in trucks moving at high speed down Old Howick Road”. She said the nightmare of losing her son, Pradhil Koblall Thakur, and Priyanka Nunkumar in a runaway truck-related accident near the Marriannhill Toll Plaza on November 1, 2022, was replayed in Athlone when a truck rammed into homes, killing one person and injuring others. The couple were on their way to…

Ananya Panday, who appeared on the third episode of the talk show, Koffee with Karan, recently addressed the nepotism debate. She said she once found herself at the centre of it. During the round-table conversation, she said despite being an insider, things had not been easy for her. She mentioned that her life had not been as privileged as people thought. This coupled with actor Siddhant Chaturvedi’s comments about the starting line being different for insiders and outsiders during a previous round table, led to a barrage of criticism against Panday. “Honestly, I don’t want to sound like I’m victimising myself. It’s tough for everyone. It’s not easy for anyone in this business. All I have ever worked for is validation. “I’m the daughter of a man who is a…

MALAYALAM star Nayanthara has reminisced about her Tamil movie, Aaram, filmed in 2017, and called it “extra special”. She posted a picture of her character on Instagram and wrote “6 years of Aaram. This film will always be extra special” Her social media was flooded with positive comments regarding her performance in the movie, with many calling it one of her finest hours to date. Back when it was released, Nayanthara received acclaim for her performance. The political drama was directed and written by Gopi Nainar, who won best director in many award ceremonies. The drama centred primarily around her character as an Indian administrative service officer who struggles to make her mark as a collector. Eventually heading up to a small village, she discovers a web of crime, corruption…

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) All is well. Looking closely at a situation, not as a problem but as a solution, can help. Allow life to unfold naturally, without forcing issues. Understanding will follow. Be gentle with yourself and practise self-care. Magic number: 7. TAURUS (April 20 – May 20) Stand up for what you believe in. Not all may agree with you, so draw deep on your courage as some will need a role…

THE demotion of DA shadow Cabinet member Ghaleb Cachalia over his statement regarding the conflict in Gaza is graphic proof that the party does not support freedom of expression and will not entertain dissent. Freedom of expression and the right to free speech are the pivotal pillars on which our fragile democracy relies. Section 16 (1)(A) of the Constitution of South Africa guarantees “the right to freedom of expression, which includes freedom of the press and other media”. The right to freedom of expression upholds the rights of all to express their views and opinions freely. It is essentially a right which should be promoted to the maximum extent possible given its critical role in democracy. The right to freedom of speech should be the cornerstone of any society. In…

NPOs battle without subsidies NON-PROFIT organisations (NPOs) funded by the Department of Social Development in KZN could face closure and others are struggling to make ends meet due to the non-payment of their government subsidies. Some are already in the red, unable to pay for water, electricity and food. This week, several NPOs said their battle to get the subsidies paid had been going on since December last year. The subsidies are paid in arrears, and non-payment has plunged the NPOs into financial crisis. They claimed that initially they were told the non-payment or “delay” in payments was due to a system glitch. However, this month the NPOs were informed that the KZN Department of Social Development was facing budgetary constraints. The NPOs were promised that all payments would be…

SEVERAL offensive and derogatory social media posts against those celebrating Diwali with fireworks have once again raised the ire of the Hindu community. This week, religious leaders called for those guilty of making such utterances to be criminally charged and to be reported to the SA Human Rights Commission. On Sunday, a post was shared on the Facebook page: Upper Highway Community page – What’s Going On?, allegedly by a member who is also an administrator of the page. The post read: “If you let off fireworks tonight, please leave the group, we don’t want you here. It’s a festival of LIGHTS, savage.” (sic). Later in the day, the poster added to the comments section: “FYI, I am also removing and banning anyone who laughs at the post. I’m f*@#ing…

“THERE was a time when we were in the car and he was beating me up so bad that I actually wanted to jump out of the car, even as it was moving. That’s how bad it was.” Pauline* is a 38-year-old mother of four children aged 15, 6, and 2 and a 6-week-old baby. She has been living at a women’s shelter in Durban after leaving an abusive marriage after nine years. She is one of the many gender-based violence (GBV) survivors in Chatsworth. “I have had things thrown at me and been threatened with knives. I was even booted and dragged out into the street. I had a job at a supermarket. I’d go to work with marks on my body. I was the talk of the supermarket…

Protecting children from abuse and neglect is a community responsibility and while most adults want to help, many may be unsure about how to get involved. Knowing the signs can assist in early intervention. Physical indicators of child abuse: Bite marks. Bruises on uncommonly injured body surfaces. Lacerations. Burns. High incidence of accidents or frequent injuries. Fractures/broken bones in unusual places such as the skull, ribs and so on. Injuries, swellings to face and extremities. Discolouration of skin. Blunt-instrument marks. Human hand marks. Multiple injuries at different stages of healing. Evidence of poor care/failure to thrive. Behavioural indicators of child abuse – the child might: Avoid physical contact with others. Be apprehensive when other children cry. Wear clothing to purposely conceal injury, such as long sleeves. Refuses to undress for…

REIGNING European champions Italy are preparing for a decisive qualifier with Ukraine for a place at Euro 2024, while former winners the Netherlands and 2016 semi-finalists Wales are also aiming to book their tickets to the finals in Germany. The last two rounds of qualifying matches take place over the next week, and a total of 12 countries will secure their spots in next month’s draw in Hamburg for the tournament to go with nine who are already guaranteed to be there. Continental heavyweights Spain, France, England, Belgium and Portugal have already qualified along with hosts Germany, Turkey, Scotland and Austria for the 24-nation finals which will run from June 14 to July 14 next year. Italy, who beat England on penalties at Wembley in the final of the last…

CENTRAL Durban Golf Club will host their 45th memorial tournament on Sunday, November 26, at the Royal Durban Golf Course. The highlight of the tournament is the free entry to the R100 000 hole-in-one competition. There’s also the competition category of longest drives in the three divisions being played and nearest the pins on all par fours. The tournament has been renamed the Sewsunker “Papwa” Sewgolum Memorial, in honour of the South African golfing legend. The putter that Papwa used to win the many games he participated in is the floating trophy, which is one of the main attractions for participants in this tournament that is a mainstay of the golfing calendar. The competition attracts more than a 120 players from around the country. Briefly about Sewgolum He was born…

NOVEMBER marks a poignant moment in our shared history. We just celebrated Diwali, an Indian festival here in South Africa, and Diwali reminded us of our shared cultures and traditions, and the quintessential victory of good over evil. November 16 marks the 163rd anniversary of the solemn occasion when the first ship carrying indentured Indian labourers reached South African shores in the Indian Ocean. The result of the then British Parliament’s abolishment of slavery in 1833, which later birthed a system of “indenture” or “contract” work, under which a few million Indians were shipped in the 19th and early 20th century to colonies across the world to work on British plantations, rails, mines and businesses. November is an apt moment to remember the arduous journey across the Kala Pani (‘black…

750ml cake flour 5ml fine salt 375ml boiled water 90ml sunflower oil Place the flour and salt in a mixing bowl. Pour the boiled water over the dry ingredients and stir until the mixture resembles large crumbs. Add the sunflower oil and knead the dough until smooth. Roll the dough into a “log” and slice it into 12 pieces. Roll each piece into a length and curl up half. Curl up the other half in the opposite direction. Fold one curled section over the other and flatten the dough slightly. Cover the dough with a damp cloth. Roll each piece into a round ensuring that the work surface is dusted with flour. Place the roti on a hot pan. Flip the roti once it starts to bubble and speckles…

800g fish steaks 60ml sunflower oil 5ml mustard seeds 5ml cumin seeds 1 onion, finely chopped 7ml coarse salt 6 cloves garlic, crushed 30ml red chilli powder 800g tinned tomatoes 10ml ground coriander 5ml ground cumin 2.5ml turmeric 30ml tamarind 125ml boiled water pinch of sugar fresh curry leaves and coriander, chopped Heat the sunflower oil in a pot. Add the mustard seeds and once they begin to pop, add the cumin seeds and fry until they sizzle. Stir the onion and salt into the oil. Sauté the onions until they turn golden brown. Add the crushed garlic and fry for a few seconds until fragrant. Stir the red chilli powder into the oil and fry for 3-5 seconds. Add the tomatoes. Stir the ground cumin, coriander and turmeric into…

THE alleged mastermind behind the murder of former councillor Sunil Brijmohan was also his business manager and a family friend. Vikash Brian Sewnath, 45, also known as Baladeva Dasa, appeared in the uMlazi Magistrate’s Court on Monday on charges of conspiracy to commit murder, unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition. He was remanded in custody pending his bail application next week. The State will oppose bail. Brijmohan, 46, was shot dead in Amanzimtoti in October last year. Shortly after his killing, police arrested five suspects who were charged with his murder. Two of the five suspects pleaded guilty and were sentenced. The other three are still in custody. Police acted on information when they arrested Sewnath at his relatives’ home in Orient Hills, Isipingo, on Saturday…

THE eagerly anticipated annual shopping extravaganza that marks the start of the summer season, Black Friday, is just around the corner. This shopping bonanza, which extends from November 24 to 26, is known for its incredible deals and astonishing discounts. Eager shoppers are waiting to grab bargains on an extensive range of products, from electronics and trendy clothing to essential home appliances, and so much more. For many retailers, Black Friday is not just another shopping event; it’s a make-or-break moment that significantly impacts their annual performance. Even investors keep a close eye on Black Friday sales figures, considering them a key indicator of the overall health of the retail industry. Marketers are well aware of the tremendous influence they can exert over consumers’ behaviour, encouraging them to spend more…

Charlene Somduth charlene.somduth@inl.co.za The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (Sanral) has announced that traffic on the N3 can now be diverted onto the newly constructed carriageway between Cato Ridge Interchange and Camperdown Interchange. Thabiso Dladla, Sanral’s eastern region project manager, said the switchover was done on Thursday and Friday last week. “The southbound traffic shall continue using the lanes currently used. The target date for switching the southbound traffic to contraflow between Camperdown Interchange and Cato Ridge Interchange is December 11. Contraflow conditions between Camperdown Interchange and Dardanelles will not be affected by this traffic switch and shall remain in contraflow.” He said once the traffic had been diverted off the southbound carriageway between Camperdown and Cato Ridge Interchanges, the existing southbound carriageway would be available for the…

MUSIC composer Ilaiyaraaja, who delivered soundtracks in Indian cinema such as Nayakan, Sadma, Thevar Magan and Aa Raathri, is getting a biopic. Tamil superstar Dhanush will portray the composer on screen. Filming for the yet-to-be-titled movie is scheduled to start in October next year with the makers aiming for a release around mid-2025. Ilaiyaraaja’s career spans 47 years. He has composed more than 7 000 songs; provided film scores to over 1 000 films; and also performed in more than 20 000 concerts. He is nicknamed “Isaignani” (the musical sage) and is often referred to as a maestro. The title was conferred by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London. Oscar and Grammy-winning composer AR Rahman was his protégé when he joined him in 1986. Dhanush is one of the biggest…

Kollywood director Karthik Subbaraj is offering fans an engrossing period action-comedy drama in this movie, Jigar Thanda Double X. Madurai district in Tamil Nadu serves as a backdrop to the storyline and it captures the essence of Tamil cinema in 1975, when superstar Rajinikanth delivered a hit movie, Apoorva Raagangal, as “Pandiyan”. In Jigar Thanda Double X, Raghava Lawrence plays Pandiyan, a gangster and fan of Hollywood star Clint Eastwood. He scouts for a director for his own Western movie. Armed with an 8mm movie camera, Ray Darsan, played by director-turned-actor SJ Suriyah, is hired to direct Pandiyan in his debut. The filming of Pandiyan in Madurai takes the viewers into a world of violence and destruction perpetuated by government officials who will stop at nothing to satiate their greed…

DIWALI was a joyous occasion in my family. From a young age, I looked forward to it, and to the special dishes and tasty treats my mother used to make. My father would have his drink or two and entertain us with his song and dance. I would wind up the gramophone and my father would play his favourite Tamil songs. Then, to round off the day of fun and joy, we would light fireworks. My father would not buy a lot; just enough to celebrate the Festival of Lights. In those days, there were no ear-shattering loud bangs like the ones you get now. When we moved to Chatsworth, Diwali became much noisier. As the income levels of Chatsworth residents improved, competition became stiff among the families. If you…

“He allowed himself to be swayed by his conviction that human beings are not born once and for all on the day their mothers give birth to them, but that life obliges them over and over again to give birth to themselves.” November 16 marks a historic moment for Indian South Africans. On this day 163 years ago, the Truro arrived in Port Natal. It carried the first indentured labourers. This was part of a worldwide dispersion of indentured Indians to places like Mauritius, Jamaica, British Guiana, Trinidad, St Lucia, Granada and Fiji. It is not a coincidence that this migration came in the wake of the abolition of slavery, leading Hugh Tinker to call it a “new form of slavery”. Migration forged new identities, beginning in the emigration depot,…

BY THE time my letter survives the scrutiny of the editor, I will be on holiday close to my beloved granddaughter in Auckland, New Zealand. I write in favour or in praise of the rebuke in the form of a resolution of the Muslim Judicial Council Halaal Trust (MJCHT) not to endorse products or services emanating out of Israel and the occupied territories. This is the most powerful symbolism in the history of the MJCHT. While halaal certificates are voluntary, every conscious perplexed Muslim seeking leadership will shy away from consuming foodstuff that do not bear the certification by South African halaal authorities. Simply put, in practice they will not purchase a product, let alone consume if it does not have a certificate from an authorised certification or compliance body…

FOR months on end numerous non-profit organisations (NPOs) such as children’s homes, old age homes, child welfare societies, places of safety and many others have been facing financial difficulties due to delays in receiving their subsidies from the Department of Social Development in KwaZulu-Natal. Even though there is a Service Level Agreement (SLA) for the department to transfer funds to the NPOs, this has not been happening. These NPOs have monthly financial commitments such as paying staff salaries, utility bills and provision of food, among others. The situation has become so serious that some staff members are refusing to report for duty due to non-payment of salaries and some NPOs face shutting down. In terms of Section 105 of the Children’s Act, the government must provide funding to NPOs that…

SHOCKING statistics reveal that up to 200 cases of gender-based violence (GBV) incidents are reported in Chatsworth and Phoenix each month. The SA Outreach and Emergency Services GBV desk in Chatsworth said it dealt with up to 30 cases a week, while the Chatsworth Child Welfare sees an average of 45 to 60 new cases of GBV a month. The VJ Kara Family Centre, a safehouse for abused women and their children, at the Aryan Benevolent Home (ABH) in Chatsworth, said they recorded up to 25 cases a month. Phoenix Child Welfare’s Sahara Women’s Shelter (a facility for women and children survivors of GBV) deals with between 10 and 12 women and their children each month. The 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children Campaign (16…

Throughout our history, South African women have proven to be a force to be reckoned with by rising above painful circumstances and empowering themselves to create a brighter future for our nation. Though we have accelerated opportunities for women, there is much work to be done, and the major challenge that persists and affects women is gender-based violence. The 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children Campaign (16 Days Campaign) takes place annually from November 25 to December 10. In the light of the rising levels of violence in our country, it must be considered whether current legislation is sufficient to curtail domestic violence against women and children. The primary legislation to be considered is the Domestic Violence Act, 116 of 1998 (Domestic Violence Act), which…

NEW Zealand captain Kane Williamson said his side’s experience of playing in front of partisan crowds would serve them well when they face hosts India in a blockbuster World Cup semi-final. A capacity crowd of over 33 000 is expected at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium – the home ground of India captain Rohit Sharma – for Wednesday’s clash. New Zealand, losing finalists at the last two World Cups but yet to lift the trophy, knocked India out at the semi-final stage in a rain-affected two-day clash in Manchester four years ago. Bad weather, however, is unlikely to be an issue in Mumbai and while India had plenty of support at Old Trafford, star batsman Williamson knows that will be as nothing compared to the passionate backing they’ll have on Wednesday. When…

The fishing has been good on the days that it has been possible. Plan your trips around the weather as best you can, and you will get some good results. The rock and surf fishing has been a real mix this past week. The North Coast is starting to show some summer action, but the conditions are not playing the game most days. The North Coast has been blowing hot and cold with the varied conditions we are having. The north-east wind has not been cooling the water down as much as usual, so an extra day of proper north-east wind has been needed to get the fish feeding. Mackerel and redeye have been the most productive baits for most of the inedibles. Try make a bait with a lot…

THREE Durban High School (DHS) pupils, Semal Pillay, Ismael Omar and Joshua van Biljon, were recently selected for the KwaZulu-Natal U16 team, which is set to participate in Cricket SA’s U16 National Week. The CSA tournament is to be held at Oudtshoorn and George in the Western Cape from December 10 to 14. The pupils’ teammate, Krian Jugoo, was named in the reserves. All the provinces will be represented in the CSA U16 Week, and the boys are looking forward to pitting and showing off their skills against the best players in the country in this age group. The added incentive for the boys is that a good outing in the Western Cape would bring validation for Semal, who was recently selected to attend the CSA Talent Acceleration Programme Camp.…