Table of contents for Wednesday, September 9, 2020 in Post

Azaan muffled again High court judgment echoes in Tshwane CHANELLE LUTCHMAN AND CHARLENE SOMDUTH Google Maps FIRST it was the mosque in Isipingo. Now a mosque in Centurion, Pretoria, has been told to lower the Islamic call to prayer. Recently, the Durban High Court ordered that the Madrasah Taleemuddeen Islamic Institute should tone down the Azaan after Chandra Ellaurie, an Isipingo Beach resident, complained that the five times a day call infringed on his right to dignity. Judge Sidwell Mngadi ordered that the mosque’s call to prayer should not be heard within the buildings of Ellaurie’s property, which is situated about 20m away. Days after the ruling, the City of Tshwane’s health department issued a similar notice to the Raslouw Jamaat Khana in Centurion ordering the mosque to lower the…

Knock at door brings bad news for family CHARLENE SOMDUTH WHEN Melisha Naidoo heard a knock on her door on Saturday night she expected to see her brother. Instead, two policemen informed her that her sibling, Mark Badrinarain, had been in an accident and was being transported to Mediclinic Victoria, a private hospital in Tongaat, north of Durban. The 23-year-old vendor had driven into a tree in the Tongaat CBD. He sustained severe injuries and later died in hospital. Naidoo said her brother had dropped off their cousin, who lived with them, at their home before leaving to visit friends. “I did not see him when he arrived so I called and told him to come back home because it was late.” She said he agreed. “We ended the call…

Travel agency leaves customers in the dark CHARLENE SOMDUTH WOULD-BE tourists who booked with STA Travels have been sitting at home and are unsure if they will get their money back. The agency recently said on social media that it was bankrupt and had closed its South Africa and UK offices. The post read: “To our valued customers, due to the recent announcement that STA Travel South Africa has ceased trading, unfortunately, our travel experts are unable to assist you at this time. “Please be assured that if you had a previous booking with us, or hold a live booking, you will receive further communication in the coming days. We are sorry for the inconvenience and the limited information available to you at this time.” Razeenah Sardiwalla, 38, a businesswoman…

Tribute to Salisbury Island professor THANDEKA MGQIBI SIMPLE, humble, selfless and compassionate were the words used to describe Professor Indrasen Moodley who died late last month at the age of 75. He was the brother of the late lawyer, Monty Moodley of Isipingo, and a student at Salisbury Island. Sam Moodley, his cousin, said: “He had been ill. However, he recovered over time and seemed quite healthy. We didn’t expect to lose him.” She said Moodley was selfless and had contributed to the academic life of students. Harri Narismulu, a friend, collaborated with Moodley to set up the first private hospital in Maputo. “He was a student at Salisbury Island and rose to become a lecturer in the science faculty which covered pharmacy and science programmes. “In the so-called Essop…

Tested on life in the UK – and Shakespeare NADIA KHAN Supplied FOR Mellissa Mallaya-Pandya, emigrating to the UK was not an easy journey. Mallaya-Pandya is formerly of West-ville, outside Durban. She met her husband, Paresh Pandya, a British citizen, online in 2006. A year later, they met in London. The couple had a long-distance relationship and married in 2012. They live in Kent. “We had a traditional Hindu wedding in South Africa and I relocated on a fiancée visa in May of that year,” said Mallaya-Pandya of the Mystic Sisters (she and her sister, Jayshree Mallaya, are intuitive life coaches and tarot card readers). She said applying for the visa was tedious and expensive. “I first had to take an English test. Unless you have a degree in English,…

Pastor makes Canada his new home JANINE MOODLEY Supplied IT HAS been just more than two years since Pastor Julian Pillay and his family moved to Canada and while he misses South Africa, Canada is the place he calls home. Pillay lived in the town of St Stephen in New Brunswick and recently moved to Riverview. The Anglican clergyman grew up in Phoenix in Durban and spent many years serving at the Emmanuel Church Phoenix. “An opportunity came up for me in Canada, so we prayed about it and decided to take this leap of faith,” said Pillay. He left with his wife, Michelle, and their son, Christopher, in April 2018. He said he had to apply for a work permit and a visa and that he had to meet…

Interrogating the true meaning of heritage LUKHONA MNGUNI IOL WHEN I presented on the topic “My UKZN! My Heritage!: the efficacy of student protests?”, I was called upon to dissect the meaning of University of KwaZulu-Natal heritage and how students relate to it. A historical review of the institution called a university and the specific history of UKZN allows us to interrogate what we mean by UKZN heritage. Not all heritage is to be celebrated. At times we must rethink or denounce certain aspects of heritage. It is also important to note that not all history becomes heritage. The history of UKZN is marred with the history of colonialism and World Wars I and II. The campuses of UKZN are on land that was violently, immorally and illegally dispossessed from…

The strong relevance of ‘Ahimsa’ today THE High Court application to silence the Islamic call to prayer is a crass act of religious intolerance that should not be entertained in our democratic nation. Our country’s supreme world-class Constitution guarantees freedom of worship. The Constitution of 1996 includes a Bill of Rights. For the first time, all religions in our rainbow nation were recognised. Religions, cultures and languages were entrenched in the Constitution. Section 7(3) obliges the state to respect, protect, promote and fulfil the rights in the Bill of Rights. It was peace icon Mahatma Gandhi who said: “I do not like the word tolerance, but could not think of a better one. Tolerance may imply a gratuitous assumption of the inferiority of other faiths to one’s own, whereas ‘Ahimsa’…

An outdated tradition in a multi-religious society ISIPINGO Beach resident Chandra Ellaurie’s response to the Azaan from a neighbouring mosque has become a major controversy for all who are concerned about religious tolerance or intolerance. Ellaurie’s residence is adjacent to the mosque, subjecting him and his neighbourhood to higher than legally sanctioned noise levels, five times a day. Muslims have a right to prayer and to call others to prayer, but not at the cost of the constitutional rights of their fellow citizens who belong to other faiths. Some crucial questions arise out of Ellaurie’s successful legal bid to put a stop to a practice that is, arguably, an outdated tradition. For instance: • What sensitivities do Muslims demonstrate to people from other faiths, who do not engage in such…

India star eyes BBL FORMER India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, is looking to become the first player from the country to feature in Big Bash League (BBL) as he is searching for a club in Australia’s premier T20 competition. According to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald, Yuvraj’s manager, Jason Warne of W Sports & Media, has confirmed that the former India all-rounder is actively pursuing a BBL opportunity this summer. He has also said that Cricket Australia are interested in finding Yuvraj a club in BBL. “We’re working with CA to try to find him a home,” Warne said on Monday. The BBL will be entering its 10th season this year but it has yet to feature a single Indian player as the Board of Control for Cricket in…

MY SPORTING MEMORY Ultra-passionate about running ESHLIN VEDAN PREM Ramraj is among a select few athletes who participated in the Comrades Marathon 22 times. Ramraj, who grew up in Crossmoor, Chatsworth, fell in love with athletics in his school days in the late ’70s and ’80s. “By the early ’80s, I made up my mind that I would run the Comrades Marathon. In 1987, I joined Savages Athletics Club and gave myself five years of club running to get up to the standard marathon distance as a build-up to my first race,” said Ramraj, 55. Ramraj completed his first Comrades Marathon in 1992. He finished the race two and a half minutes before the cut-off time. He described the experience as being “disastrous” as he battled cramps for the last…

Institute takes Azaan verdict on appeal CHANELLE LUTCHMAN PAPERS have been filed in the Durban High Court to appeal the judgment against the muffling of the Islamic call to prayer. In terms of an order by Judge Sidwell Mngadi, the Madrasah Taleemuddeen Islamic Institute in Isipingo Beach was ordered to ensure the Azaan was not audible within the home of a neighbour, Chandra Ellaurie, who lives 20m away. Ellaurie, a Hindu who acted in his personal capacity, believed the Azaan infringed on his right to dignity. Mngadi said that according to Section 16 of the South African Constitution, everyone had the right to freedom of conscience, religion, thought, belief and opinion. “The provision guarantees freedom of religion. It does not guarantee practice or manifestations of religion. The call to prayer…

‘He was our pillar of strength’ NADIA KHAN A PHOENIX pastor who died in a car crash spent most of his days during lockdown uplifting family and friends. Deon Kisten Munien, 43, of Trenance Manor, died in hospital on Thursday after crashing into a pole on the M4 near Durban North. His sister, Shantal Rajgopal, said two days earlier, Munien had visited a friend in Morningside and was returning home that evening. “We are not sure what happened,” she said. She said Munien owned a stationery business and he often assisted others. “We lost our parents at an early age and he was our pillar of strength. In February, our whole family went to Margate together. It was one of the best trips. I will cherish those memories.” Rajgopal said…

Chakraborty arrested in drugs probe QUAID NAJMI IANS IANS MUMBAI: After days of intense speculation and three days of questioning, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Tuesday arrested Bollywood actress Rhea Chakraborty in connection with its ongoing probe to unravel the drugs nexus in the film industry, officials said. Chakraborty has been charged under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act for her alleged role in the drugs angle that has emerged during investigation into the June 14 death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput. Chakraborty, who pleaded innocence, was whisked away for a mandatory medical test at the Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation’s LTMG Sion Hospital. She is likely to be presented by the NCB before a court for her remand, while her legal team negotiates her bail. Reacting to the development,…

Collection of stories based on true events THE book EB KOYBIE – A Memoir of Shenanigans between Durban and Bombay was written by POST letter writer Ebrahim Essa. It offers a peep into the memory of a child born at the tail end of World War II, the initiation of apartheid and at the dawn of Indian independence. “It was a period known as the golden age of Indian music and black-and-white films and a period that saw Grey Street in its prime as a trading and cultural hub in Durban,” said Essa. “My stories are based on true events with some embellishment. “It begins in the then-rustic suburb of Mayville and then moves into town – where cinemas, markets and gangsters co-exist. “After I completed matric, I woke up…

‘Australia has plenty of jobs’ CHARLENE SOMDUTH VINODHA Govender emigrated to Australia to develop her career. She works as a technology team leader service manager in the city of Bunbury in Western Australia. Govender, 36, is single and formerly of Verulam, north of Durban. She will move into her own home soon. She has a B.Sc in computer science and information technology (IT) and is studying for a Master’s in IT leadership. Govender went to Australia in 2011 on a business trip and fell in love with the country. She believed that if she secured a job there she would be able to further her career. She applied for several jobs but was unsuccessful. “I wasn’t able to get a sponsorship for working overseas and without a working visa, my…

EDITOR’S VIEW Mokonyane’s unfortunate testimony WE ARE in the period where Hindus across the world pay homage to their ancestors. Pitr Paksha (fortnight of the ancestors) is based on the premise that we are who we are today as a result of the contributions and sacrifices of our ancestors. The belief in ancestors is also part of African culture. No person exists in isolation but is part of a lineage. In our part of the world, this is expressed in the Zulu saying: umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu, (a person is a person through other people). Those other people include the ancestors who are regarded as being forever alive. They are given thanks in good times and their counsel is sought when times are bad. It was, therefore, unfortunate that the character…

Relent and let go CHANDRA Ellaurie has had his day in court. The courts have ruled in his favour. Now, as a Hindu, one calls on his own Dharma (right way of living) to extend the hand of tolerance to his fellow residents of Isipingo Beach and allow the Azaan to be performed as it has been for generations in Durban and its surroundings. If Ellaurie is a follower of Sanatana Dharma (religious duty), his teachings would suggest to him that he should encourage fellow humans to pursue their basic religious practice. One calls on the complainant to relent. As much as he wishes to be left free to cherish and worship in the manner he chooses, so should he be generous at heart to all other human beings to…

Religions in harmony IT WAS unbelievable when Judge Sid-well Mngadi handed down judgment on August 21, banning the Azaan. After reading the judgment, especially aspects wherein Mr Chandra Ellaurie made disparaging comments on oath about Islam, I wasn’t surprised that the responses by Hindus, such as that by Rivaaj Ramdass, would be coming. And they did. The Editor’s View, “Unity among our religions heart-warming”, supplemented by Aman Maharaj’s “The Azaan must continue at the same volume”, and Kevin Govender’s letter “Judgment is a blight to religious harmony”, (the POST, September 2-6), confirm that there is a bond of amity that the majority of Hindus, Christians and Jews hold towards Muslims. I am not surprised if there were literally hundreds of responses that landed on your desk and what was published…

Your Stars SHARRON DUFF Aries (March 21 – April 19) This week is full of opportunities and your hard work is about to pay off. Be open to receiving something wonderful. If you have been waiting for an answer for an interview or a decision that has been hanging, then this week could bring you good favour. Lucky colour: White. Taurus (April 20 – May 20) You may be faced with a decision from the past that needs closure. This may be a memory that resurfaces, an old flame, a friend whom you have lost touch with, or a loved one with whom you shared bad words. Put the past behind you and allow for the situation to close. Make space for new and healthy relationships. Lucky colour: Blue. Gemini…

DEFENDING CHAMP PULLS OUT OF FRENCH OPEN WORLD No 1 and reigning champion Ashleigh Barty has confirmed that she will not participate in the French Open scheduled to be played later this month due to health concerns and a lack of preparation. Barty also said she would not be playing at all in Europe this year. “Last year’s French Open was the most special tournament of my career so this is not a decision I have made lightly,” Barty said in a statement on Instagram. “There are two reasons for my decision. The first is the health risks that still exist with Covid-19. The second is my preparation, which has not been ideal without my coach being able to train with me due to the state border closures in Australia.”…

LaLiga: We were worried LALIGA President Javier Tebas said on Monday that he hopes Lionel Messi ends his career at FC Barcelona, admitting that they were worried about the superstar leaving the club at one point of time. Argentine forward Messi ended speculation last week about his future at the Catalan giants by announcing that he would stay for another season, though reluctantly, rather than fight his club in a court of law. Messi, 33, had informed Barcelona that he wanted to leave the club on a free transfer, according to a clause in his contract. But both Barcelona and LaLiga stood firm, saying that Messi’s contract with the club was valid and any club interested in his services would have to pay the club €700m as per the buyout…

‘Cool heads needed’ in UAE IPL DEBAYAN MUKHERJEE KEEPING in mind the hot and humid conditions in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), it will be vital for fast bowlers to manage their workload as the task at hand won’t be easy when the Indian Premier League (IPL) gets under way on September 19, says Kings XI Punjab pacer Mohammad Shami. The IPL was moved to the UAE because of rising Covid-19 cases in India. The cities of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah – which will host the league – are expected to experience temperatures of 35ºC-40ºc during the tournament. “The temperature is much higher compared to India. There are chances of getting dehydrated. There will be chances of cramps. So we will have to keep those things in mind,” Shami…

HAMILTON SET TO DRIVE CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUES REIGNING Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has launched a team to compete in next year’s inaugural Extreme E racing series. The move marks Hamilton’s first foray into team management, with his squad’s X44 name referencing the number he has carried on his Mercedes F1 car since 2014, reports Xinhua news agency. However, Hamilton will not drive or be involved in the day-to-day running of the outfit as he is all but certain to remain in F1 with Mercedes for 2021 and beyond. “It’s an exciting new project and it will be fun to have a different role from being the driver,” said Hamilton. The all-electric Extreme E series aims to highlight the impact of climate change, help rebuild affected communities and promote…

SA’s ‘Masked Tornado’ was a wrestling legend ESHLIN VEDAN Supplied THE South African wrestling fraternity suffered a loss last week when the legendary Danie Brits, who was known as “The Fighting Springbok”, died after a heart attack. He was 59. Brits, who was an accomplished amateur wrestler and an expert in judo, entered the professional wrestling circuit in the 1980s and was best known by fanatics for his sting as the Masked Tornado. In his heyday, Brits was pitted against Indo-Canadian wrestling legend Tiger Singh. Speaking to the POST, Singh said he was shocked to hear about the death of Brits who he knew to be in good health. Singh, 65, said that some of his best bouts were against Brits. Mano Singh, a local wrestling promoter and the director…

Inspired to be a writer by his childhood memories RAJ M Isaac, a retired teacher, lecturer and subject adviser, recently self-published a book titled Reflections. In the 21 stories in the anthology, the 70-year-old explores themes such as revenge, death, destruction, love, possessiveness, prejudice and hope. “My love for storytelling was sparked in my childhood, when I listened to adult stories being told on cold winter nights round a bowlah – a home-made heater comprising a drum containing burning wood and coal. These stories were told in Tamil by older men in my family, after a prayer meeting or other function,” said Isaac. “Writing gives me a creative outlet that brings me joy. I find it cathartic. It gives me an opportunity to play with words and give them artistic…

NZ coach draws on life skills learnt in Chatsworth CHANELLE LUTCHMAN Supplied FOR Chatsworth-born Sunesh Singh, New Zealand may be his home but South Africa will always have a place in his heart. Singh, 36, popularly known as “Coach Sunz”, was 17 when he moved to the island country with his parents. He is based in Auckland. To move, Singh and his family had to apply for a work visa. Thereafter, they applied for a resident visa to stay indefinitely. Singh said his dad, who worked in the construction industry, had a job offer there and so the family relocated. “The first four years were tough to adapt. We had to get used to the culture and the new way of life, but the people were welcoming and they still…

Now you have the time, what are you doing with it? Talk to people about what is important to them PROFESSOR TERRENCE KOMMAL Pixabay SOME medical peers and I had a Zoom call recently about the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on them, their families, their patients and their practices. Everyone, every professional in the world and every business in any sphere of life at this point, is affected. The changes have come over the past three to six months, and most likely will be a sustained impact for a long time. Many of my colleagues had complained that their practices were quiet. They confirmed they had lost massive income and they were in an apathetic state at this point. I raised a discussion with them about “who knows what…

Focus on tolerance WITH reference to the Editor’s View, “Unity among our religions is heart-warming” (the POST, September 2-6). Today is a sad day. Today I am ashamed. A wise friend told me that in time of crisis the best and the worst of people are revealed. Selfishness is a cancer that has enveloped us and the fear of God has been ignored by society. Thankfully, the disturbing judgment was denounced by civil society, leaders, organisations and the Hindu and Christian communities. This could not come at a better time. When we keep quiet as religious leaders, we contradict our beliefs. We cannot afford to turn a blind eye to such negative and divisive thinking and attitudes. Now is the time we focus on the concept of religious harmony and…

Time for turning the other cheek is over I THOUGHT that by living in a multiracial and culturally diverse society, we would promote peaceful co-existence among the different faiths by practising religious tolerance. But I was wrong. Religious bigotry has raised its ugly head again. In the first instance, Chandra Ellaurie, an Isipingo Beach resident, won a court judgment against the mosque next to his property for its loud Azaan (call to prayer) five times a day. Judge Sidwell Mngadi, a Durban High Court judge, had to carefully weigh up the citizen’s rights against the rights of religious freedom, both of which are guaranteed in the Constitution. Despite the applicant’s self-professed hatred for Islam, calling it a false and discriminatory religion, the judge ruled in favour of the applicant and…

Time to get back into exercise ZAIN RAMSDEN Supplied Even with Covid-19 regulations in place, there’s no excuse not to get your body in shape WITH life practically back to normal, it is time to get back into routine – including returning to the gym – with some Covid-19 safety adjustments. Here are some tips on how to get back into the swing of your exercise routine and how to adjust to a Covid-19 lifestyle while working out at the gym. Getting back to a routine: Being active and exercising regularly has many health benefits, both physically and mentally. It may even help you live longer, which is, of course, what we all want. Here are a few benefits why getting back into an exercise routine is important: ♦ It…

Party time Covid-19 has put a damper on events, forcing families to find creative ways to celebrate special occasions. To conquer the challenge, Audette Vengetas has created treats you can easily make at home. Follow her on her blog: www.allyandbug.co.za,and Instagram: @ally_and_bug Rice Krispie Treats ADD 1 cup of marshmallows and 1 tbs of butter to a bowl. Microwave for 3 minutes or until the marshmallows rise to the top of the bowl. Add 3 cups of popped rice cereal and stir. Place in a tray lined with baking paper and flatten. Add the sprinkles. Refrigerate for 2 hours. Cut into squares. • Optional: add a drizzle of chocolate. Choco-coconut Bars 1 can condensed milk 200g desiccated coconut 2 tbs cocoa powder 400g milk chocolate Mix the condensed milk, coconut…

Innogen can pull the rug ANDREW HARRISON Jarett Rugg came within an ace of breaking his duck since relocating to KZN when Innogen finished runner-up in her first run for the stable. Rugg has replaced apprentice Mfanelo Zuma with Anton Marcus in his attempt to get off the mark and that switch can pay dividends in the opening leg of the Place Accumulator at Hollywoodbets Greyville this afternoon. Ironically, Innogen was sold out of the powerful Justin Snaith yard and major threat to her chances could come in the form of the Snaith-trained Umzinduzi. Umzinduzi found some market support on debut but raced very green and seems sure to come on from that run while Purple Moon’s Up caught the eye on debut and former champion jockey Lyle Hewitson has…

getting HOOKED THE first leg of our annual Biggest Shad Competition has finished and the following anglers need to be congratulated for their fantastic catches. In third place with a shad of 4.4kg was Paula Pillay; in second with a shad of 4.41kg was David Shar and the king of the competition was Rowayne Ramouthar who landed a beast weighing 4.52kgs. We look forward to even bigger fish this month. The fishing has been good on all fronts with most facets eagerly awaiting the warmer spring weather. The offshore has been up and down. The seas have been choppy but those that have launched have landed some good fish. The Durban coast has seen a lot of tuna to the gaff this past week. The baitfish have been full up…

Beware bolstered Blues as EPL is set for kick-off ESHLIN VEDAN THE Premier League season is due to start this weekend. If one thing is certain, it is unlikely that the title race will be as one-sided as it was last season. While big things can be expected from Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side, they may not dominate as they did last season. Chelsea have had an impressive transfer window and on paper have a squad capable of challenging for the title next season. The Blues had arguably the best transfer window out of any club in Europe. They bolstered their squad with the additions of Kai Havertz, Timo Werner, Ben Chilwell, Hakim Ziyech, Malang Sarr and veteran defender Thiago Silva. One can also not count out Manchester City. City’s defending…