Table of contents for 2024-10-09 in Post

CLARIFYING that her divorce was with mutual consent and amicable, actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu lashed out at Telangana minister Konda Surekha for linking Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president KT Rama Rao with her divorce from actor Naga Chaitanya. Prabhu took to X to react to the minister’s comments and urged her not to trivialise her journey and be responsible and respectful of individuals’ privacy. Prabhu highlighted her journey and fight in the glamorous industry. “It takes a lot of courage and strength. Konda Surekha Garu, I am proud of what this journey turned me into. Please don’t trivialise it. I hope you realise that your words carry significant weight as a minister. I implore you to be responsible and respectful of individual’s privacy. “My divorce is a personal…

IT SEEMS Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt is all in prep mode for her film Love and War directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. She was seen outside Bhansali’s office in Versova, Mumbai, wearing a yellow shirt paired with jeans as she waved to the shutterbugs waiting outside the filmmaker’s office. Last month the makers of the Ranbir Kapoor, Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal movie announced that the film was slated to release on March 20 next year. The film’s release date falls during the biggest holiday stretch, coinciding with major festivals like Ramadaan, Ram Naumi and Gudi Padwa. The film is said to be a love story about a couple, who have to go their separate ways owing to familial obligations. Bhansali’s latest work was the period drama series ‘eeramandi: The Diamond…

PAKISTANI star Fawad Khan and Indian actress Vaani Kapoor are currently shooting in London for their upcoming romantic comedy movie, Abir Gulaal. The shooting started in the picturesque backdrop of London and was announced by production house Indian Stories. The film’s director, Aarti S Bagdi, offered a glimpse into the storyline and said the film was about love and healing. Bagdi said: “The film explores the journey of two individuals who unintentionally help each other heal, with love blossoming as an unexpected consequence.” Produced by Vivek B Agrawal, Avantika Hari and Rakesh Sippy, this highly-anticipated project promises to be a delightful cinematic experience. The producers in a joint statement said: “Fawad has a massive global fan base, and we anticipate that audiences and his fans will wholeheartedly embrace this film,…

A GAUTENG family who were making their way to the OR Tambo International Airport to leave on their hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, were attacked on the N1 Western Bypass, by men posing as police officers. But the brave father and son fought back and managed to catch one of the suspects who tried to flee on foot. Ahmed Saber, 62, a businessman from Krugersdorp, said he was travelling to the airport with his wife, son and daughter about four weeks ago when the incident happened. “We were in a kombi and my son was driving. He was going to drop us off at the airport. I was in the front passenger seat and my wife and daughter were at the back. We were leaving for Saudi Arabia for hajj.”…

WHAT can I buy with R10? This is the question on the lips of recipients of the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) grants amid the rising cost of living. Bharath Ramharak, 74, a pensioner from Northdale in Pietermaritzburg, said he was disappointed with the meagre increase. “My grant will now be R2 200. I have to pay my rent, water, electricity, and I have literally nothing left for food. It is not easy. The money is just not enough.” Ramharak is a retired shoe factory worker who lives alone. “Previously when I used to go to the shop, a staple like a can of baked beans was R5.99 and now it is R18.99. “Bread was R8.99 and now we are paying up to R18.99. “How is this R10 going…

A SPIKE in violent smash-and-grab incidents in the vicinity of the Jan Smuts Highway and Bellair Road intersection in Durban has prompted the Bonela Community Policing Forum (CPF) to do its own surveillance in a bid to help police apprehend the suspects. In a recent video circulating on community crime groups a motorist was seen stopping at the intersection, suddenly a man runs onto the road and smashes the front passenger window. The man is seen putting his whole body through the smashed window and grabbing whatever valuables he could before running off. Preggy Govender, the chairperson of the CPF, said smash-and-grabs had been occurring in the area for a long time. “We have our high and low periods but in recent months we have had smash-and-grab incidents almost every…

I SALUTE the late Pravin Gordhan’s daughter, Priyesha, for publicly and unreservedly chastising the two SABC journalists for their inexcusable comments and behaviour at the funeral of her father. There is a visible lack of consistency on the part of the SABC’s Moshoeshoe Monare, the group executive of news and current affairs at the SABC. He offered an apology to the Gordhan family and friends for the journalists' indiscretion. What is clear is that the two journalists displayed extreme contempt and were emphatically offensive. What is also shocking is the soft stance displayed by Ravi Pillay, the former MEC for Economic Development and Tourism and Environment, also suggesting an apology. Herein lies the double standard. Ravi Govender (former radio personality) was summarily dismissed from Lotus FM by the SABC for…

THE recent article in the POST on the unprofessional behaviour of two journalists at the funeral of Pravin Gordhan has reference. What is of concern regarding the unacceptable conduct of the journalists at the funeral is that the South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef), the South African Union of Journalists (SAUJ) and the Media Workers Association of South Africa (Mwasa) have all remained quiet and continue to turn their backs on the unprofessional behaviour of the SABC staffers. Sanef supports ethical journalism practices as one of its primary objectives. For as long as media workers unions and associations remain indifferent, unethical journalists will always be their Achilles heel. Not only Moshoeshoe Morane of the SABC should feel ashamed, but Sanef and the other structures mentioned above must also make…

IMAGINE a world where every choice we make shapes the future for generations to come. Will we choose violence and division or can we build a society rooted in justice, peace and dignity for all? That is the world we live in; those are the choices we must make today. It is the world that Dr Martin Luther King Jr understood as the World House – a place where we must learn to live together or perish as fools. To create that world, he called for a revolution. The revolution King had in mind was not one of the weapons of war and mass destruction. It is not a violent revolution. It is “a revolution of values”, a radical shift in how we treat one another and the world. The…

OCTOBER 7 marked the one-year anniversary of the deadly Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Gaza. It was on this day that Hamas launched a sudden attack on Israel, killing some 1 200 Israelis and taking 251 hostages. Israel claims that babies were butchered and women and girls raped by Hamas soldiers. In typical Biblical spirit, Israel sought revenge for the unprovoked attack and launched an air and land offensive against the Hamas militants in Gaza, killing some 42 000 Palestinians to date. But the war in Gaza is not over. Though much of it has been razed and many lives lost and ruined, Hamas hasn’t been annihilated. Wounded, yes, but it is alive. With the war in Gaza barely over and emboldened by the ease in which they had invaded Gaza, the…

THE summer heat hit us like a wall when we landed in New Jersey eight years ago. The heat hugged us with a strange familiarity; one of the Durban humidity but without the comfort of all that we knew. These first steps set the tone for our lives in the United States. We experienced the constant paradox of living – energetic excitement and enthusiasm for a new place coupled with the intense loneliness that comes with being 13 000km away from home. The magnitude of a move overseas never leaves you. It settles into the corners of your life, quietly filling the spaces of your existence, reminding you in moments of joy that key people are missing, and in moments of sadness of the opportunity that you have been given.…

Much like the offshore fishing, the sea has not been too kind in terms of conditions over the past week. The summer fish are starting to come out regularly, though, so it is best to get to your favourite spot as soon as you can! The North Coast is really starting to get hot. The honeycombs are becoming a frequent visitor on the reported catches with a lot of sad stories of long battles and paining backs. The deeper beaches have seen more bites than the rocky points but anywhere with access to deeper water is the place to be. Fleshy baits of mackerel or redeye sardine are the best way of targeting all of the summer inedibles. The bronze bream continues on their wild season with an unprecedented number…

KAJOL, who will soon be seen in the film Do Patti, has shared her opinion on breaking the rulebook. She took to her Instagram and shared several pictures of herself wearing an inverted suit with the button closure of the blazer at her back. She wrote in the caption: “If u don’t like the rules... break the damn book.” Earlier, Kajol took to her social media account and shared a funny take on Mumbai's torrential rains. Kajol, who enjoys a following of 17.3 million on Instagram, shared a short glimpse from her film, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, helmed by Karan Johar. She wrote a caption: "Me running to get some bhajiyas and chai to enjoy the #mumbairains (with the emoji of two umbrellas).” In the clip, Kajol posted a…

SP CHARAN, the son of legendary playback singer SP Balasubrahmanyam, will perform in a concert titled the Ilaya Nila South Indian Extravaganza at the ICC in Durban on November 9 at 7.30pm. The concert will also feature Super Singer winner Anand Aravindakshan and finalist Madhu Iyer, with the trio being backed by a hand-picked ensemble of professional musicians. Durban promoter Vasie Subramoney, who is hosting the concert in collaboration with D7 Media, said South Indian music lovers were starved of live concerts featuring top-class singers and musicians. He said that although it had been four years since SP Balasubrahmanyam had died, Charan would use his voice to rekindle fond memories of his talented father. “Watching your favourite musicians and bands perform live on YouTube and other social media platforms…

On the November 23, 1942, around midnight, British India Steam Navigation Co’s (BI) 10006 ton cargo passenger liner, Tilawa, which was positioned 07 36’′ north 06/008’′ east, about 500 miles east of the coast of Socorta, sunk into the cold Indian Ocean minutes after it was attacked by the Japanese submarine JP 1-29. I was one of the passengers on board the Tilawa that night. It set sail from Bombay on the November 20, 1942, bound for Mombasa, East Coast Ports and Durban. On the night of the November 19, 1942, friends and relatives bid me bon voyage as I left my home in Navsari, India. Early the next morning my mother woke me up to get ready as the appointed taxi would be calling to take us to…

THE story of an unknown Indian Recce Commando, one not previously narrated, of a youngster who defied all probabilities based on a marginalised system dating back as far as the Anglo-Boer War with ideologies of non-combat roles for Indians in military service was Warrant Officer Laren Krishna. He succeeded in becoming the first and only Indian to qualify to become part of one of the most elite military units in the world, The South African Special Forces, also known as The Recces. On Saturday, the South African Indian Legion of Military Veterans held a Commemorative Service at the Queen Nandi Natal Mounted Rifles Regiment in Durban where Warrant Officer Krishna was one of many soldiers honoured. Childhood Born into the community of Campbell’s Town in Mount Edgecombe, North of Durban,…

A WELL-known, retired Verulam school principal died in a freak accident on Monday while trying to separate his two dogs in a fight. Pat Moodley, 66, the former principal of Glenhaven Secondary, was pronounced dead by Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) paramedics. Rusa head, Prem Balram, said: “We received the distress call at 12.57pm. Our team arrived at the deceased’s home in Brindhaven approximately three minutes later. We found a male lying face up outside his garage. He was already deceased,” said Balram. “A neighbour and a family member informed us that there had been a fight between his two dogs. He went to intervene and was knocked over in the commotion. A neighbour heard the noise and went to investigate. The man was lying on the ground and the…

Busisiwe Mkhwebane is no stranger to court verdicts that go against her. During her term of office as the Public Protector, she suffered several court losses that called into question her fitness to hold office, state of mind, and integrity. With more than 70 judges ruling against her while serving as the Public Protector, Mkhwebane never saw anything wrong with her ability to do her work or fitness to hold office. Instead of doing some soul-searching and introspection, she tried to accuse judges of bias and disliking her. In an unprecedented move, Mkhwebane lodged misconduct complaints against 14 judges with the Judicial Services Commission (JSC). This begs the question: how did Mkhwebane escape the scrutiny and the rigorous processes that come with one’s appointment to the Chapter 9 institutions such…

“To be a father of a nation is a great honour, but to be the father of a family is a greater joy.” There is a perception that women are abused, and men are abusers. What many of you will not realise, is that there are a number of men that are actually abused in various ways - physical, verbal abuse, financial abuse, alienation of affection by a partner, alienation of their rights by their children, rights as fathers being tested and deprived, and, of course, emotional abuse. This does not apply to all fathers, and all mothers are not unreasonable and unfair. It takes special people to put their children first. Often when I speak to clients, who are women, I have to remind them that there must have…

WE WELCOME yet another initiative by Public Works and Infrastructure MEC, Martin Meyer, this time aimed at non-performing construction companies doing business with the provincial government. The move will see companies – along with company owners – being black listed. For far too long, connected comrades have been able to get away with non-performance and dodge black listing by simply opening a different company and continuing to operate with impunity. In his budget speech earlier this year, MEC Meyer stressed that the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) funds would be used solely on serving the public. This will pave the way to ensuring that limited funds available for projects will be used in the manner for which they were intended. Companies that are constructing buildings intended to serve…

LAST week's front page screamer "Granny killed after battery thrown from bridge" and the editorial view in the POST, "Killing must not become a national pastime", has shaken the entire KwaZulu-Natal. Madhumathie Bunwarie’s death has left an unfillable void in the lives of her loved ones. Shouldn’t we all be worried? Who's next to be targeted? There is one thing that unites all law abiding citizens. It is their fear of becoming a victim of crime, which sadly has become a way of life in our beautiful country. This type of crime is a reminder of the growing disregard for human life which has no place in society and their action warrants severe consequences. Sadly, this is not an isolated incident of crime in our country. This was another tragedy…

AT A MEETING of concerned past associates of Curries Fountain held on Saturday, various speakers voiced their views (mostly in a disappointing tone) that the hallowed sports venue and iconic Curries Fountain had been relegated to a glorified parking area in concert with the Durban University of Technology. Sports history in our country and the truth of that history must always flow strongly. Curries Fountain is an inextricable and integral part of that truth (history) which is so valuable and an important part of our heritage. We are here today to take ownership of that heritage which is being callously cast aside as if it was not there. It is a great pity that in the 10th month of the centenary year of Curries Fountain (1924-2024), we are fighting for…

HALF a loaf is better than none, they say, but when a tiny bit more than half a loaf, or just 13 slices of bread, is all that you can buy with the R10 increase in the monthly State pension, then it’s a disgraceful state of affairs. This pittance of an increase will be swiped on criminal energy charges, water, food, transport and the ongoing cost of living. Starting this month, the adjustment sees the old age grant rise from R2 180 to R2 190 for those below 75 years, and from R2 200 to R2 210 for those above 75. The disability grant and the childcare dependency grant will creep up from R2 180 to R2 190. This minimal increment comes amid a backdrop of escalating living expenses, with…

Letter to Ms. Busisiwe Mkhwebane (former public protector) WE CONDEMN your tirade against judicial officers of Indian descent as being responsible for your impeachment and removal from office. The National Independent Congress of South Africa condemns what it perceives as untoward and irresponsible conduct on your part in blaming judicial officers of Indian descent for the woes that have befallen you. Your impeachment that resulted in your removal as the public protector had followed the attendant processes necessary for such an act to be enforced. Your disapproval of the findings and your subsequent challenges there- to in an attempt to overturn such findings, while understandable, does not give you the right to become “racial” in trying to find scapegoats for your lot in life. By suggesting that judicial officers of…

I AM CONFUSED and it is unsettling me. Last week, Iran and Iraq collectively decided that enough was enough and decided to show Israel and its allies that it was departing from its usual rhetoric of fire and fury and put the theory into practice. Well, it sure showed them. From the video footage circulating on social media and Telegram channels, Iran has proved itself to be a formidable foe and one Israel would do well to heed. It was high time for Israel to face the consequences of its maniacal and suicidal aggression in Gaza which has continued for an entire year. And then, to the chagrin and horror of the world, Israel turned the simmering conflict with Hezbollah into a raging inferno, using the wanton bombing, assassination and…

The uMhlanga Women’s Association will host a Mental Health and Boys to Men empowerment conversation titled “1 000 Reasons to Stay” on Thursday to highlight the importance of mental health and breaking the stigma that surrounds it. Praneetha Aniruth, the founder and chairperson of the association, said: “Boys to Men is about boy and men empowerment and we believe it is often neglected in communities. It’s also World Mental Health Day and we want to commemorate this day and highlight its significance. We had our first event last year and since then it has become a core campaign in our organisation." She said they hoped families, communities and workplace environments worked together to help those that are suffering from mental health conditions. "Depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation are all issues that…

ENTRIES for the POST, Hisense, India South Africa Chamber of Commerce Diwali Fun Walk/Run are streaming through. The event, at the Siphosethu School Grounds in Mount Edgecombe, is creating a buzz due the prizes on offer as well as the celebrities that participants and visitors will get to rub shoulders with. Other than standing in line to win an 18kg washing machine valued at R11 000 at the fun walk/run, there will be a meet and greet with the stars from The Mommy Club: Sugar & Spice, Broken Promises 5, and Greytown Girl. There will also be a Hisense pic-a-box competition where the prizes include microwave ovens, a grocery hamper, and fireworks boxes. In addition, there will be a lucky draw for qualifying entrants between 18 to 35 years, who…

The short putt – a shot that can make or break a golfer’s confidence and scorecard. While it may seem simple, the short putt requires focus, technique, and mental toughness. In this article, we’ll explore the keys to mastering the short putt and provide tips to help you sink more putts inside 10 feet. Understanding the Short Putt A short putt is typically defined as any putt within 10 feet of the hole. These putts account for a significant percentage of total putts taken during a round. To become a proficient short-putter, you must: Develop a consistent pre-shot routine Align properly Make a smooth, controlled stroke Manage speed and direction Key Techniques for Short Putts Stance and Alignment: Stand comfortably with feet shoulder-width apart, with your putter face aligned directly…

The Phoenix Settlement celebrated its 120th anniversary. A series of events were held to commemorate the occasion, including the launch of the book Gandhi's African Legacy: Phoenix Settlement 1904 to 2024. A History Through Letters by Professor Uma Dhupelia-Mesthrie, the great granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi. At the event were:…

AHAN Shetty, who made his debut with Tadap, is taking his father Suniel Shetty’s legacy forward in the second instalment of the war film Border 2. Ahan joins Sunny Deol, Diljit Dosanjh and Varun Dhawan in the film. While Border was based on the events of the Battle of Longewala, Border 2 is presumably based on the Kargil War, which occurred in 1999. The conflict between the two countries was mostly limited. During early 1999, Pakistani troops infiltrated across the Line of Control (LoC) and occupied Indian territory mostly in the Kargil district. India responded by launching a major military and diplomatic offensive to drive out the Pakistani infiltrators. As per official data, an estimated 75% to 80% of the intruded area and nearly all high ground was back under…

POOJA Hegde, who has worked with Vijay in the 2022 film Beast, will once again share screen space with the superstar in the tentatively-titled film Thalapathy 69. The film is directed by H Vinoth, who made his directorial debut with Sathuranga Vettai in 2014. He then made films such as Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru, Nerkonda Paarvai,Valimai and Thunivu. Hedge is busy with Suriya’s tentatively titled film Suriya 44. She recently wrapped up Deva in which she stars alongside Shahid Kapoor and Pavail Gulati. Kapoor and Gulati will play cops in the film. Deva is set to release on February 14, 2025. Hedge will also feature in Sanki opposite Tadap fame actor Ahan Shetty. She made her Bollywood debut in 2016 with the period action film Mohenjo Daro.…

ACTOR Sanjay Dutt, who was recently seen in the streaming movie Ghudchadi, has been through some of the darkest times in the past. The actor has battled drug addiction, cancer, the loss of his mother, and the allegations of engaging in terrorist activities. On July 4, 1994, he was remanded to judicial custody for his alleged involvement in the Mumbai Bomb blasts. He was arrested under the provisions laid down under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (Tada). Even in the times of no social media, Internet or cell phones, the news spread quickly through the corridors of the cinema industry. By the evening, the entire Bollywood came in unison to support Dutt. A meeting was organised by the Cine Artistes’ Association at the house of the then-chief of…

OMAR Hassim was a passenger on the S S Tilawa. His name was spelt as “Omer Hasim” in the Transvaal Indian Congress list dated December 31, 1942. This is a brief history as related to me by my mother Khatija Hassim about my father, Omar Hassim, who survived the tragedy of the S S Tilawa. Omar Hassim was born in Ranavav, India, in 1915 and at a young age came to South Africa with his father to run a business on Market Street in Pieters- burg, South Africa; under the business name of “OMAR HASSIM – GENERAL DEALER.” Omar Hassim went to India from South Africa in 1941 and got married to Khatija Ebrahim Moti in Ranavav, Gujarat. On the 9th of November 1942, their first daughter was born in…

FOR Phoenix father Shardin Lance Chetty, losing his only child Mikai in such a brutal manner was the worst thing that could have happened in his life. Mikai Joshua Chetty, 13, and his grandmother, Nadhira Essack, aka Vanmala Chetty, 74, were found dead in the bedroom of their Effingham home last Wednesday. The Grade 7 Glenashley Preparatory pupil was found on the floor of the bedroom. The right side of his neck had been slit. Essack was found dead in her bed. It is believed she had been suffocated. Her daughter and Mikai’s mother, Melani Chetty, 50, was found in another bedroom. Her neck and wrists were slit. She is in a critical condition in hospital. A knife was found at the scene. A police source said it was believed…

With just two weeks to go before the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations, disturbing conditions have emerged at two of Chatsworth’s worst-performing schools – Witteklip and Chatsworth Secondary. This was revealed after the DA’s State of Readiness Tour (Sort) of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) schools. Spearheaded by Sakhile Mngadi, the DA KZN spokesperson on education, Sort kicked off last week in the Umlazi District. It will be extended to cover the province’s 12 education districts in an attempt to establish interventions to date by KZN’s Department of Education at the worst-performing schools in the 2023 matric exams. Two of those schools in the Umlazi district were Witteklip Secondary School with a 47% pass rate and Chatsworth Secondary (56.6%) Chatsworth Secondary’s principal, Arthur Lukhan, said they had 250 pupils from grades 8 to…

TWO teachers, who were victims in a separate smash-and-grab incident on Jan Smuts Highway and the Bellair Road intersection, have cautioned motorists to keep their valuables in the boot of their cars. Fowzia Rahim, 57, from Westville, was involved in a smash-and-grab earlier this year, soon after receiving the news that her husband had died in hospital. “My husband was admitted to St Augustine’s Hospital. My son was with him and I was at home. I received a call from my son that my husband’s doctor needed me to go to the hospital urgently. “My neighbour and his wife offered to drive my daughter and I to the hospital. When we reached the hospital I was told that my husband had died. I was completely beside myself,” said Rahim. “After…

IT WAS reported last Thursday evening that Mkhwebane had apologised for her remarks on the SABC’s, Face the Nation. She reportedly said she did not mean to cause the perception that she was attacking Indians and that her message was misinterpreted. “I don’t mean to cause any perception that I am attacking the legal advisers. They are hard-working, and at the end of the day, yes, I’m prepared to (apologise) if they think it’s like that.” She said it was concerning for parliament to think it was a racial slur. “If you read that post again and again and ask yourself whether I was discriminating, being racist or being hateful, I’m mentioning what the current situation is. I’m willing to say, 'OK, let's forget about race' — and let me…

THE ANC governance of eThekwini Municipality continues to be a series of own goals, the latest being its measures to reduce water consumption, the POST, October 2 - 7. Its recent lament over the shoddy state of the metro is entirely its own fault for failing to ensure that basic cleansing, sweeping, verge, open space and infrastructure maintenance is enforced. For 20 years water losses have increased and now exceed 55%. The measures mayor Cyril Xaba intends imposing are ones we have heard before and would not be necessary if they had been applied long ago. The most laughable of Xaba’s measures is the installation of restrictors on water meters for all consumers. This is the tallest of tall orders because his staff can’t read all the water meters on…

This year, Chatsworth, one of the most vibrant townships in the country, celebrates 60 years since it was founded in the 1960s. To mark the anniversary, the POST is publishing a series of articles from Kiru Naidoo’s book, Made in Chatsworth. HIGH up on the ridge close to the 320 corner with Road 302 was a house with a window pane broken in the shape of a map of Africa. There lived Sarptiya, a randy old toad. The fabled power of his trouser department and love of the bottle earned him the “teasing name”. Derived crudely from Tamil, it loosely translates as “Have you eaten?”. The picture created is that one delights in dining on bedroom pleasures and drink. He was not flattered by the name. And he had…

IT TROUBLES most South Africans, especially elders like me, who have spent their lifetimes as freedom fighters. The sad reality is that 40% of South Africans did not vote in our past election. The chilling statistic should have been the subject of a national public debate. The question on our minds is: How legitimate are those who sit in our Parliament today? Perhaps as interesting is that the voting pattern did not give any party an outright majority. We can conclude that most South Africans do not trust our political parties, especially the oldest liberation movement in Africa, the ANC. I am tired of speaking in generalities. I have lived in North West for three years, close to Marikana. Statistics SA recently stated that the province had more unemployed than…

THE attack on Indian judges by former Public Protector MP Busisiwe Mkhwebane warrants a response. Our supreme courts are swamped with legal battles between the state and civil society. In her traditional posture, our lady of justice stands serenely blindfolded holding a pair of scales in one hand and a sword in the other. The blindfold denotes that justice is blind to pressure or prejudice. Fearing, no doubt, that justice should not be blind to the truth, the blindfold is often discarded in more recent portrayals. We all know why justice is blind. Justice is objective and impartial, administered without fear or favour. She bears no ill to any litigant, and all are equal before the law. Thus, justice is even-handed, the scales by which one value or interest must…

THE implementation of the International Convention on the suppression and punishment of the Crime Apartheid Bill, acknowledges that South Africa having freed itself of apartheid, has the moral obligation to combat and eliminate all forms of apartheid wherever it is practiced. We must be mindful of Madiba’s commitment that South Africa is committed to justice and security in the world and the peaceful resolution of conflicts. It is incumbent upon it to listen and heed the call by, inter alia, the Media Review Network, the South African Muslim Network as well as of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), the latter which staged a march to Parliament on Saturday in Cape Town for the South African government not to baulk at the prospect and to legislate the Apartheid Bill…

THREE brothers who were arrested for dealing in drugs during an undercover police operation, in Phoenix, last Monday, have been released on bail. Jaganathan Naicker, Sachin Naicker, Sathasivan Naicker and their alleged runner Siyabonga Lucky appeared in the Verulam Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, on charges of dealing and possession of drugs. According to a police source, the accused operated next to a primary school and had been under surveillance for months. It is alleged that the accused had sold crack cocaine, a crack cocaine pipe and mandrax tablets to an undercover police trap agent six times on separate occasions between June and August. The source said during their arrests police seized crack cocaine pieces, mandrax tablets, two Glock 19 firearms, five magazines, 58 live 9mm rounds, four cellphones and R10…

THE cow occupies a very important place in Sanathan Dharma. The act of Gau Daan (gifting of a cow) is an ancient ritual which followers of Sanathan Dharma have been engaging in for centuries. The word Gau commonly means cow. However, the word Gau also has other meanings. Its other meanings are: source of food, symbol of life and senses. Our Sanathan scriptures abound with verses that emphasise the importance of the cow and Gau Daan. In the Rig Veda, we are reminded that: “One who deprives others of milk by slaughtering cows, O King, if such a wrongdoer does not cease by other means, then you should not hesitate to cut off his head.” In the Ramcharitmanas, we read that God appears in embodied form for the welfare of…

CHILDREN, more than ever, are being affected by mental health challenges. Globally, one in seven 10 to 19-year-olds experiences a mental disorder, accounting for 13% of the global burden of disease in this age group. Depression, anxiety and behavioural disorders are among the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents. Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15 to 29-year-olds. The consequences of failing to address adolescent mental health conditions extend to adulthood, impairing both physical and mental health and limiting opportunities to lead fulfilling lives as adults. Most parents and teachers would agree that the adolescent years are a unique and challenging time. In South Africa physical, emotional and social changes, including exposure to poverty, divorce, abuse, or violence, bullying and exam stress can make adolescents…

FEW would deny that South Africa is a deeply fragmented and divisive society. Now 30 years after apartheid, we are asking the same questions as we did in the past: Do our children have a future here? Is it safe for us to stay? Is our racial identity more salient than our nationality? Do we have to be content with being marginalised as minorities? Last week, I joined a group of speakers at a symposium organised by the History Museum under the curatorship of Rebecca Naidoo to discuss Social Cohesion: Towards building a truly South African Identity. According to the Department of Arts and Culture, social cohesion may be defined as a degree of social integration and inclusion in communities and society at large, and the extent to which mutual…

Jonny Evans says Manchester United’s players are sticking together and fighting hard to pull themselves out of a slump that has led to feverish speculation over the future of manager Erik ten Hag. Sunday’s battling 0-0 draw at high-flying Aston Villa meant the Red Devils stumbled into the international break without a win in five matches in all competitions. United have won just three matches all season and have taken eight points from their opening seven league games - the club’s lowest tally at this stage of a campaign since 1989/90. Despite the team’s struggles Ten Hag still believes he has the backing of the club hierarchy, who met for their pre-planned monthly meeting yesterday (on Tuesday). Experienced centre-back Evans, a surprise starter on Sunday, admits speculation “does affect the…

Legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar will lead India in the inaugural edition of the International Masters League (IML), in which teams from six cricketing powerhouses - India, Sri Lanka, Australia, England, South Africa, and the West Indies - will be competing. The tournament is set to take place from November 17 to December 8 and the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai will be hosting the opening leg of four matches. The captains in the International Masters League are; Sachin Tendulkar (India), Brian Lara (West Indies), Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka), Shane Watson (Australia), Eoin Morgan (England), and Jacques Kallis (South Africa). The tournament will kick off with a high-octane fixture between India and Sri Lanka on November 17, pitting Tendulkar against Kumar Sangakkara, a throwback to their legendary encounters of the…