Índex per 2025-06-11 a Post

Ingredients: For the syrup: 1.5kg sugar 3 cups water 3 tbs lemon juice 2 cinnamon sticks 1 piece ginger 2 star aniseed Method: Boil the syrup until it becomes a bit thick, about 10 to 12 minutes. Brush the sides of the pot with water, while it’s boiling, so no sugar forms on the sides. Cool down in the freezer until cold. It is best to do this for a couple of hours or overnight. For dough: 4 cups flour 5 tbs baking powder 4 tsp butter 1/2 beaten egg 1 cup water Method: In a bowl, add the flour and baking powder. Rub in the butter. Mix water and half an egg together and add to the flour mixture. Mix until a dough forms. Knead until smooth for…

Ingredients: 12 pieces of chicken (I used wings, drumsticks and thighs) salt and pepper 1 cup plain yoghurt juice of one lemon 2 tbs extra hot masala 3 tbs ginger and garlic paste 1 tbs garam masala 1 tbs crushed chillies 1 tsp egg yellow powder 3 tbs coriander and mint paste 3 tbs ghee 1/2 tsp red food colouring (I used the gel one, if using the liquid, you can use 1 tbs) Method: Score the chicken. Add to a bowl and season with salt and pepper. Add the plain yoghurt, juice of one lemon, extra hot masala, ginger and garlic paste, garam masala, crushed chillies, egg yellow powder, coriander and mint paste (you can grind it and make your own if you like) and ghee. Mix everything together.…

Ingredients: 4 chicken breasts, cut in halves longways salt and black pepper 1 egg 1/3 cup flour 2 tbs for the sauce oil for frying 6 tbs butter 1/2 cup lemon juice 500ml fresh cream 2 tbs garlic, chopped 3 tbs capers 2 tsp black pepper 2 tbs parsley, chopped 400g boiled linguine pasta Method: Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Add the egg to it and coat. Place the flour in a bowl and coat each chicken breast with the flour. Heat the oil and fry the chicken until golden. Remove the chicken and drain out some of the oil. Add the butter to the remaining oil, followed by the capers and garlic. Fry for 5 minutes and add the flour and lemon juice. Mix until…

HAVING grown up in a community plagued with drug, alcohol abuse and gender-based violence, equipped Ricardo Pillay to empower other youth. Pillay, 31, of Phoenix, said his journey to uplift the lives of the youth started about 17 years ago. “I was about 14 years old and in Grade 8 when I was elected as my class Representative Council of Learners (RCL) representative and the junior deputy chairperson for the school’s youth desk. From there, I realised that I had the power to be a voice for the youth, who were not able to speak up for themselves.” Pillay, who is a holistic teacher at a secondary school in Phoenix, said he initially joined the local council office as the youth coordinator for ward 50. “After I completed matric in…

OF COURSE, the Madleen would be intercepted. And it was. There was no way it would have been permitted to break the Israeli-imposed siege on Gaza. It is the second vessel to attempt to set sail to Gaza. The first attempt was aborted after the Israelis bombed the flotilla in international waters. The Madleen seemed to be making great progress until it was intercepted roughly 185km away from the coastline of Gaza in the early hours of Monday morning. The crew was kidnapped by the IDF and, according to the Israelis, they will be deported to their countries of origin. The Israelis were quick to undermine the efforts of the activists on board, the most famous face being that of Greta Thunberg, Swedish climate change activist, tweeting that the show…

IN THE National Assembly last week, I rose to make an impassioned plea on behalf of millions of senior citizens who are being failed by this so-called government of national unity (GNU). Instead of uplifting the elderly – the very people who built this country – the GNU has introduced legislation that gives the state the power to forcibly remove them from their homes without a court order, based on nothing more than an anonymous complaint. It is nothing short of legalised trauma, wrapped in bureaucratic language and disguised as protection. But that’s not the only betrayal. While ministers enjoy mansions, free electricity, luxury vehicles, and catered lifestyles funded by taxpayers, our elders are expected to survive on a pitiful R2 000 a month. That is not care. That is…

JUNE marks International Pride Month – a time during which KwaZulu- Natal’s (KZN) LGBTIQ+ community celebrate their identity – culminating in the Pride March on June 28. Regrettably, despite the positive strides made within society, members of the LGBTIQ+ community in our province still suffer from discrimination and violence. We cannot stand blind to this and, as KZN’s first openly gay MEC, I am also aware of my responsibility in this regard. It is for this reason that I have formally called on the KZN legislature to affirm its commitment to protecting the rights of our province’s LGBTIQ+ community – including the Trans community – by holding a debate in the House about the ongoing challenges they face. The response to my call, from some MKP members within the KZN…

EXTRA classes for KZN matric pupils have been cancelled and the June exams postponed after teacher union Sadtu announced its work-to-rule action. Education experts have slammed this move and called on unions to “stop using pupils as bargaining chips”. This action will see teachers strictly adhere to the rules and regulations of their jobs, performing tasks exactly specified in their contracts and nothing more. Some schools in KZN have already sent out circulars to parents advising that extra classes for matric pupils had been cancelled and the postponement of June examinations. Sadtu provincial secretary Nomarashiya Caluza, said the education system in the province had collapsed due to various failures by the Department of Education’ (DoE) “There has been non-payment of the basic finance allocations and failure to adhere to national…

IT IS JUNE 2025 and the “Madleen”, a small boat crewed by 12 humanitarian activists, has been illegally boarded and seized by Israeli naval commandos while sailing in international waters. Her crew of international activists is detained in Israeli custody. The Madleen was sailing to Gaza, the Palestinian enclave that Israel has besieged, bombed and blockaded into starvation (but not submission). Among her crew is the prominent 22-year-old climate activist, Greta Thunberg, and Rima Hassan, a French European Parliament member. The boat was carrying a small amount of essential humanitarian aid, such as food and medicine, and was symbolically attempting to accomplish the dangerous task of breaking the illegal Israeli blockade of Gaza. In Cairo, Egypt, there is a large group of international humanitarian activists and civil society organisations gathering…

THE makers of director Nelson Venkatesan’s film, DNA, featuring actors Atharvaa Murali and Nimisha Sajayan in the lead, announced that the film would be released on June 20. The film shows both the protagonists, Anand (Murali) and Divya (Sajayan), being rebellious. This makes those close to them consider them crazy. The movie also features Balaji Sakthivel, Ramesh Thilak, Viji Chandrasekar, Chetan, Riythvika KP and Subramanian Siva. Venkatesan, who is best known for having made movies like Oru Naal Koothu, Monster and Farhan, directed this crime drama that had been produced by Jayanthi Ambedkar.…

Nivaadh Jeeth Singh, also known as Deejay Nivaadh Singh, a Bollywood fusion DJ and live-streamer, recently made his international debut at Studio The Venue in Auckland, New Zealand. The venue has hosted artists and groups, including Sisqo, Shaggy, Fatman Scoop, Janet Jackson, and The Black Eyed Peas. Singh, a mechanical engineering inspector from Richards Bay, said this had been a milestone in his 18-year career. “The idea was initiated by Althaf Suleman of The Bhangra Boat. Hosting our own event internationally was difficult but we took on the task of representing South African Indian culture. “The audience was predominantly South Africans, who made us feel right at home with a great amount of love and appreciation. It felt like a South African reunion. Everyone just wanted to celebrate and have…

Ingredients: 1.5kg goat meat, cut 1/3 cup oil 3 onions, sliced 2 tomatoes, chopped 4 green chillies 4 dry red chillies 6 cloves garlic, sliced curry leaf fresh thyme 3 tbs ginger garlic paste salt 1 tbs jeera seeds 1 tbs soomph seeds 4 cinnamon sticks 4 bay leaves 4 star anise 2 tbs garam masala 1 tbs dhania powder Method: Heat the oil in a pot. Add all the whole spices, half the amount of sliced onions, tomatoes, green and dry chillies, sliced garlic and curry leaves. Fry everything for 8 minutes. Add the meat, ginger, garlic paste and salt to taste. Mix and add the boiling water and cook for 2 hours. Keep adding water as it cooks down. Once the meat is almost soft, add the garam…

Ingredients: 400g flour 200ml warm milk 7g yeast 40g castor sugar 1/4 tsp salt 1 egg, plus 1 egg yolk 45g butter oil for deep frying Method: Put the flour into a bowl and make a well in the centre. Add the warm milk, yeast and sugar to it. Mix it into the milk. Bring a bit of flour from the sides and mix until you have a paste, while still not mixing in all the flour. Cover and rest for 20 to 30 minutes. Once done, add the egg and yolk, salt and butter and mix until it forms a dough. Knead for 8 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in a bowl and cover for it to proof until it doubles in volume for about 30 to…

A BLIND grandmother was stabbed to death and her daughter is fighting for her life in hospital after her throat was slit, during a brutal attack at their Westham, Phoenix home on Monday evening. Kamatchie Naicker, 83, and her daughter, Shirley Appalsamy, 63, were repeatedly stabbed with a large butcher’s knife. A small kitchen knife was also found at the scene. Naicker, a grandmother of nine, sustained multiple stab wounds and was declared dead by paramedics. Appalsamy, a mother of two, was also stabbed multiple times and her throat slit. She was resuscitated before being taken to a hospital and remains in a critical condition. Speaking to the POST yesterday (Tuesday), Maggie Pillay, one of Naicker’s five daughters, said the family had been left traumatised by the brutal attack. “How…

FOR almost a decade, Shridika Devi Davenarian, has remained dedicated to uplifting the lives of others through her community work. “It gives me immense satisfaction and joy knowing that I can bring a smile to someone’s face or ease their burdens.” Davenarian, 22, of Tongaat, said she started volunteering at 14 years old. “I was in Grade 8 when I became involved in active community work by being a member of the InterAct Club at Tongaat Secondary School, which was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Umhlanga. My interest was sparked when I saw how the club was actively supporting those in need. I was deeply inspired by their dedication to service and making a difference in the lives of the less fortunate.” Davenarian, who is also a member of…

CHATSWORTH was full of sardines over the weekend. Everywhere I went, the air was filled with the aroma of fried sardines. With the little silvery fish selling for as little as R12 a dozen, who wants to pay R150 for a kilo of unhealthy red meat? No one wants to miss out on this annual delicacy. Every Indian home was frying them. Butchery sales must have dipped. Normally we Indians use a lot of oil in our cooking. But this shoots up during the sardine run. You need a lot of oil to fry the tiny fish. And after one or two fries you cannot use the oil again. It gets black, smelly and ugly. You can also grill them but it means using the big oven…

FOLLOWING the grave miscarriage of justice in the recent Timothy Omotoso case, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has further egg on its shameful face with former Free State Premier, Ace Magashule’s personal assistant, M Cholota, walking free after her extradition from the US was deemed to be unlawful. Much of the ineptitude and gross shoddiness of the underperforming NPA is a sad reflection of its head Shamila Batohi, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). She is in the same league as the ex-public protector Busisiwe Mkwebane, who was booted out of office due to her gross ineptitude and incompetence. A new DPP will be appointed in 2026. Why is Batohi not being shown the door due to her ongoing failure to deliver? Is it because she is an ANC crony…

DENNIS Pather’s columns invariably provide entertaining reading. However, his attempt to link the Trump Administration’s policy towards Harvard University with apartheid’s “bush colleges” is out of line (the POST, June 4-9). In his election campaign Trump promised to root out the anti-American, globalist Marxism that has infested tertiary institutions. He wants scrutiny of hiring practices and an end to race exclusionary measures in graduate programmes, particularly regarding anti-semitism. Punitive action was promised if Harvard failed to remedy those practices. Although $7 billion in debt, Harvard failed to respond and so $8.7bn in Federal funding due to it is under review. In cracking down on violence and the disruption of academic life caused by foreign so-called students at Harvard, Columbia, Cornell and other universities, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has spelled…

YOUTH Month in South Africa, is a time to commemorate the courageous students of 1976 who stood up against an oppressive regime. Their fight, most vividly captured in the tragic yet galvanising Soweto Uprising, was not just about language policy but about systemic injustice, inequality, and a yearning for dignity and opportunity. Fast forward to 2025, we are now 31-years into a democratic dispensation. But the question worth asking is: where are we now – politically and economically as youth of a democratic South Africa? It’s a question that demands uncomfortable honesty. Political landscape: a crisis of trust In 1994, political freedom was the defining achievement of our time. Millions queued to vote, inspired by the dream of a Rainbow Nation. Our Constitution became a global model for inclusivity,…

The four African qualifiers for the revamped Club World Cup in the US are set to become much richer, no matter how they fare in the 32-team tournament. By securing places, Al Ahly of Egypt, Esperance of Tunisia, Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa and Wydad Casablanca of Morocco are each guaranteed $9.55 million (R168.8m) appearance fees. The bonanza is the equivalent of Sundowns winning nine league titles in South Africa, the African country with the richest football prize money. A win in the group phase will add $2m, a draw $1m, and a top-two finish and qualification for the knockout phase $7.5m. Winners of the premier African club competition, the CAF Champions League, receive $4m for playing 14 or 16 matches. No side will play more than seven matches in…

If bent rods, heavy bottom action and a salty grin are your thing – it’s game on. Offshore conditions are lining up beautifully, with a mix of couta and snoek keeping things spicy. The fish are active, the water’s alive, and every drop is delivering something worth writing home about. Gamefish are cruising, bottom species are holding tight and there’s no shortage of excitement out there. The bite is strong, the energy is electric, and the ocean is delivering in full force. With Durban living up to its reputation as the warmest place to be, summer species are still feeding hard. It’s the perfect time to pack your gear, saddle up and make the most of this prime window. North Coast update – Umdloti’s on fire Umdloti is delivering consistently,…

Manchester City yesterday confirmed the appointment of two former Liverpool coaches to Pep Guardiola’s backroom staff, including Jurgen Klopp’s ex-assistant Pepijn Lijnders. The Dutchman arrives at the Etihad Stadium alongside a new set-piece coach, James French, who has spent the past 13 years at Anfield. The appointments follow the departures of three members of Guardiola’s backroom staff. Lijnders, 42, worked under Brendan Rodgers and Klopp at Liverpool. He left the club along with Klopp at the end of the 2023/24 season and took up the post of head coach at Red Bull Salzburg but was sacked in December. Guardiola’s team finished third in the 2024/25 Premier League and failed to win a trophy for the first time in eight years. They will travel to the expanded 32-team Club World Cup…

SURJASIKHA Das, who is gearing for the release of her film Maa, said that for her, the length of a role was secondary or even tertiary but the substance of the character was something that she could not compromise with. The actress, who made waves with her appearance in the popular series Call Me Bae, is set to take a significant leap in her acting career with Maa. The film, helmed by Vishal Furia, explores themes of motherhood, sacrifice, and the quiet strength of women. Talking about the film, she said: “Saying yes to Maa was an easy decision for me. Firstly, it’s a project backed by some of the biggest and most respected names in the industry, Ajay Devgn, Jyoti Deshpande, and Kumar Mangat. “Being associated with a production…

Movie review: Housefull 5 Cast: Akshay Kumar, Nana Patekar, Sanjay Dutt, Fardeen Khan and Jackie Shroff Director: Tarun Mansukhani Rating: 4/10 THERE is a thin line between absurdity and insanity. Add to that stupidity and you have the plot that producer Sajid Nadiadwala co-writes and gives to director Tarun Mansukhani to test the intelligence of even the most lenient lovers of absurd comedy thrillers. Perhaps it is time to put the Housefull franchise to rest. Even the presence of some of the best stars in Bollywood, such as Akshay Kumar (who excelled in previous versions of the series), Nana Patekar, Sanjay Dutt and Jackie Shroff do nothing to save the ridiculous plot. They probably appeared to meet their obligations to one of the better producers in the industry…

Ingredients: Tartlet cases 200g flour 140g butter 80g castor sugar Method: Mix the flour and castor sugar together. Rub in the butter until it forms a dough. Roll out and cut circles. Place into tartlet cases and bake for 15 minutes at 150°C. For the crème pat: 500ml milk 100g castor sugar 6 egg yolks 50g flour 2 tsp vanilla essence Method: Pour the milk and vanilla into a saucepan. Bring to a simmer and remove from the heat. In a bowl, add the egg yolks, castor sugar and flour. Whisk together until smooth. Add tablespoons of milk into the egg mixture until all the milk is incorporated. Pour the mixture back into the saucepan and cook on medium heat until it is thickened, for 12 to 15…

Ingredients: 5 cups cooked yellow rice (day old is best) 1 onion, chopped 1 green pepper, chopped 1 red pepper, chopped 1 tbs peri-peri spice 4 tbs butter 2 tbs oil Method: In a pan, add the butter and oil. Heat up. Add the veggies and the spice. Cook for 8 minutes, then add the rice and mix. For the chicken strips: 4 chicken breasts, cut into strips 1 tbs peri-peri Nando’s sauce. Method: Marinate the chicken strips. In a pan or an air fryer, add the strips and cook for about six minutes. Remove and toss in more sauce. Place over the rice. Chop up feta and drizzle some mayo over.…

Ingredients: 400g shell mussels 18 prawns with shells, deveined 400g chicken breast, sliced 100g chorizo, sliced 4 cups rice, boiled 1 red pepper, sliced 1 green pepper, sliced 1 onion, sliced 80g mushrooms, sliced 4 cloves of garlic, chopped 1/2 cup peas 2 tbs chilli flakes 1 tbs smoked paprika 1/2 tbs cayenne pepper 1 tbs fresh oregano 1 tbs fresh parsley 1 tbs fresh thyme 1 tbs coarse black pepper 4 tbs olive oil salt to taste Method: Boil the rice until almost done or tender. Strain and set aside. In a paella pan, add the olive oil, chopped garlic, chilli flakes and chorizo. Fry until the olive oil turns a nice red colour. Add the sliced chicken breast, black pepper, salt, parsley, oregano, thyme, smoked paprika, and…

IT was a bitter-sweet moment for the family of the late Seaman Pooventharan Thangavalu of the then-South African Marine Corps, whose name was recently added to the Wall of Remembrance. The wall, which is situated at the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria, carries the names of those who served in the South African military and died during the Angolan bush war. Thangavalu, who hailed from Mere- bank, was shot and killed by a fellow marine on January 23, 1989. He was 19 years old at the time. Perseelan Thangavalu, his elder brother, said the family were left feeling overwhelmed by his acknowledgement. “We feel a deep sense of pride and honour that my brother has been acknowledged for his service. Although it has been over 30 years since his passing, our…

AHEAD of Youth Day on June 16, young South Africans shared the challenges faced by the youth and their thoughts on how far they believe we have come as a country, 31 years into democracy. Aqeel Madhi, 27, of uMhlanga, said the challenges faced by the youth were not new. “Youth unemployment sits at 62.4% compared to the national rate of 32.9%. We are also dealing with gender-based violence (GBV) and what I believe is an under-discussed mental health crisis. Only 5% of our national health budget goes to mental healthcare.” Madhi, a machine learning engineer, said youth were not given opportunities to show what they could do. “We are capable, energetic and willing. If we are truly the future, then every South African, every institution, and every level of…

AS WE CONCLUDE Children Protection Week, allow me to conduct a frightening hypothesis into the ripening underbelly of the missing children crisis in our beloved country. Statistics from SAPS reveal that 632 children were reported missing in 2024, down from 742 in 2023. Earlier this year, 8 743 children were reported missing over the past 10 years. But this could be only the tip of the iceberg. Missing Children SA estimates that approximately 77% of missing children are found and 23% are never found or found dead. The demographics are varied in the societal sphere - poverty, abuse, violence, neglect, illiteracy and illegal adoptions – all resulting in human trafficking and kidnappings of these innocent souls. Many children are reduced to timorous ciphers through these causes, resulting in terrible injuries…

WE CALL for a swift, thorough, and transparent probe into the circumstances that led to a light aircraft crash in the KZN Midlands, tragically claiming the lives of all three occupants on board. According to reports, the aircraft disappeared on Sunday, after departing from Virginia Airport. Yesterday’s finding was confirmed by the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre. The loss of a young student pilot – who was reportedly operating the aircraft – is particularly devastating, as it represents not only the end of a promising future but also a loss to South Africa's aviation sector. We commend the efforts of all emergency personnel and search and rescue teams who worked tirelessly to locate the missing aircraft. KZN Transport MEC, Siboniso Duma, has confirmed that the matter will be handed over to…

A NEW wave of violence is eroding civilised society and urgent action is needed to stem the tide. In recent months, there has been an escalation in violence in family relationships, unprovoked murders on our streets, road rage, institutional violence in schools and places of worship through sexual abuse and bullying, and even verbal and political violence advocated by racist comments on social media. In a tragic incident that has shaken the community of Rydalvale in Phoenix, a parking dispute a fortnight ago escalated into a violent confrontation, resulting in the death of 35-year-old Nico Naidoo. Naidoo’s neighbour had allegedly asked him to move his vehicle, so that a visitor could park in the space. Naidoo was parked in his own premises and questioned why he was being asked to…

An iconic symbol of true grit, a hero of the struggle to obtain equality across the world. Her courage and strength made you stand in awe. She never blinked. She gave hope to a generation of women and was instrumental in our struggle for equality. Shope played a crucial and pivotal role in our emancipation from racism. Women like her and many others made personal sacrifices that enabled us to shed our chains of enslavement and thrust upon us the virtues of liberty and freedom. Sadly we also had many other stalwarts, during the past few years. They made the ultimate sacrifice. That is why our nation endures. Our future success is predicated upon our past and present. We will always remember those who were brutally tortured, not with just…

I WAS quite surprised when I met Pavi Reddy, the head of fundraising for Chatsworth Hospice, who shared with me the remarkable work they do. This is despite it receiving no government support and relying heavily on donations and community support to provide essential care and services to those in need. It is heart-breaking to think that such a vital organisation provides comfort and support to cancer patients during the most challenging times of their lives. I am compelled to share this story with you in the hope we can work together to raise awareness and support for Chatsworth Hospice ensuring they can continue the life-changing work in our community. I urge the community to rally behind our hospice and offer support in any way possible. Whether it’s financial…

A FAMILY from Alberton, Johannesburg, are seeking answers after their one-month-old daughter died due to alleged negligence at a private hospital. Baby Safaa Doumissi was born on March 21, and had trouble breathing at birth. Latanya Pillay, 28, her mother, said she had no complications during her pregnancy. “After Safaa was born, she was taken into the neonatal intensive care unit because her oxygen levels had dropped to 50%. On the second day, after tests, we found out she had a heart condition – aortic stenosis. “Due to lack of equipment, she was transferred to the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital where she was treated by specialists and with treatment, she appeared to be getting better.” Pillay said while Safaa’s condition was improving, the specialist had said that she needed a…

A CONVICTED killer and rapist who was sentenced to death by hanging in 1988, is using his second chance at life to fight against drug abuse and help ex-offenders reintegrate into society. Ravi Naidoo, 61, was the leader of the Phoenix 5 gang and was convicted for the murder of his boss’s wife, Sonia Austin – the owner of House of Pearls in Morningside – and the rape and attempted murder of her two domestic helpers, during an armed robbery on October 20, 1987. At the time, Naidoo and his gang members, Brian Naidoo, Narainsamy Moodley, Krishna Moonsamy, and Peter Anthony were found guilty of murder, two counts of attempted murder, sexual assault, rape and robbery with aggravating circumstances. Naidoo, was 23-years-old at the time and his co-accused were teenagers…

THE situation at the Fragrance Street Market in Chatsworth, where Hindu stall owners are being asked by the eThekwini Municipality to remove a sacred puthu and stop performing simple non-invasive rituals, raises significant constitutional, cultural, and administrative concerns. At a time when more than 40% of the population are unemployed and trying to eke out a living, it’s painful to remove faith-based practices to survive economically in South Africa with its multitude of economic blunders. The practices and beliefs of the vendors are intrinsically linked to the daily activities and should not be prohibited. The sacred puthu is a manifestation that God is close to them and will provide the grace to sustain them in their daily struggles of life. It is significant to note that Hindus consider human beings…

Reigning champions Australia face South Africa in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s from today amid a chorus of criticism over the competition’s format. Wisden, cricket’s “bible”, was scathing in its assessment, with editor Lawrence Booth writing in this year’s edition that the WTC is a “shambles masquerading as a showpiece”. Former England captain Michael Atherton said “everyone knows the WTC in its present guise is flawed”. One fundamental problem is that political tensions mean India and Pakistan, two of cricket’s leading nations, have not played a Test against each other since 2007. The nine-nation WTC is further skewed because the teams are not all required to face each other or to play the same number of matches. Countries are free to decide how many Tests they want to…