Post -julkaisun 2025-10-29 -irtonumeron sisällysluettelo

Aries (March 21 – April 19) This month teaches you patience and emotional maturity. Work may bring delays, but will yield long-term rewards. Relationships strengthen through trust and honest conversations. Health improves if you focus on rest and balanced diet. Vastu tip: keep a small red cloth or light a red diya in the south zone of your home to attract strength and confidence. Taurus (April 20 – May 20) Consistency brings results. Career stability improves as your determination pays off. Your love life grows deeper if you let go of stubbornness. Health is stable but throat issues may arise – stay hydrated. Vastu tip: place a money plant in the southeast corner to enhance prosperity and growth. Gemini (May 21 – June 20) New beginnings are on…

The Minara Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 25th anniversary at the 14th Annual Minara Business Recognition Awards. Among the winners, guests and members of the chamber of commerce were:…

A CHATSWORTH mother has raised the alarm on alleged corruption at the Chatsworth police station after her daughter was killed by a “drunk driver” on the Higginson Highway on August 18. Dr Sharona Deonarain, of Arena Park, said it had been 10 weeks since her daughter, Khitana (Tana), lost her life, and despite “clear evidence”, no arrest had been made. She has called on the provincial SAPS and the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) to investigate. Deonarain said on the evening before the tragedy, her daughter had been at the home of her partner and best friend, Cameron Naidoo. “It was a Sunday, and Cameron had visited us during the day. Later that afternoon, they went to his home and were watching movies with his family. Tana also had some…

FOLLOWING allegations of police cover-ups in a fatal drunk-driving case, criminologists and political leaders reveal how deeply entrenched corruption within the SAPS is threatening public safety and eroding trust in law enforcement. They propose solutions to a problem they describe as “almost insurmountable” under current leadership. This comes as a Chatsworth mother, Sharona Deonarain, claims police corruption following the death of her daughter, allegedly by a drunk driver. Nirmala Gopal, a professor in criminology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, said there existed a growing belief that the allegations surfacing could be part of a broader pattern, suggesting unethical and unprofessional conduct among certain members of the SAPS. “This troubling scenario is especially alarming given the heightened scrutiny the SAPS is currently enduring. The concerns reflect a deeper issue within the…

FAMILIES are forced to “eat what they can afford” as minimum wage workers struggle to survive on R4 836 per month. New research shows 59% of wages are consumed by electricity and transport alone, leaving children particularly vulnerable to malnutrition. The Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity (PMBEJD) group warns that this crisis threatens the nation's future economic prospects. They have called for an increase in the minimum wage as recent statistics show that minimum to average earning workers were “living below the poverty line”. With a monthly increase to food basket, the rising cost of electricity and transport, families are forced to eat what they can afford while children who depend on support grants are “suffering the most”. This is according to statistics from the (PMBEJD) September 2025 Household Affordability…

SEX within the Indian community is frequently a controversial subject. The enduring impact of colonialism, indenture and apartheid continues to influence the many lives of South African descendants of indentured workers. Despite significant strides, challenges related to socio-economic disparities and social mobility persist for many parts of this community. Thirty-one years into South Africa’s democracy, the community of Indian ancestry continues to navigate multiple identities that pose unique challenges, often leading to complex feelings of belonging. The historical trauma of the indentured experience lingers in various ways that affect psychological and physical well-being beyond the 165 years since the first indentured workers arrived to their African homes on November 16, 1860. Hugh Tinker, author of the seminal study, “New System of Slavery…” argues that slavery left a legacy that the…

FOR OVER 30 families of indentured descent living on Renishaw Farm – also known as “Chinatown” – along KwaZulu-Natal’s South Coast, the promise of lifelong housing is being threatened by relocation plans. Despite a deed of donation signed in 2019, residents now face potential displacement from homes their families have occupied for generations while working for Crookes Brothers Limited. The families claimed they were misled about having their homes until their death. They said many of their forefathers, who were indentured descendants, and themselves worked in various positions for Crookes Brothers Limited, which had a sugar cane plantation and mill on the farm, and had provided them with the homes where they lived with their families. However, they were recently informed that there were plans for them to be…

IN CONTEMPORARY society, there are many trailblazers that have quietly chosen the challenge of charting new courses for the upliftment of the lesser endowed. In education the plight of special needs pupils was largely ignored and indeed othered. Speaking at the opening of the iconic Sastri College, India’s first agent general to South Africa, Sir Srinivasa Sastri, said: “What the Indian learner lacks in facilities, he more than makes up for in faculties.” This famous anecdote was stated at a time when the community rallied together to erect their own schools as the state had no interest in providing education for its black population. Moreover, special needs pupils were completely blindsided and it was the vision of Prithipal Bhoop Singh to bring it into focus. Singh passed away at the…

With the fourth edition of the SA20 about two months away, domestic players will have an opportunity to hone their skills before the big show starts as the Cricket South Africa T20 Challenge gets under way today. The tournament will run until November, 30 which is less than a month away from the first fixture of the SA20, which will see the defending champions MI Cape Town take on Durban’s Super Giants on Boxing Day at Newlands in Cape Town. To get the T20 Challenge underway, last season’s runners-up, the Titans, will travel to Pietermaritzburg to take on the Division One newbies, the Tuskers, at the City Oval. Following what has been a dismal start to the season for the Centurion-based Titans, which saw them lose all four of their…

A PHOENIX woman charged with orchestrating her father’s murder claimed innocence, stating his death had actually worsened her financial situation. Nicola Tasha Ramsamy, 36, of Lenham, had been charged for the October 5 premeditated murder of her father, Arthur Brian Ramsamy, 62, a retired eThekwini Municipality employee. In Verulam Magistrate’s Court this week, Ramsamy, her partner, Brenden Sanichara, 37; and their co-accused Mzwakhe Solly Mnguni, 38; and Ayabulela Mxoli, 31; applied for bail. On Monday, Mnguni and Mxoli abandoned their bail application. It has been alleged that the couple paid Mnguni and Mxoli more than R3 500 to kill Arthur. In her affidavit, read out by her attorney, Keshlen Naidoo, Ramsamy, who is employed by the eThekwini Municipality, denied the allegations made against her. She said on the day in…

THE Hawks have seized sophisticated machinery used to manufacture counterfeit Smirnoff 1818 products in Howick. The operation followed intelligence about imported counterfeit materials. Authorities have described the bust as a significant breakthrough in the fight against the illicit alcohol trade. According to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), members from the Pietermaritzburg and Durban Serious Commercial Crime Investigation units carried out the operation at the weekend at a property on Ogilvie Road. According to police, the Hawks had received information about a container detained at a depot in Durban that allegedly contained counterfeit Smirnoff bottles, closures and stickers. The container was destined for Howick. During the raid, officers discovered sophisticated manufacturing equipment, including a bottle blowing machine, high-pressure air compressor, evaporating temperature machine, industrial chiller and fine compressor air…

WHY do some convicted child sex offenders reoffend? And why, in 2025, is South Africa still failing to make its National Register for Sex Offenders publicly accessible? These are not just bureaucratic questions. They cut to the core of how seriously we, as a society, value the safety and dignity of our children. For survivors and those who work in child protection, these questions are not academic. They are urgent, painful and personal. Every delay, every policy failure, every unmonitored offender represents the possibility of another child’s life being shattered. The reality of repeat offending Research has long shown that prior conviction for a sexual offence is one of the strongest indicators of future risk. In one Canadian study, offenders with no prior record had a 19% reconviction rate…

JUST north of Durban lies KwaZulu-Natal’s Gucci Coastline where luxury lounges on the very soil once soaked with the sweat and sacrifice of Indian indentured labourers, who didn’t come for beachside cocktails but to break their backs in sugar cane fields. Here we find the bedroom communities of uMhlanga, Izinga, Brettenwood, Zululami Sibaya, Ballito, and a well-manicured handful of other similar areas. I say “bedroom” because the majority of residents sleep here but commute elsewhere for work. Now this is the Moët & Chandon Crescent where the bubbles flow and the bills never stop; the Range Rover Riviera where every pothole, ignored by the municipal roads department, is dodged in style; and the Botox Bay Area where smooth waves mean smoother foreheads. Nestled in these prestigious precincts are haute cuisine…

AFTER losing a child and with another fighting for their life, a Durban father has recounted his frustrating attempts to obtain security footage and his outrage at receiving only a grocery bag and teddy bear as a gesture of condolence from a “Mr Naidoo”. Khaya Dlamini said he was facing death threats on his daughter’s life as he sought justice for his twin children who fell down a lift shaft at their HOMii residence. Despite the threats, he is determined to hold the building management accountable and prevent similar tragedies. His eight-year-old twins, Aphile and Aphelele Dlamini, fell into an elevator shaft on the fourth floor of the block of flats, in the Durban CBD, on October 18. Aphelele died while Aphile is still in a coma. The family had…

SPECIAL needs schools across KwaZulu-Natal are battling to keep their doors open as delayed subsidy payments and inadequate funding from the Department of Education push them to breaking point. With some schools already forced to close temporarily and others operating on a deficit, teachers and school governing bodies (SGB) are making an urgent plea for intervention to save the education of hundreds of vulnerable children. Earlier this month, two schools in Chatsworth shut their doors due to delayed subsidy payments by the Department of Education in KZN. While the Education Department confirmed the payments were made last Thursday, the schools have yet to reopen. Nompilo Nsimbi, the SGB chairperson of Damorosa Secondary – Prevocational School in Chatsworth, said they would not be able to reopen until they received the full…

THERE are moments in life that money cannot buy, diplomas cannot certify, and time cannot diminish. Recently, I experienced one such moment – a moment so profound that it reaffirmed not just my purpose, but the very essence of why we dream, strive and persist in our endeavours. I visited someone I have long admired, a woman whose words I’ve devoured, whose character I’ve studied, and whose contributions to our community have shaped the very fabric of who I aspire to be. She told me she had cut out two of my columns and was using them to pass messages on to those who needed them. Let that sink in. The person who taught me, through her example, what it means to serve one’s community was now holding my work…

Who can ever forget the groundbreaking achievements that the Proteas women have pulled off in the last three years? Two back-to-back T20 World Cup finals – one at home in 2023 and another in the United Arab Emirates a year ago – paint a vivid picture of a unit on its way to achieving even bigger things in the near future. Perhaps the biggest achievement was beating Australia in the semi-final of the 2024 T20 World Cup in the UAE. Everybody knows just how near impossible it is to beat Australia in World Cups, and moreso in the knockout stages. However, this Proteas women’s team defied the odds and pulled off a victory that will be remembered as the turning point in South African women’s cricket. On Wednesday, Proteas captain…

As the football world eagerly awaits the historic Fifa World Cup 2026 draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington in December, Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos is focused on a different mission at home. At a recent roundtable discussion hosted by Safa, Broos shared insights into his preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations, which begins in December. After a commendable third-place finish in the previous edition held in the Ivory Coast, expectations among fans and stakeholders are undeniably high. Broos acknowledged that the pressure to perform well means meticulous preparation has never been more critical. As he gears up for this high-stakes tournament, Broos revealed plans to commence training on December 8 at the University of Pretoria. The team will remain there until December 17, just ahead of…

Aries (March 21 – April 19) November is ideal for pursuing leadership roles, competitive sports and entrepreneurial spirit. Planetary influence: Mars influence boosts energy, courage and confidence, helping you lead others, overcome fears and achieve success. Career: growth is explosive this month. New opportunities arise in leadership positions, competitive sports and entrepreneurial ventures. You will receive recognition for your hard work and dedication. Finance: the sector is strong. Unexpected income is possible through investments, inheritances and from people you least expect. Health: is excellent and your energy levels are high throughout November. Maintain a balanced lifestyle with regular exercise, healthy habits, and sufficient sleep to support your active lifestyle. Taurus (April 20 – May 20) There is a focus on finances and relationships. This month is ideal for beautifying…

LOCAL children’s homes are implementing innovative solutions like food gardens to ensure nutritious meals for their residents, as government subsidies remain unchanged for six years despite rising food costs. These homes are stretching limited resources to meet children’s dietary needs The homes rely on government subsidies, which have not increased in the past six years. They said they were buckling under the financial demands to ensure that each child in their care received the required nutritious meals. To help sustain themselves and provide nutritious food to children in their care, the Aryan Benevolent Home (ABH) Children’s Home, in Chatsworth, has started a food garden to the supplement meals. The home accommodates 102 children ranging from ages 3 to 17. Amraj Dursan, spokesperson for the home, said they were “constantly exploring…

IN MAY 2017, it was reported that HOMii was launched as a tech-based residential and lifestyle development solution for Durbanites. At the time the Chief Executive Officer of HOMii, Viren Mungul, said HOMii was part of the city’s vision of growing the economy and enjoying a high-quality life with equal opportunities. “It offers safe, convenient and affordable living options with a range of stylish rooms to choose from, modern facilities and a social atmosphere. It would definitely put Durban on the map,” he said. Also at that time, HOMii chairman Leo Chetty said this was an exciting breakthrough for Durban. “HOMIii will not only contribute to the urgent accommodation needs in the city but its design technology and location all contribute to the city’s vision of urban regeneration and economic…

A CHATSWORTH family have been granted bail after allegedly offering R100 000 to a former gang member to arrange the murder of a spiritual leader. The conspiracy, which stemmed from a property dispute, was exposed when the middleman approached police with details of the plot. Naresh Uthamlal, his wife Asha, their son Saihil, and their daughter's boyfriend Sohail Mohamed, have been charged with conspiracy to commit the murder. They were arrested after a former gang member from Crossmoor claimed they had approached him to orchestrate the killing of Guru Ashley Padayachee, head of the Shallcross Shree Kali Amman Kovil. Their “issues” with Padayachee allegedly stemmed from a dispute over a house that the Uthamlal family had verbally gifted to him. Naresh, Saihil and Mohamed were released on R3 000 bail…

An era of renewal: KWAZULU-NATAL is undergoing a significant transformation, characterised by a surge of renewed optimism after a period marked by economic uncertainty and cautious anticipation. Across the region, confidence is being revitalised as the province positions itself as a pivotal force in South Africa’s economic landscape. Key developments in manufacturing, property and infrastructure are setting the stage for KZN to not only drive national growth but also to become a beacon of opportunity for investors, entrepreneurs and communities. R100 billion commitment: The recent KZN Investment Conference represented a defining moment for the province. The announcement of R100 billion in prospective investments highlighted a strong conviction in KZN’s potential as an engine for economic growth, opportunity and sustainable development. These investments span a wide range of sectors, including manufacturing,…

Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Cedric Kaze says his side must capitalise on the momentum gained from qualifying for the group stages of the CAF Confederation Cup, believing the achievement can serve as a platform to build stronger performances for the rest of the season. Amakhosi sealed their spot in the group stages of Africa’s secondary club competition with a 3-1 aggregate win over DRC outfit AS Simba. With momentum firmly behind them, their attention now turns to the Betway Premiership, where they will look to build on that success and improve their recent run of form. Chiefs travel to the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday night (7.30pm kick-off) to face Durban City in a clash that could provide another opportunity to turn progress into consistency. Having struggled to convert chances this…

Two years ago today, most South Africans woke up with massive babelas. Some may not even have slept. Leftover braai and a beer was the breakfast of choice as they made their way back to the scene of the crime – the living room – where many also left their voices and their dignity behind. For, on the night before, far away on a crisp evening in Paris, the Springboks completed a feat of sporting willpower to secure back-to-back Rugby World Cup titles by defeating the All Blacks in a dramatic and brutal final. It was another one-point win – their third in succession – that put the nation’s collective nerves in a state. But the euphoria that followed swept the length and breadth of the country. From Soweto to…