Inhoudsopgave van 2025-11-19 - Post

The book, Mount Edgecombe Chronicles – Echoes of the Canefields, by Dr Selvan “Patchie” Naicker, was launched on Saturday at the Shri Mariammen Temple hall. At the event were:…

AS SOUTH Africa stands on the eve of hosting the Group of Twenty (G20) Heads of State Summit from November 22 to 23, the world's most powerful economies will gather in Johannesburg to discuss the future of our planet. But here's the critical question, will these discussions remain locked in conference rooms, or will they translate into actionable change that transforms lives across Africa? The B20, the official business voice of the G20, concludes its summit from November 18 to 20 with 30 concrete recommendations. The challenge facing South Africa's presidency is not crafting ambitious policies; it is ensuring these policies are implemented. This is where many presidencies fail. Documents get signed. Leaders shake hands. Then, six months later, little has changed. South Africa must prove that African leadership means…

TODAY, as we approach the 165th commemoration and celebration of the arrival of the first 342 men, women, and children of Indian origin on November 16, 1860, I, on behalf of the people of KwaZulu-Natal, wish to recognise and salute the Indian community in KZN and South Africa at large. This recognition is not just ceremonial; it is a heartfelt tribute to the historical roots and remarkable contributions of their forebears – a collective of sugar cane workers who endured unimaginable hardships with stoic resilience. To truly appreciate the magnitude of this iconic story, we must pause and reflect on the 16-and-a-half decades that have passed since the first ship, the SS Truro, arrived on our shores, bringing with it a new chapter in our province’s history. The legacy of…

METRO police officers in Durban claim they have been discriminated against for refusing to switch to a five-day work week, resulting in unfair overtime allocation despite the department spending R20 million monthly on overtime payments. Officers allege colleagues who switched shifts, are receiving both overtime and omnibus payments, while they are side-lined despite claimed manpower shortages. The officers, who did not want to be named, said they faced discrimination and victimisation for over 10 months, with no overtime. The officers who are from Isipingo, Chatsworth and uMlazi, claimed officers who were working overtime were also paid “omnibus” payments. These officers, they claimed, worked the two-day, two-night shift which they had opted for last year. “Metro police are claiming to have manpower shortages, but we are being sidelined for overtime work,”…

In the wake of the low-scoring contest in the first Test match between India and South Africa at Eden Gardens in Kolkata last week, questions have been posed about the modern-day batters’ techniques. If there ever were conditions that would test a batter’s technique, it is the subcontinent conditions, and the Indian conditions in particular. From the very first day of the first Test in Kolkata last week, it was clear that spin would play a massive role as India spinner Axar Patel was brought on to bowl inside the opening eight overs of the Test. There was also a variable bounce in the wicket, making it very difficult for the batters to trust the bounce, particularly against the fast bowlers. The combination of spin and variable bounce made the…

Warriors batter Matthew Breetzke has praised teammate and captain Matthew de Villiers for both his good form and leadership in the ongoing Cricket South Africa T20 Challenge. De Villiers currently occupies the top spot in the leading run scorers list in the tournament thus far with 248 runs at an average of 62. The 24-year-old has smashed three fifties in five innings this season, leading the Gqeberha-based unit to four wins in five matches. Breetzke, having returned from international duty in Pakistan, where he captained the Proteas ODI side, has praised the young batter for both his form and leadership. “Matty de Villiers has been batting really well and has a really simple game plan in the way he goes about his business,” Breetzke told Independent Media. “To have a…

Australia’s wicketkeeper Alex Carey said that regular captain Pat Cummins seemed to be in excellent shape after finishing a full-intensity one-hour net session at Optus Stadium in Perth. Cummins, who was earlier ruled out of the highly anticipated Ashes opener in Perth due to a back stress injury he discovered after the 3-0 whitewash of the West Indies in July, now seems to be nearing a return after completing a full bowling session at the nets on Monday. “I’ve got to keep a lid on it a little bit. I saw him bowling in the nets yesterday… he looked ready to go!” Carey told SEN’s The Run Home. “I guess it’s the build up now. It’s probably not so much bowling the ball at 140(km/h), because it looked like he…

The Proteas Test team have a song that they sing when coming together for a picture at the end of a big win or a triumphant series. “We make you look good, we make you look good! Shukri Conrad, we make you look good!” has rung out on the field with plenty of spontaneous laughter over the last couple of years. It is clearly an inside joke, with the players having a bit of fun at their coach’s expense. The song, however, is draped in sarcasm, with the players actually celebrating Conrad’s contribution to their performances, especially during the last World Test Championship cycle, when the Proteas managed to win seven Test matches in a row before beating Australia in the final at Lord’s in June this year. Conrad, together…

THERE is a long history of philanthropy in the Indian community going back to the early years of indenture when schools and religious places were set up by the community themselves. In 1927, two institutions were established to cater for indigent Indian children, the Aryan Benevolent Children’s Home and the Durban Indian Child Welfare. The oppressive conditions of Indian indenture resulted in overcrowded conditions, mass poverty, high child and maternal mortality, high incidences of disease and widespread illiteracy. On May 1, 1921, Bhawani Sannyasi officially opened the Aryan Benevolent Home in Bellair. Wood-and-iron buildings served as living quarters for administration workers, the caretaker and as a home for the destitute. The home was run on community donations. Stall holders in the Durban Indian Market also donated “unsold perishables” such as…

FISHING rods of all shapes and sizes barricade the sunrise from Tinley Manor on the North Coast to Shelly Beach on the South. Buckets of bait and boxes of tackle, not to mention the odd brandy bottle, blot the shoreline. By law, shad (elf) has a closed season from October 1 to November 30 each year; from December to September the fishing community of KwaZulu-Natal storms the beaches. On a busy weekend, you will get an earful of rich words in every language imaginable, including some words that no language wants to be associated with, if you snag an angler’s line as you try to walk through their trenches. This community is large and diverse, made up of men, women and others of all races, ages and income brackets. South…

THROUGHOUT South African sports history, black sports people were denied national representation. Ron Elland and Precious McKenzie both left South Africa to represent Great Britain in the field of weightlifting. Jasmat Dhiraj emigrated to England to play tennis, while Basil D’Oliveira left South Africa to represent England at cricket in 1966. lbert Johannson played regularly for Leeds United to become the first black player to play in the FA Cup Final at Wembley in 1956. Dharam Mohan and the legendary golfer Sewsunker “Papwa” Sewgolum had their sporting careers mercilessly curtailed simply on account of the colour of their skin. This denial of black sports people, together with the heightened political tensions after the 1960 Sharpeville massacre in Soweto, Johannesburg, served as a catalyst for the establishment of sports committees to…

THE arrival of Indians from the Indian subcontinent in the late 1800s and the early 1900s marked a significant milestone in the history of what is now known as South Africa. This month, South Africa celebrates 165 years since the arrival of Indians. According to the 2022 Census data, South African Indians comprise approximately 3% of the country’s population. While they are found across the country, the majority reside in and around Durban in KwaZulu-Natal. While some South Africans tend to see and even stereotype Indians as a monolithic group, there is actually so much heterogeneity and diversity in terms of countries of origin, language, culture, religion and how they ended up in South Africa. South Africans of Indian origin are a multifaith community. While most South African Indians speak…

IN 1994, millions of South Africans queued for hours, not just to vote, but to reclaim their humanity and dignity. They believed that the chains of apartheid would be shattered forever, replaced by a government rooted in human rights and service to the people. Thirty years later, that dream lies in tatters. The most humiliating and undeniable evidence of this betrayal is the continued use of bucket toilets across the country – a shameful symbol of failure, corruption and indifference. The recently tabled BEP (bucket eradication programme) portfolio committee peport for June 2025 is not just a government document – it is a confession. It lays bare the ANC-led government’s inability to fulfil even the most basic promise of dignity: access to decent sanitation. More than a decade after its…

THE late Dr Ranjith Kally, an internationally-acclaimed photojournalist, stands out as a beacon of artistry having captured some of the most significant moments in South Africa’s history. In paying homage to Kally, who would have celebrated his 100th birthday on November 26, his youngest daughter, Professor Pavitra Pillay, shared his remarkable story which started from humble beginnings as a self-taught photographer to having his work displayed at exhibitions around the world. Early days Kally, the son of indentured descendants, Kallicharan and Rajwanthia, who toiled in the sugar cane fields, was born in Isipingo Rail in 1925. He passed away in June 2017 at the age of 91. Pillay said Kally shared stories of his life while growing up in a “poor but loving” home. “My dad told us that they…

Aries (March 21 – April 19) Mars will energise your career zone – pushing you to take bold steps. A new project or leadership role could surface. However, be cautious with temper and impulsive spending mid-month. Relationships may need patience and empathy. Emotional energy: you are reclaiming your power – focus it constructively rather than through confrontation. Lucky car colour: red – boosts drive, courage and recognition. Tarot card: the Emperor – You are in control. This month demands structure, authority, and decisiveness. Take command of your life path without rigidity. Taurus (April 20 – May 20) There will be expansion through learning, travel or spiritual exploration. Venus blesses your personal relationships – love grows if you are honest about your needs. Career-wise, new long-term goals begin to form. Emotional…

THIS week, Cape Town audiences witnessed an artistic work with a dual purpose – an act of remembrance and a quiet revolution. Sari Sir, a Bharatha Natyam-based dance drama, took its first breaths at The Little Theatre at the University of Cape Town’s Hiddingh Campus, and with it came a stirring embodiment of history, womanhood and endurance. For the first time, non-Indian performers took to the stage to narrate, through Bharatha Natyam, the lives of women brought from India to slave on then Natal’s sugar plantations for five decades after 1860. Presented by the Centre for Theatre, Dance and Performance Studies (CTDPS) in collaboration with Sharana Performing Arts, and written, choreographed and directed by me, the production weaves months of rigorous training and artistic mentorship. The cast comprised 10 CTDPS…

THREE weeks after a drunk driver claimed the lives of four members of the same family on Diwali day, surviving relatives are speaking out about their devastating loss. The Sukhari family is calling for stronger enforcement of drunk-driving laws after authorities allegedly failed to respond to warnings about the reckless driver before the fatal collision. A couple had recorded the driver’s reckless behaviour before the deadly crash and alerted law enforcement authorities who allegedly failed to act. The October 20 accident, which happened between Sasolburg and Johannesburg, claimed the lives of Sewkumar “Smiley” Sukhari, 62; his wife Shanitha, 59; and their daughters, Trisha, 26, and Nicole, 24. The Sukhari family were visiting friends, delivering Diwali sweetmeats, when tragedy struck. In an interview on Monday, Sewkumar Sukhari’s brother, Vinesh Sukhari, alleged…

It is not the reconstruction of past history but the construction of present history and future history that is at stake. THIS weekend saw the outpouring of histories of the past. Marches, seminars and unveilings of monuments that commemorate 165 years since the arrival of the very first indentured labourers took place. And so it should be, for this is a remarkable African epic. But every generation is confronted with new challenges and it is crucial that nostalgia does not drown the need to develop the practical tools to respond to the present political conjuncture in South Africa. Of course, we do not come to this as a tabula rasa but draw on a history of innovation, courage and resistance. There are many caged in the present, who want to…

NATIONAL Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Shamila Batohi faced tough questioning in Parliament over the NPA’s handling of political killings, appearing unprepared with statistics and drawing criticism from analysts. While some point to a leader overwhelmed by a broken system, others suggested her performance reflected the challenges of leading a hollowed-out institution under immense pressure. Amid mounting concerns about the alleged infiltration of the criminal justice system, Batohi faced the parliamentary ad hoc committee last Tuesday that examined the alleged troubling interplay between criminals and key officials in law enforcement. The ad hoc committee was established in October to investigate allegations by Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. This included the alleged unlawful decision by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu to disband the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), and the alleged unlawful removal of…

Derbies often show little respect for form, reputation or past history, the best-laid plans often dissipating in the heat of drama, raw emotion and chaos that accompany these grudge matches. The north London derby rarely arrives without baggage, but this weekend’s meeting carries a particularly intriguing narrative: Arsenal, the would-be champions, against Tottenham, the project under reconstruction after the woes of last season that Uefa Champions League qualification could not disguise. The stakes feel bigger than ever. Not only can Arsenal reclaim pride after the frustrating draw with Sunderland, they can also land a statement blow in the title race against Manchester City. Mikel Arteta’s men have been on a charmingly consistent run this season, blending youthful exuberance with defensive solidity. The problem? The 2-2 draw against Sunderland before the…

England go into the first Test against Australia on Friday with arguably their most hostile attack in decades, putting their faith in fast bowling in a quest to regain the Ashes. Not since a bowling line-up led by John Snow and Bob Willis helped England to a 1970-71 series win have they arrived in Australia with such an array of genuine quicks. In Jofra Archer and Mark Wood they have two bowlers of express pace, both capable of regularly topping 90 mph. Josh Tongue is also a wicket-taking threat, while Brydon Carse and Matthew Potts add depth to an impressive attack that could feature Gus Atkinson, a seamer whose 13 Tests have yielded 63 wickets at an impressively low average of 22.01. If England captain Ben Stokes can stay fit…

ALMOST 160 years after the arrival of the first Indian indentured workers in colonial Natal, social media was uncannily to provide an insight into the perilous journey across the kala pani (black waters) thanks to incredible detective work by historian, Selvan Naidoo. He serves as the volunteer curator at the 1860 Heritage Centre on Derby Street in Durban. Stewart Fairbairn of Sydney, Australia, posted notes and images on Facebook drawn from the diaries and clippings of his grandfather, Max de Gruyter. The latter had captained ships carrying indentured workers, passengers and cargo to various destinations across the globe. What was remarkable from the entries is that De Gruyter had actual embarkation and on deck pictures. No longer were indentured workers an entirely anonymous mass, named and documented but faceless. The…

The 1860 Heritage Centre hosted an indentured workers arrival commemoration ceremony on Sunday at the centre in Derby Street, the Methodist Church in Ismail C Meer (Lorne) Street, the Badsha Peer Park in Bertha Mkhize (Victoria) Street, and the Durban Hindu Temple in Somtseu Road. The programme culminated with the marigold tribute at South Beach. At the events were:…

Director Sundar C, who was supposed to direct Rajinikanth’s next film, being referred to as #Thalaivar173, has now opted out of the project. Sundar C issued a statement that he was stepping back from the project. The film was being produced by actor Kamal Haasan’s production house Raaj Kamal Films International. Sundar C wrote: “Due to unforeseen and unavoidable circumstances, I have made the difficult decision to step back from #Thalaivar173.” To his fans, he said: “Please accept my sincere apologies if this news has disappointed those who had eagerly anticipated this venture. “I am committed to making it up to you and promise to continue bringing you entertainment that keeps your spirits high. “Thank you for your unwavering support and understanding. It means the world to me, and I…

NEW regulations banning outside food and restricting live-streaming at the Clare Estate Hindu Crematorium have ignited fierce debate between those defending sacred traditions and families seeking practical accommodations during grief. Religious leaders support the changes, while funeral directors and community members question whether the rules respect cultural practices. The rules, now prominently displayed on the crematorium premises, prohibits a range of activities including improper conduct, alcohol, loitering, vandalism, outside cooked food, firearms, littering, animals, public urination, and unapproved live-streaming or video recording. The crematorium’s management said the new rules were enforced after increasing incidents of disruptive, disrespectful and unlawful conduct on the premises. Chairperson Pradeep Ramlall said these rules were necessary to restore order, and preserve the sanctity of funeral rituals. “Family members were treating the crematorium as a picnic…

A 72-YEAR-OLD veteran journalist is challenging a R575 speeding fine issued by an estate for driving 42km/h in a 30km/h zone. Fawzia Moodley claimed the punishment was disproportionate and questioned whether the estate’s camera system was more focused on revenue than safety. Legal experts said residential estates’ authority to issue such fines was questionable under South African law. Moodley voiced her frustration after receiving what she described as an “outrageous” speeding fine inside Midstream Estate, in Gauteng. She had gone to fetch a friend from the estate when she was fined for driving 42km/h in a 30km/h zone. “I was lost inside the estate and did not pay attention to the speed I was driving. I was more worried about finding the house,” she said. Moodley said she only discovered…

This story appeared in the Post on March 13, 1955. THE notorious Crimson League gang in Durban has started to spy out the land in Johannesburg which it is considering as a possible new area for its protection racket. This is one of two major developments on the crime front which the Golden CIty Post is able to publish exclusively today. The other is a widespread crusade against crime on the reef by groups of citizens who have banded themselves into group escorts. The Crimson League decided to explore the prospects of moving on to the Rand because with Johannesburg’s Sheriff Khan temporarily out of action, his group has no leader. The link between Sheriff Khan's gang and the Crimson League was formed some time ago when some of Khan's…

Former India Test captain and ICC Hall of Famer Anil Kumble believes Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma deserves to sit at the table of the modern-day greats of world cricket. Bavuma has previously received plenty of criticism, primarily due to the Proteas disappointments in the white-ball formats, but his stature as a Test leader has grown exponentially over the past two years. Since being appointed the full-time Test captain by coach Shukri Conrad in February 2023, Bavuma has yet to lose a series. In fact, he’s guided the Proteas to 10 victories out of 11 matches. The 35-year-old also brought unbridled joy to the nation when he led the Proteas’ to the World Test Championship title after a historic victory over Australia at Lord’s back in June. It was South Africa’s…

Fresh off consecutive victories in Mexico and Brazil, championship leader Lando Norris has tempered expectations ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, admitting that McLaren could face their toughest weekend of the season under the Strip’s cold night lights. Norris, who now holds a 24-point advantage over teammate Oscar Piastri, was blunt when asked whether Las Vegas’ conditions might help McLaren this year. “Hinder, for sure. I think it was our worst race last year, so I’m not really looking forward to it,” Norris told Sky Sports. McLaren struggled heavily in Vegas in 2023, with Norris finishing sixth and Piastri seventh despite having a title-winning car. The low-temperature sessions and unusually slippery surface exposed weaknesses McLaren has worked to address over the past 12 months. “We’ve been trying to work…

Bandile Shandu is a team player at Orlando Pirates – that he’s fallen down in the pecking order and his Buccaneers’ future looks bleak with every passing month doesn’t appear to be relevant. Shandu has made only four appearances at Pirates so far this season. And that highlights the minimal contribution he has made in the team’s strides, which include winning the MTN8, reaching the Carling Knockout final, and being second on the Betway Premiership standings, three points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, who’ve played two games more. His lack of game time has seen Thabiso Lebitso own the right-back position so far, while his backup Deano van Rooyen has recently recovered from a lengthy injury. And that’s not all. It appears that coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has lost his faith in…

When the tournament comes down to a sudden‑death playoff, the pressure can feel overwhelming. Yet the best players treat the extra holes as an extension of the round rather than a separate, high‑stakes battle. The key is to stay composed, play to your strengths, and keep the game simple. First, maintain a patient mindset. Even though every shot now carries the weight of the entire competition, the most successful approach is to treat each swing as if it were the first tee shot of the day. Rushing leads to poor decisions and erratic swings, so take a moment to breathe, visualize the shot, and execute with the same routine you use on any other hole. Second, focus on the aspects of your game that have earned you a spot in…