Table of contents for 2025-07-23 in Post

Actor Mahesh Babu, who plays the lead in ace director SS Rajamouli’s film tentatively being referred to as SSMB29, will perform all the stunts without opting for a body double. Rajamouli chose to work with a different cinematographer instead of his favourite, KK Senthil Kumar. Kumar was asked about the negativity being spread by some citing the claim that heroes used body doubles for action sequences, thereby looking to belittle the effort of the stars in the film. He said: “Audiences will know where body doubles are being used. Audiences are more aware now. “Unfortunately, we have to release making videos to show that the heroes are doing the stunts themselves. “If the actor performs really well, the audience also will realise that the hero has done the sequence.” The…

VETERAN actor ad director Anupam Kher returns to direction after an absence of over two decades. He does a sterling job with both that and his role in the film as a retired army officer with a chip on his shoulder because of the death of his only son, who was killed while on his way to duty at a remote site. But where he fails with his co-writers in an otherwise excellent exposé of treating people with disabilities normally is in resorting to cinematic licence to overstate this aspect. Colonel Pratap Raina’s (Kher) autistic granddaughter Tanvi (Shubhangi Dutt), in an impressive debut role, ends up staying with him in a military base when her autism expert mother Vidya (Pallavi Joshi) has to go to the US for nine…

MAKE-UP is an art and can be daunting for those trying it for the first time. From understanding your skin type to mastering basic techniques like blending and contouring, here is a complete guide on how to apply make-up for newbies. Celebrity make-up artist Penaz Mithuji, who has worked with names such as the late Irrfan Khan, rapper Divine, actress Aditi Rao Hydari, Vidyut Jammwal, and Aparshakti Khurana, shares tips on eight essential make-up tips for beginners. A clean canvas: start with a clean face before applying any make-up. Ensure it is clean and moisturised. A good skincare routine helps your make-up go on smoothly and last longer. Cleanse, tone and moisturise your skin to create a healthy base. Invest in quality: quality make-up brushes and products can make a…

“KEEP the faith and stand strong Mommy, I love you,” were the last words Noa Gabriel Nobin said to his mother before he was stabbed multiple times outside a nightclub. The 19-year-old, from Isipingo, died from his injuries five days later. His mom, Shakira Osman, said the devastation of losing her “gem of a child” was too much to bear. "On the night of July 12, there was an argument. While on Lotus Road, Noa was stabbed. We spoke earlier and he asked me how I was doing. That's when he told me to ‘keep the faith and stand strong, Mommy’. Then he told me he loved me. “When I heard about what happened, I was shocked and devastated. He was in hospital for five days and was suffering. “I…

HINDU religious leaders have slammed a British man for eating KFC chicken at the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) vegetarian restaurant in London, and filming the incident, which went viral on social media. In the video, the man entered Govinda’s Restaurant and asked staff at the counter if it was a vegan restaurant. They told him it was a vegetarian restaurant and they did not serve meat, onion and garlic. The man then asked the woman if she was sure, and took out a barrel of KFC, which he placed on the counter. He ate a piece of chicken and offered it to the woman, who was serving at the counter. With a look of horror, the woman said: “Oh my God, go outside, please.” The staff called for…

THE Rangasami family of Mount Edgecombe shared their story of raising identical twin boys, from a surprise pregnancy to the unique dynamics of twin parenting. Business couple Merlin and Galaisha Rangasami, 42, said their life had been filled with joy when they unexpectedly fell pregnant with identical twin boys and double trouble, Thaiurin and Shaiurin in 2019. At the time, the couple already had two children Trushen, 21, and Sinorin, 18, and had no plans to have more children. In fact, Galaisha was planning to undergo a tubal ligation when they received news of her pregnancy. “We were not planning for twins at all. We had decided that two kids were enough. But clearly God had other plans for us. He decided to bless us with not one but two…

A FORMER road traffic superintendent, who allegedly intimidated two women and kidnapped one after they were stopped for apparently not having their number plates properly secured, made his first appearance in the Durban Magistrate’s Court last Wednesday. Vincent Botha, 55, was charged with intimidation, kidnapping, assault and failure to lock away a firearm in a prescribed safe. He was arrested by members of the Hawks Provincial Tracking Team last Sunday. At the time of the alleged incidents, Botha was employed by the Road Traffic Management Corporation in the National Traffic Police division. According to the charge sheet, it is alleged that Botha stopped one of the complainants who was travelling in the Durban central area on October 19, 2022. He allegedly intimidated the woman by demanding that she pay the…

IN A SOFTLY lit hall of the British Museum, incense floats in the air, Sanskrit chants echo in the background, and visitors are invited to experience darshan – the sacred act of seeing and being seen by the divine. The new exhibition, Ancient India: Living Traditions, is designed to feel like a temple. But for descendants of Indian indentured labourers in South Africa, what’s truly on display is something far more troubling: the plundered soul of an ancient heritage, dressed up as celebration of state-funded imperial nostalgia. Few visitors realise that the British Museum was founded in 1753 on the personal collection of Sir Hans Sloane, a physician whose fortune came partly from Jamaican sugar plantations worked by enslaved Africans. Sloane married into a family that owned hundreds of slaves.…

THE modification of Amman prayers among South Indians, especially those whose lifestyles have changed through urbanisation or migration, reveals both continuity and transformation. These rituals, deeply tied to Tamil communities in South Africa, remain resilient cultural expressions, adapting rather than vanishing. The month of Aadi commenced on Thursday (July 17). As I write this column, I’ve just returned from my paternal aunt’s home, where I partook in Amman prayers. As a devout Tamil, I look forward to this month with childlike excitement. Besides the endless supply of vade and gulgoola, there’s a distinct atmosphere that marks this sacred period. Yet, not many South Indians today are able to celebrate in quite the same way at yesteryear. With the shift towards apartment living, migration to urban centres and overseas, and the…

I WONDER why certain publications of Independent Media, especially the POST, have no qualms about regularly publishing Ebrahim Essa’s bilge on a weekly basis, especially when he spews blatant, malicious lies. This is especially so in his recent letter, “The importance of English in modern India”, the POST, July 16 – 20. No, Urdu is not “a component of Hindi” as this self–styled expert has claimed. They are two different standardised registers of the same language, Hindustani, with shared grammar and mutual intelligibility in colloquial speech, but distinct literary and formal vocabulary. He is conveniently overlooking a crucial historical context, or he is uninformed. Persian and English were imposed on Indians by foreign colonisers, Muslims and British – the former brutally. For the information of this compulsive liar, Amit Shah…

ENGLAND batter Harry Brook has warned India that his team “don’t always have to be nice” as they prepare to resume hostilities at Old Trafford today. After England battled to a fiery 22-run victory in the third Test at Lord's, the teams will lock horns again with the series on the line in Manchester. England on Monday named just one change to that side with Hampshire's left-arm spinner Liam Dawson making his first Test appearance in eight years at the expense of the injured Shoaib Bashir, while Jofra Archer remains in an unchanged pace attack. An England win would put them 3-1 up with one game to play, while India must take the last two matches to secure their first Test series triumph on English soil since 2007. It promises…

It’s here! The biggest shad competitionof the last few decades kicks off today – and it’s going to be absolute madness! The KingFisher Shad Competition is back and it’s bigger than ever, with a jaw-dropping R75 000 in cold hard cash up for grabs, plus an epic array of gear, tackle, and prizes that’ll blow your mind. This isn’t just a fishing comp – it’s a coastal takeover, a shot at glory, and the kind of adrenaline-pumping action you’ll talk about for years. Whether you’re flinging spoons at sunrise or chasing that perfect pull into the night, this is your moment. Don’t be the one left on the beach – get to your nearest KingFisher branch or jump online at www.kingfisher.co.za and lock in your entry now – the shad…

BEFORE you were a wife or a mother, you were you. You had wild dreams to chase and adventures to go on. You were vivacious, spontaneous and full of energy. Time seemed to pass by slowly. The world was your oyster and there were endless places to explore and people to meet. And you swore you would never become your mother. Then suddenly it happens. The allure of the doting wife and loving mother engulfs you. Was it truly a choice or years of cultural conditioning? In many cultures, marriage and motherhood have been seen as a major milestone or the ultimate goal. Women were often raised with the expectation that their primary role in life was to marry and bear children. And to solely and selflessly serve everyone else.…

ON DECEMBER 3, 2004, Vibu and Vijay Moodley, of Umhlatuzana, Chatsworth, became proud parents to triplets – a son Saien and two daughters, Samara and Thasmika. With no history of multiple births in their families, the couple, who were 35 and 37 respectively at the time, said they were shocked and surprised when they had found out that they were expecting triplets. Vibu, 59, a businessman and Vijay, 56, a teacher, had decided to have another baby because they wanted their eldest daughter, Karissa Naidoo, 29, to have a sibling. Vijay described her pregnancy as not easy and frightening. “Carrying multiples is a high-risk pregnancy. It was challenging. I thank God for giving me the strength and courage to successfully get through it. My spine ached with the weight of…

monishka.govender@inl.co.za SOUTH African public servants facing mandatory retirement at 65, share their experiences and desires to continue working and the challenges posed by financial insecurity. According to the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA), the current mandatory retirement age for public servants is 65. “In terms of the Public Service Act, 1994 (PSA), the normal retirement age of employees is 65 years, and such employees will, on retirement, retire with no pension penalties. Although employees from the ages of 55 to 60 years may retire from the public service, such retirement may be subject to penalties to their pension,” stated the DPSA retirement document. However, with the rising cost of living and tough economy, many individuals said they would prefer to continue working if it meant getting a stable…

THAT is the million-dollar question. No pun intended, as we are talking about serious stuff here. As serious as life and death. “Whistle-blowing” is the buzz word in South Africa currently. Arguably, the biggest whistle-blower is the intrepid KZN Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Followers of this column will know that I hold him in high regard as he has made a considerable difference to this province. Sadly, speaking out and exposing lawlessness and corruption places a target on your back, and possibly a bounty on your head. However, in among all the controversy about the commissioner, let not the name Babita Deokaran be effaced. You see, to me she is not just a name. Not just another statistic. She was a good friend. She and I shared a love…

THE recent responses to the anonymous letter penned by young Indian activists reveal far more than generational disagreement. They expose a profound epistemological and political fault line between inherited authority and emergent consciousness. It is evident that the letter’s power lies not in its anonymity, but in its emotional clarity, intellectual depth, and historical urgency. It resonated widely with the youth because it articulated, in unapologetic and unvarnished terms, the collective sense of exclusion, disillusionment, and deferred promise that defines the lived experience of many young Indian South Africans navigating our community’s power structures. In contrast, the responses from some elder leaders, particularly Logie Naidoo and Ravi Pillay, while ostensibly well-meaning, were intellectually underwhelming and politically defensive. Their arguments rooted more in reputation management, leaned heavily on historical contributions and…

COMMUNITY leaders in Chatsworth are urging authorities to take action against the proliferation of illegal cannabis stores, highlighting concerns about public safety and the impact on local youth. They said outlets were “freely selling” cannabis products close to schools and religious organisations. This comes soon after Mmamoloko Kubayi, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, confirmed that regulations required for the Cannabis for Private Purposes Act to be implemented would be finalised by March next year. In a parliamentary response to DA MP Tobias Chance, Kubayi said the act could only be implemented once her department had received feedback from all concerned departments. These include the departments of health; agriculture; trade, industry and competition; social development; small business and development, the Presidency, and the SAPS. Yugen Pillay, chairperson of the…

AS SUNDAY approaches, the shadow of tragedy looms large for Vani Ganas. Her world was forever altered one year ago when her children, Olysha and Owen Ganas, tragically lost their lives in a car crash on the M19 near Reservoir Hills. The crash, allegedly caused by a reckless street racer, has left their family grappling with a sense of loss and injustice – as no one has been held accountable. Ganas said she and her family felt “let down” by the police. “None of them have done anything. We do not get feedback anymore. We keep calling, but the calls are not answered. They do not respond to emails from us or our attorneys. “We were last told that the investigations were ongoing. “The investigating officer has changed twice, and…

THE recent world club men’s soccer competition in its revised format with eight groups and four teams in each held recently in the USA was a resounding success. Teams came from six continents. Well done to Chelsea of London who won the coveted title with a thrashing of 2025 Champions League winners PSG winning 3-0. The man of the match Cole Palmer scored a great brace and had an assist also. He had PSG’s Donnaruma clutching fresh air. Chelsea had won the cup in 2021 in the old format. The downside was that many matches were played in hot and uncomfortable weather and took a toll on the players. What a pleasure it was to see old masters such as Messi of Inter Miami and Di Maria of Benfica play…

BLATANT and brazen acts of racism are still heard in the halls of our schools and learning institutions. Scholars are being labelled as monkeys, in an act of humiliation that cannot be allowed to continue. Racial discrimination at schools must be exposed, and should be thoroughly investigated, and those exposed should be dismissed from the teaching profession. Their deeds and pictures should be displayed in our hall of shame. Today people of prejudice have learnt how to camouflage their racism in various codes and convoluted euphemism. These racist remarks should not be whitewashed. They need to be properly, accurately, and verbatim catalogued in our hall of shame and made available to future generations. These outbursts indicate deep entrenchments of racial prejudices and stereotypes. These toxic words endure because they are…

NEHA Dhupia thanked the makers of R Madhavan and Fatima Sana Shaikh starrer Aap Jaisa Koi for smashing the patriarchal mindset. Dhupia wrote on Instagram stories: “Thank you for smashing the patriarchy one dialogue, one scene and one stop at a time.” Aap Jaisa Koi shares the unconventional love tale between Shrirenu Tripathi (played by Madhavan), a reserved middle-aged Sanskrit professor, and Madhu Bose (played by Shaikh), a spirited French instructor. The makers used a middle-aged couple to shed light on the fact that the root cause of the misogynistic attitude was that the men were brought up to believe that their wives were not only their partners, but someone whom they owned.…

ACCLAIMED actor Kamal Haasan visited superstar Rajinikanth ahead of his oath-taking ceremony as a member of parliament in the Rajya Sabha. Haasan shared photos from the meeting on X. The pictures feature the actor presenting his official Rajya Sabha order to Rajinikanth. He also presented Rajinikanth with a bouquet as the two southern stalwarts met. In another image, Haasan and Rajinikanth embraced. Haasan wrote: “I shared the beginning of this new journey with my friend Rajinikanth. I feel elated.” Rajinikanth also treated the netizens with a glimpse of the meet and congratulated Haasan on his latest achievement. “My dear friend Kamal Haasan who will be taking office as a member of the Rajya Sabha. Heartfelt congratulations to him.” Haasan is the founder of the political party, Makkal Needhi Maiyam. He…

WHEN I first started the blog I had the punchline "It really does" because your mental health does matter. Mental health struggles knows no race, gender, ethnicity or religion and can be debilitating if left untreated for long periods of time. Admitting that you have a problem is the first step. You could be masking your symptoms by dabbling in things to distract yourself like drinking alcohol or taking pills. Masking depressive disorders and anxiety disorders are impossible. Keeping busy so you forget is also not healthy because you are not addressing the actual problem. I find it extremely hard to just have a day where I do nothing. I can’t watch a movie and lie on the couch because I feel miserable and I feel as though my mind…

A Pietermaritzburg family are seeking legal recourse against two hospitals for alleged negligence following the death of their 70-year-old mother, Indranee Rajah. Her son, Shaun Rajah, said they had consulted an attorney this week after their mother was taken to a private hospital and to Northdale Hospital after a pain in her neck. He said they were in the process of instituting civil and criminal proceedings “of all parties involved”. Rajah said his mother, of Copesville, fell ill on the morning of July 12. “My brother, Odain, called me early that morning. He said our mother was sick and they were rushing her to the private hospital. Her neck was sore and she was groaning in pain.” He said his mother was diabetic and had high blood pressure. Rajah and…

Dr AV Mahomed, the chairperson of the Juma Musjid, announced his immediate resignation from the KwaZulu-Natal Inter-Religious Council over its alleged silence on the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Palestine. The council, of which Mahomed was a founding member, was launched in October 2007. The provincial body brings together various faith groups to address social issues and to promote interfaith dialogue. The council includes representatives from the Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Bahai, African Traditional, and Nazareth Baptist faiths. Mahomed, who resigned on Sunday, said the alleged dormant state of the council during the past four to six years had been laid bare by its inaction and indifference, particularly regarding the atrocities in Gaza. “It is shameful that an institution claiming to represent religious leadership can remain silent in the face…

I HAD imagined a sophisticated baby shower, surrounded by my dearest friends and family. I pictured endless shopping trips for baby clothes, a dreamy maternity photoshoot and quiet afternoons with my feet up, flipping through pregnancy magazines. I imagined a perfect pregnancy. After all, I had eight years to think about it. That’s how long it took for my husband and I to finally conceive – eight years of fighting polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), multiple surgeries, five failed IUIs, and a failed round of IVF. Our final IVF cycle worked. In June 2016, I finally saw two pink lines on a pregnancy test. I thought the hard part was over. I was wrong. What began as a routine check-up with my gynaecologist turned into nearly three months in hospital. I…

When it comes to retiring, many people worry about the lack of funds to carry them for the next chapter of their lives. Standard Bank financial adviser, Rodrick Darren Manikam, said working longer would have financial benefits. “When you retire, there are many things to take into consideration, mainly finances. “You would need funds to pay for basic necessities, one being medical aid, which takes precedence the older you get. “The conversations which I mostly have are if they have enough money for these needs, let alone buy food. Many times my clients just don’t have enough money.” Manikam said that most of his clients retired at 65 and had to make their money last for the next 20 years. “With the interest rates and the tough economy, some people…

“The pen is a wand. And with it, we can cast powerful stories into the world,” says Zain Aboobaker. A former customs officer, Aboobaker makes his literary debut with The Customs Man, a satirical, politically-charged novel that delves into the inner workings of South Africa's customs world. The Durban-based author recently discussed the decade-long journey behind the book, the real-life inspirations behind his characters, and the themes he hoped would resonate with readers. The Customs Man blends weighty social and political issues – power and corruption, xenophobia, human trafficking, drug smuggling and illicit cigarette trade – with dark humour and sharp satire. International underworld networks and local gangsters form the backdrop of a story that is as much about crime as it is about identity and moral reckoning. “The story…

IN A SIGNIFICANT turn of events, the South African Police Service (SAPS) finds itself at a crossroads as trust in its ranks plunges to new depths. Just six months after Senzo Mchunu, the Minister of Police, articulated a vision for restoring public confidence in law enforcement during a National Police Day commemoration in Durban, he has been placed on a leave of absence following explosive allegations about corruption within the police force. On the heels of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to place him on leave, an unsettling narrative has begun to unfold. This decisive move comes in the wake of troubling claims made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. He has alleged the existence of a criminal syndicate operating within law enforcement and intelligence services, positioning this revelation as…

THE legacy of silence: a letter to our elders, the POST, July 16 – 20, refers. Many youngsters who were dedicated to the cause of preserving our cultural heritage were voted in to serve in the committees of the thousands of organisations that are active in our country today. Furthermore, active youth committees bear testimony to this. May I enquire from the writers of the letter therefore: Why do they have to blame their elders for their present situation? Why do they take the easy route by blaming them? Why not introspect and seek within the reasons for you inactivity? Why not strive to be like your forefathers and elders in being leaders and not followers? Why not strive to be a shining star in all situations? I humbly enquire…

Residents have expressed concern about the lack of turnaround strategies from police, despite years of research indicating that the public has little faith or trust in the SAPS. Keith Pillay, 38, of Croftdene in Chatsworth, said he had lost faith in the police long before he became a victim to crime. “In 2015, my home was broken into. Several items were stolen. Some were expensive, while others were irreplaceable because of their sentimental value. The SAPS forensic team did their job and lifted fingerprints. They even found a possible suspect through the fingerprint records. But that was where it ended. The case just faded away. Nothing was ever recovered. No closure. No justice. “I had no faith in the police before this happened to me. I work closely with the…

THE column by scholar and activist Selvan Naidoo, recounting the horrific murder of “Coolie Mary” (the POST, July 16–20), is as chilling as it is necessary. It is a stark reminder of the violence, indignity and exploitation that our forebears endured under the brutal yoke of colonial domination. Her story, one among thousands, paints a vivid picture of a time when Indian indentured labourers were stripped of their humanity and dignity – yet refused to be broken. In 2025, as we approach the 165th anniversary of the arrival of Indian indentured labourers in South Africa (1860 – 2025), it is not just fitting but essential that we revisit and reflect on the suffering and sacrifices of those who came before us. These were men and women who toiled in sugar…

LAST week’s violent cash‑in‑transit heist, near the Bisley Nature Reserve in Pietermaritzburg, highlights a broader lack of commitment around rural and peri-urban safety in order to ensure public safety. According to reports, the bomb squad attended the scene following the bombing of an armoured CIT vehicle. At least five bullet casings were recovered and a white Isuzu bakkie, reportedly used by the perpetrators, was later found torched nearby. The CIT driver was shot in the leg and hand, and rushed to hospital for medical attention. While we commend the swift response by the SAPS, the Hawks, AET security personnel and the specialised explosives unit, this was regrettably not an isolated incident. KZN’s people continue to be held hostage by criminals. As part of the Government of Provincial Unity (GPU), we…

IF YOU have not been paying attention, now is the wake-up call for an angry nation is about to lash out. This is a nation lying bleeding. Its veins infected with corruption’s poison. KZN Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s truth ignites a fire that cannot be contained. The people rise, a tidal wave of justice, demanding change. On Mandela Day, we cried out for accountability and for heads to roll. The clock ticks on – justice delayed is justice denied. The choice is clear: reform or face the storm. A poem: Where to from here? A nation lies bleeding, its veins infected with corruption’s poison. Mkhwanazi’s truth ignites a fire that cannot be contained. The people rise, a tidal wave of justice, demanding change. On Mandela Day, we cry out…

Cameroon winger Bryan Mbeumo said he “grew up wearing” the Manchester United shirt on Monday after joining the club from Brentford on a deal until 2030, with an option for a further year. Mbeumo, 25, will reportedly cost the 20-time Premier League champions an initial £65 million having scored 20 goals in 38 league games last season for the Bees. Tottenham, now managed by former Brentford boss Thomas Frank, were also chasing the France-born attacker before United's improved offer sealed the move. United's third bid, worth an initial £65m with £6m in add-ons, was accepted last week. “As soon as I knew there was a chance to join Manchester United, I had to take the opportunity to sign for the club of my dreams,” Mbeumo said in a United statement.…