Jailoshini Naidoo.
Image: Supplied
ON SUNDAY, March 8, the entire world celebrated the International Day of Women. Merely three days earlier, I, along with the rest of the world, saw the shocking antithesis of that celebration in our country.
In a commission of inquiry into the criminal justice system, a witness who was the aide to a previous high-profile witness, was mercilessly harried, harassed, humiliated and bullied into submission that she had a personal relationship with a former senior police official who was recently also investigated by a commission.
The latter, being a married man, does cast doubts on Sarah-Jane Trent’s integrity and moral turpitude. Having admitted to the indiscretion, she was further interrogated into revealing salacious details of the “hook-up” as she called it. How does where the assignations took place, and with what regularity it did, have to do with the inquiry into corruption?
Even I, as a layman, definitely no pun intended, know that such details would bring massive attention to the case, but I am hoping it was not to satiate some perverse fantasies. To say that I was repulsed and revolted by the treatment of Trent, who was clearly seen to be an emotional, reticent person, is an understatement. Where exactly is the milk of human kindness and compassion? Is grandstanding more important than a person’s dignity?
As I did on social media, I apologise profusely to the lady on behalf of my gender. My favourite author Charles Dicken’s words in Oliver Twist come to mind here: “the law is an ass.” Certainly not always, and should not be at all. I decided to do the opposite in my column this week and highlight a few of what I coined "femmenomenal” women in our orbit.
I recently wrote a piece on local comedians and how talented they were. My wife, definitely at the top of my list of exceptional women, reminded me that I omitted to include Natasha Munien Portrag, popularly known as Bash with Tash. She bounced into our lives with no apology for anything. At first, she was picked on for being well-proportioned and generously-endowed. Some pee-brained detractors openly insulted and abused her. What she did was inspirational. She did not retaliate, but shone even more by getting out there and showing her talent for comedy.
She is now a household name and it is well-earned. Her beloved “Huncle” stood by her through thick and thin. Ouch!
I’m proud of you, Tash. Keep on being an inspiration. After all, “if I don’t tell, who will tell?”
There's nothing, I can add to the plaudits that define my dear friend and former colleague, Jailoshini Naidoo. Supremely talented, achingly funny and humble. She is so adept at her craft that one can never figure out when Aunty Rumba starts and Jailoshini enters. Aunty Rumba rocks our world.
There are so many talented and exceptional ladies I can write about, but space inhibits me. In media, we have the seasoned Salma Patel, my favourites Taliesha Naidoo, Jayed-Leigh Paulse, and Neelofar Sayed. My little “sister”, CJ Benjamin needs no introduction. She’s a powerhouse of energy, talent and wisdom. Little more subdued is our mutual friend, legal eagle Abigail Nadar Nepaul, but in no way is she a pushover.
I know her and her family for eons, and am super proud of her. In keeping with legal high achievers, I would be amiss if I did not mention my dear friend, Tymara Ketusha Samuel. She is the daughter of an old friend of mine, the late legal legend, Siven Samuels. If Ty ever needed another career, the world of supermodels would scoop her up.
If you, like me, are following the Madlanga Commission, there is no way that you can ignore the one evidence leader, Adila Hassim. She is sharp as a needle, poised, composed and quite easy on the eye too. I notice on social media that South Africans of all races are lavish in their praise of her ability. Nothing about that surprises me. After all she is the daughter of the legend of the Casbah in Durban, Aziz Hassim. Besides my father and brother, the man who had a profound effect on shaping me to be a respectful and decent human, was her daddy.
A worldwide best-selling author, he was my mentor and he nurtured me to write my first book, which led to another three. He was a widely travelled man, with a razor-sharp intellect and acumen. Being in his company was a privilege which he graciously accorded to me with no limit. He sadly passed on in June 2013 and I lost a jewel of a human. He was immensely worldly-wise and he passed on nuggets to me which I still treasure to this day. The great news is from where I am standing and observing, the Hassim legacy is in safe hands.
Incidentally, my former radio colleague, Raeesa Mahomed, a legend in her own right, is the niece of dear Aziz. There are many more ladies of wonder I can write about, so forgive me if I have left you out. I want to discuss now with you a pocket dynamo of a woman. She is a petite bundle of class and energy. Beverley Naidoo is the daughter of the recently late talented singer and entertainment icon, Sydney Naidoo. Fortunately, his talent is replicated in Bevs.
I know her and her sister Tanya for many years. Their mother is also an accomplished artiste in Eastern music and dance. If you engage Bevs to manage your social function, you will get a mistress of ceremony, a talented dancer and a classical songbird, and she will own your stage. All kitted out in one beautiful package that is taking Durban by storm.
Staying with musical talent in Durban, I cannot forget the divine Ms J Hailing from the family of the legendary group, The Dukes Combo. It is not surprising that Ashleigh Jackson (née Joseph) is well grounded in the genre. She is a popular choice of entertainer on the local circuit. Having seen her rise to fame and popularity for over a decade, it is little wonder that I am one of her most ardent supporters.
Ashleigh’s tagline appropriately is "music is life”. I concur.
Last, but by no means least, I give tribute to Yogas Nair. A phenomenal woman who I worked alongside with from two decades ago, when she ruled the front pages of this newspaper with her up-to-date goings-on in the province. She worked hard in the trenches and now is my editor. Well achieved and certainly well-earned. Please treat all women with respect and accord them dignity, as besides who they are to you, they are somebody’s mother, sister, aunt or grandmother. Honour them.
This column is dedicated especially to two phenomenal women: my beloved late mother, Yanambal, and my precious wife, Pramashani.