On The Couch

Usha Naidu is a recently retired educator and freelance journalist. Naidu’s teaching career spanned 28-years where she taught at Clairwood High School, Glenwood High School as well as Eden College. Her career in journalism began in 2001 with community interest stories. She wrote a weekly column for Tabloid Newspapers called Usha Uncut. Naidu has travelled extensively around South Africa, Africa and the world, having visited more than 50 countries. Her most memorable vacations have been to Russia, Namibia and to the Florida Keys in the United States. She recently released a book called “Behind the Scenes, Insights into the Journey of Parenting” which she hopes will stimulate discussion around parenting issues and bring about awareness of the damage that parents can do to their children if they lack the capacity to own up to and introspect on their actions. Usha spoke to Chatsworth Tabloid about her life, passion and the inspiration behind her book. Chatsworth Tabloid (CT...

Durban activist and community driven Imitiaz Syed (IS) is the chair of many Community Policing Forums such as Ethekwini Cluster CPF, Mayville SAPS CPF and also the member of the Civilian Oversight Committee. Syed spoke to Tabloid Newspapers (TN) about his day and life working with the community. Tabloid Newspapers (TN): You are a man who loves his community and submerges himself in the greater good of the community that you serve. Where did the passion start and what inspired it? Imtiaz Syed (IS): In 2014, the area in which we reside had 14 house burglaries in 14 days. This is when I called my first community meeting and decided to get a few neighbours together to engage in neighbourhood watch activities. It is through this my initial engagements with Colonel Luthuli at the Mayville police station in a manner that questioned service delivery and the lack of same at the time. This sort of behaviour has always been a part of my life, how we were brought up in a ...

Sarita Mathur has been setting the local literary scene alight with her writing and performance poetry. The Indian born author and poet shared her fascinating journey with The Chatsworth Tabloid. CT: Tell us about your upbringing in India ? SM: I was born and brought up in India. My father was in the Indian army and at the age of 11, I went to boarding school in the exotic Jaipur. Every three years, he was transferred to a different place so we got the opportunity to see and experience all parts of the country. Maharani Gayatri Devi, my alma mater, is a wonderful school and boarding school was a great experience. Besides academics, you make friends for life. After school, my father was transferred to Simla Western High Command so I had the opportunity to be with my parents and go to university in Simla where I studied and got Honours in English Literature. I always loved art and had a good eye for colour and design. I was advised to go in for textile designing but i...

35-year-old Sheetal Cross, is an award winning feature journalist, sports columnist and television presenter. She is the founder of Titanium Media South Africa (TMSA) which she established after identifying a need for Entrepreneurial Media Empowerment Programmes, arising from new media trends. Cross took some time and chatted to Tabloid Newspapers about her success as a media personality and a business woman. Tabloid Newspapers (TN): Please tell me about yourself and your career background? Sheetal Cross (SC): I was raised in a poor household, with four siblings, making it tougher to live. I was also very badly abused throughout my childhood, but from those experiences, I learned to empower myself with education and be creative to achieve financial independence. At 11, I started my own soap and nail polish distribution business, outselling all my products at a big profit, this is when I caught the business bug, learning about supply and demand. I then noticed a ga...

Phila Duma of Savannah Park is an actor, presenter and award winning photographer. Falling in love with the media industry at a tender age has seen him appearing on SABC’s Yo TV and serving as the master of ceremonies at events such as Mr and Mrs Damelin. Phila is currently working on his self-established initiative 'Shoot with the Stars' which aims to give back to the people of KZN by identifying talented local fashion-designers, make-up artists and accessories suppliers and allowing them to showcase their work. Duma shared his journey with The Chatsworth Tabloid. Chatsworth Tabloid (CT): Describe your upbringing in Savannah Park? P h ila Duma (PD) : It literally took a village to raise a child like me. Especially because I moved from one place to another. I was born in uMlazi township and switched to Savannah Park at the age of 10. The move for me had to make me step out of my comfort zone and expand myself wide enough to change, mainly living and surroundin...

Musa Madonsela is the new manager of Life Chatsmed Garden Hospital. The dynamic 33-year-old, who is passionate about rugby and healthcare, shared his journey and aspirations with The Chatsworth Tabloid. CT : Can you tell us about your upbringing? MM : I was born in a small township called Hammarsdale. During those times there was a bit of political tension and we relocated to Pinetown. It was during the time when the country was transitioning from apartheid to democracy and I still remember being the only black child in my classroom. It was a good time to grow up in South Africa as there was a lot of positivity but there were a lot of reminders about the past. As a child, I did not have any difficulties and I had a lot of friends from different race groups. CT : What does your new role entail? MM : If you think about a president, they have to look after every aspect of the country. My mandate is to grow and improve the hospital in terms of the services that we are...

Vicky Prithraj is the chairman of the Funda Zophila Foundation. He presents the Edu-Assist Awareness Programmes on bullying and abuse and ensures that they are done correctly. He regularly hosts discussions with the provincial school coordinators and with the assistant director for the national office for basic education to update them on progress and problems experienced at schools with the running of the programmes. Chatsworth Tabloid (CT): Tell us about the Funda Zophila Foundation Vicky Prithraj (VP): The Funda Zophila Foundation is a registered non-profit organisation with the Department of Social Development. We are a Section 18A approved organisation. Funda Zophila runs Edu-Assist Awareness Programmes on bullying and abuse at schools throughout South Africa. We rely totally on funding from the public, businesses and corporates to make this possible. The programme is done with students and Life Orientation educators. We refer to this part of the programme as ...