EDITOR’S NOTE

SOCIAL media made for some good reading this week as Saffers voiced their disgust at British PR firm Bell Pottinger which, until recently, worked for the Guptas.

The nation has never been as united as on this issue of a foreign company working to undo the fragile peace between the races of the rainbow nation.

Our regular columnist Imraan Buccus offers excellent context on page 17 in his take on the PR firm’s role in creating discord.

In her column, Independent’s foreign editor Shannon Ebrahim reflects on India’s changing relationship with Israel. It’s an unexpected new dynamic in the Middle East and well worth reflecting on. Find it on page 16.

The saying “the harder you practise the luckier you get” is without a doubt the case with Candice Bassrobinson, trainer of this year’s Durban July winner, Marinaresco.

Mervyn Naidoo’s interview with the first Mazwi Xaba is on leave woman trainer (Page 15) to win a July, tells how a life-time around racehorses culminated in the ultimate victory last weekend.

The Ballito Pro, featured on page 6, is a fun reminder of why we like living in Kwazulu-natal.

It’s about sun, sand and great waves after all. There is still today to catch the last of this World Surf League event.

There was plenty of activity in Durban North yesterday when celebrity Minnie Dlamini held her umembeso (pre-marriage gift exchange).

She is due to marry Quinton Jones in September in a wedding to be aired on M-net. For the inside story and plenty of other juicy gossip, look to page 3.

And, for those who can’t find Ben Trovato’s column this week, don’t despair, you are not losing your mind. He is attending the last of his daughter’s after-wedding parties somewhere on a beach in Mozambique. He might be back next week.