‘We want justice for my brother’
A NEWLY-LAUNCHED business forum aims to provide economic support, mentorship and networking opportunities to its members who follow the ethos of Sanatan Dharma.
The Lotus Economic Forum, a registered non-profit company, which follows the tenets of Sanatan Dharma was launched last weekend.
Sanatan Dharma incorporates various teachings from the Vedas and other Hindu texts such as the Ramayana and Bhagavad Gita, and is often described as a concise guide to Hindu philosophy.
Chaya Lakhani, an executive member of the Lotus Economic Forum, said one did not have to be a Hindu person to be part of the forum, but must follow the ethos of Sanatan Dharma.
“Among the benefits of this business economic forum is business networking within the Sanatan Dharma market. It is networking for buyers and sellers. It is a way to promote your business, also to look at training, mentorship and coaching, using our own skills from our base,” said Lakhani.
The forum joins the growing community of business chambers in South Africa with its key objective being to provide businesses with training and support and knowledge sharing, support through mentorship, creating employment for the community and social responsibility.
“We will be doing Seva (act of selfless service), by giving back to the community through social awareness and upliftment initiatives,” said Lakhani.
The forum’s founding members recognised the need for a business forum that would be a support and a pillar for the advancement of business within its communities in order to forge economic growth, create employment, promote social and spiritual upliftment, create educational awareness and to provide support for the needy.
THE family of a slain academic have accused police of dragging their feet with the murder investigation.
Dr Rivendra Narain, a senior lecturer at UKZN’S School of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, was killed in his Tongaat home during a robbery on April 22, 2020. His assailants escaped with cellphones and a laptop.
Narain’s sister, Ranesha, said she and close family members worked tirelessly to ensure the investigating officer had all the information and co-operation he required.
“However, we are of the belief that the investigating officer is dragging his feet regarding this case. It has been 14 months and still nothing. “When we enquire about the progress we get told the matter is still under investigation, that they are understaffed and we need to be patient,” said Narain.
She said they had also hired a private investigator.
In a letter to the police’s provincial office, Narain wrote she was “dissatisfied with the manner in which the investigation was being conducted as leads were not being followed up on timeously. Two suspects were arrested, the lead was from my hard work along with some close family members and with the assistance of the private investigator.
“The arrest took place around mid August. Since then the suspects were released and no further leads were followed up on, that happened in December 2020.”
Narain said they lost a noble, loving and caring person to a heinous crime. “As a family we don’t mind offering a reward for the successful conviction in this case. We just want justice for my brother and closure. Losing someone is in itself a very traumatic experience, however not knowing what, why and how this happened is worse. There is not a day that my mum does not get emotional,” said Narain.
Police spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbele said charges of house robbery and murder were being investigated by Tongaat police.
“Two unknown suspects armed with knives entered the house at Watsonia in Tongaat. They held the occupants and fatally stabbed a 38-year-old man. The suspect fled the scene with a laptop and two cellphones. Two suspects were arrested and appeared at court in December last year.
“The matter was withdrawn against the suspects. The matter is still under investigation pending the arrest of the main suspect, who is still at large,” said Mbele.
She said the family were given an update this week and were informed about the case.