Rakesh Ramdhin

This week I wrote about the Durban Business Fair. It's currently trending on IOL.

Entrepreneurs unite at Durban Business Fair to drive local economy For many exhibitors, the annual Business represents far more than a trade event. It is a platform for networking and growth.

As the holy month of Ramadan comes to a close, check out my write up in todays paper: https://iol.co.za/thepost/community-news/2026-03-19-waiting-for-the-crescent-moon-ramadan-reflections-from-phoenix-and-chatsworth/

POST Plus .mahomed

Waiting for the crescent moon: Ramadan reflections from Phoenix and Chatsworth Muslim families across Phoenix and Chatsworth are looking toward the evening sky in anticipation of the crescent moon that will signal the end of the fast and the arrival of Eid.

One of my recent articles that certainly took me back to a place of nostalgia, joy & unfulfilled passion...

Check out the super talented
https://iol.co.za/thepost/community-news/2026-03-05-engineering-and-entertainment-dj-nivaadh-singh-on-the-discipline-behind-the-decks/

Another week of telling stories,

DM me if you know of an inspiring community hero... thanks 🙏🏼

From Kavady to Karate and the inspiring work of the Phoenix Child Welfare... another inspirational read in this week's Post Plus Newspaper

If you're a sporting club in Chatsworth or Phoenix, Durban then get in touch with me... I would like to showcase your club & membership in Post Plus Community Newspaper.

So happy to have had an opportunity to celebrate the King of Remixes DJ Dizzy D 🎧🎶🎤

Zakia Ahmed Siddiqi was not just a colleague. She was a guiding light throughout my entire journey at Lotus FM.

From the the time I joined the station, Zakia welcomed me with a respect and affection that never wavered. She believed in my talent long before I believed in it myself. She supported me in the studio, encouraged me on air, and always reminded me — in her gentle, unmistakable way — to stand tall in my craft.

Zakia was proud of me, and I was deeply proud to work with her.

She had a way of making every moment feel lighter, brighter, and filled with possibility. Whether it was her laugh echoing down the passage, the sparkle in her eyes, or that signature warmth in her voice — she carried an energy that lifted entire rooms, entire audiences, entire communities.

When her beloved husband, the legendary poet Safee Siddiqi, passed away in 2012, I had the honour of producing and hosting a full tribute show for him. He, always gently & affectionally complimented my voice and my work — and in that shared space of broadcasting and poetry, Zakia and I formed a bond rooted in trust, respect, and an unspoken understanding.
I will forever cherish that connection.

Zakia loved radio with her whole heart. She loved her listeners. She loved the industry. And she brought to it nearly forty years of talent, professionalism, humility and charm. She was versatile, confident, and endlessly dedicated — a true icon of the airwaves.

But beyond the microphone, she was even more extraordinary.
She was compassionate. She was fiercely loyal. She never spoke ill of anyone.
And she carried her faith and her kindness into everything she did.
The many tributes describe her energy, her optimism, her infectious smile — and every word is true. Zakia lived with joy. She worked with purpose. And she cared deeply for the people she loved.

Her passing feels impossible to accept because she was one of those rare souls who seemed too full of life to ever fade.

But even as we mourn, we hold onto this truth:
Zakia’s light will not dim.
It lives on in the listeners she comforted, the artists she supported, the colleagues she uplifted, the friends she cherished, and the family she adored.
It lives on in her children, Safeenaaz and Basharat.
It lives on in every heart she touched — including mine.

Zakia…
Thank you for your friendship.
Thank you for your kindness.
Thank you for believing in me, and for the joy you brought to every corner of our world.
Your voice may have fallen silent, but your spirit continues to resonate — like a beautiful melody that never truly ends.

May the Almighty grant you Jannatul Firdaus.
May you be reunited with your beloved Safee.
And may your legacy continue to shine with the same radiance that defined your life.

Rest gently, dear Zakia.

You will forever remain part of the soundtrack of our hearts.

Something that I used to do on air which both Safee Bhai & Zakia enjoyed… I offer this shayari:

Roshan thi woh rooh, ke har dil ko ujāla de gayi,
Khud to chali gayi, magar jeevan ko andhera na de gayi.
Har lafz mein, har saans mein, ek narm si yaad chhod gayi,
Safar khatam hua lekin, mohabbat ki misaal de gayi.
Ab uski muskurahat hi hamara sahāra banegi,
Dua hai Rab se — Jannat mein unki jagah sanwar kar degi.
Zakia jaise log, waqt ki dhool mein kab kho jaate hain?
Woh to phool hain — jo khushboo bankar hi sadaa reh jaate hain.

Rakesh Ramdhin

So grateful to have been able to write about this gentleman who has brought so much joy to peoples lives through doing what he loves best...

Check out the full article here:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CZt8iDDnk/

🌹 A Love Beyond Loss

When I met Mr. Loga Pillay, I saw not only grief, but grace.
Eight years after the tragic loss of his beloved wife, Mrs. Gona Pillay, his days are guided by prayer, quiet reflection, and enduring love.

He reminds us that healing is not about forgetting — it’s about honoring love in the way we live.

His story is a lesson in strength, faith, and compassion.

🕊️ Read the story in Post Plus:
🔗

Silverglen's enduring love story: 8 years after the murder that shocked Chatsworth This is the story of enduring love in the face of unspeakable tragedy, as the former teacher maintains an unbreakable bond with his late wife Gona, 66, who had retired as the principal of Southlands Secondary School.

🎤 Now Taking Bookings for Corporate Year-End Events

Look out for the next edition of Post Plus this Thursday as we mark halfway... 3 months of meeting, talking, connecting and story telling.

Thank you to everybody who has helped along the way. Let's make the next 3 months meaningful in the stories we tell....