Grocott's Mail
  • NEWS
    • Courts & Crime
    • Features
    • Politics
    • People
    • Health & Well-being
  • SPORT
    • News
    • Results
    • Sports Diary
    • Club Contacts
    • Columns
    • Sport Galleries
    • Sport Videos
  • OPINION
    • Election Connection
    • Makana Voices
    • Deur ‘n Gekleurde Bril
    • Newtown… Old Eyes
    • Incisive View
    • Your Say
  • ARTSLIFE
    • Cue
    • Makana Sharp!
    • Visual Art
    • Literature
    • Food & Fun
    • Festivals
    • Community Arts
    • Going Places
  • OUR TOWN
    • What’s on
    • Spiritual
    • Emergency & Well-being
    • Safety
    • Civic
    • Municipality
    • Weather
    • Properties
      • Grahamstown Properties
    • Your Town, Our Town
  • OUTSIDE
    • Enviro News
    • Gardening
    • Farming
    • Science
    • Conservation
    • Motoring
    • Pets/Animals
  • ECONOMIX
    • Business News
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Personal Finance
  • EDUCATION
    • Education NEWS
    • Education OUR TOWN
    • Education INFO
  • Covid-19
  • EDITORIAL
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending
  • In the words of Nelson Mandela, “To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity”
  • Avbob 2023 Poetry Competition Winner: Sithembele Isaac Xhegwana of Makhanda
  • Flooding at the James Kleynhans Water Treatment Works
  • Avbob 2023 Poetry Competition Second Place: Jeannie Wallace McKeown of Makhanda
  • Residents of Extensions Nine, 10, Transit Camp, Phumlani and Enkanini voice discontent!
  • Makhanda Creatives Speak Out
  • Running towards a drug and alcohol-free Makhanda
  • What’s On 23 – 30 March
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Grocott's Mail
  • NEWS
    • Courts & Crime
    • Features
    • Politics
    • People
    • Health & Well-being
  • SPORT
    • News
    • Results
    • Sports Diary
    • Club Contacts
    • Columns
    • Sport Galleries
    • Sport Videos
  • OPINION
    • Election Connection
    • Makana Voices
    • Deur ‘n Gekleurde Bril
    • Newtown… Old Eyes
    • Incisive View
    • Your Say
  • ARTSLIFE
    • Cue
    • Makana Sharp!
    • Visual Art
    • Literature
    • Food & Fun
    • Festivals
    • Community Arts
    • Going Places
  • OUR TOWN
    • What’s on
    • Spiritual
    • Emergency & Well-being
    • Safety
    • Civic
    • Municipality
    • Weather
    • Properties
      • Grahamstown Properties
    • Your Town, Our Town
  • OUTSIDE
    • Enviro News
    • Gardening
    • Farming
    • Science
    • Conservation
    • Motoring
    • Pets/Animals
  • ECONOMIX
    • Business News
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Personal Finance
  • EDUCATION
    • Education NEWS
    • Education OUR TOWN
    • Education INFO
  • Covid-19
  • EDITORIAL
Grocott's Mail
You are at:Home»Uncategorized»My Say: And then they were gone
Uncategorized

My Say: And then they were gone

Grocott's MailBy Grocott's MailAugust 7, 2013No Comments2 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

It’s not uncommon to spot men and women in camo army gear or large military vehicles in Grahamstown. This is an ‘army town’ after all, with the 6SAI base a few kilometres outside the city centre and the First City Regiment’s offices on Hill Street.

It’s not uncommon to spot men and women in camo army gear or large military vehicles in Grahamstown. This is an ‘army town’ after all, with the 6SAI base a few kilometres outside the city centre and the First City Regiment’s offices on Hill Street.

Recently though, some started noticing military personnel with unusual accents and strange uniforms around local drinking holes at night. That’s unusual!

These people in unfamiliar dress are members of the United States military, here for a fortnight to conduct joint training exercises with our defence force.

According to a press release these activities were “designed to increase the ability of both forces to respond to humanitarian disasters and peace keeping/enforcing operations in the region”.

But many residents did not know this, and some, mainly in Grahamstown East, weren’t even aware that US troops were here. A police officer who asked to remain anonymous said the local police station also didn’t know they were coming.

Generally, reactions to US military presence was mixed.

Many residents welcomed them. Others felt they were a nuisance, especially as some allegedly saw rowdy off-duty American soldiers drinking and giving away bits of their uniforms in drinking games. Street beggars definitely also seemed to benefit from the US army’s generosity.

Arguably, the impact they made on Grahamstown was negligible and transitory. They left yesterday.

So I would say that those lucky enough to interact and receive gifts from the Americans should just count their blessings, because who knows, or cares when they’ll return to lil’ old Grahamstown again.

Previous ArticleNjilo noDezz on the rise
Next Article Mayor confirms housing scam
Grocott's Mail

Comments are closed.

Tweets by Grocotts
Newsletter



Listen

The Rhodes University Community Engagement Division has launched Engagement in Action, a new podcast which aims to bring to life some of the many ways in which the University interacts with communities around it. Check it out below.

Humans of Makhanda

Humans of Makhanda

Weather    |     About     |     Advertise     |     Subscribe     |     Contact     |     Support Grocott’s Mail

© 2023 Maintained by School of Journalism & Media Studies.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.