For many years, citizens of Makhanda have come together to celebrate the nativity story shortly before Christmas at the service of Carols by Candlelight. (This year, it will be held in the Cathedral of St Michael and St George on 28 November at 6 pm.) Well-known carols are sung, and the Cathedral is lit by candlelight. The story is related by Rotarians through bible readings and enacted by a cast drawn from the local community. Children are welcome to join in as part of the cast, and costumes are made available preceding the show, but to do this, they should…
Author: Grocott's Mail
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By Dr Ashley Westaway, GADRA Education manager Makhanda is home to a wide range of organisations with an interest in education. Whilst we are perhaps not unique in that respect, what sets us apart from any other city in the country is the extent to which our diverse organisations cooperate and collaborate. These partnerships deliver an amazing array of valuable educational products and services. In other words, the partnerships are productive; they generate outcomes and achievements that would otherwise be elusive. The partnerships, as much as the organisations themselves, are responsible for creating the conditions that have given rise to…
Stay in the loop with the latest and join the MEW WhatsApp group! POP-UPS/ FESTIVALS/ EXHIBITIONS/REPEAT EVENTS Wednesday, 29 November – Saturday, 2 December Grahamstown Christmas Market/Grahamstad Kersmark Lots of stalls with unique items and eats. Coffee shop: open every day, with wonderful treats! @ Hoërskool PJ Olivier – School Hall, Upper Robinson Street 10:00 – 19:00 on 29, 30 November & 1 December; 09:00 – 15:00 on 2 December Contact Details: 046 622 4539 Free entry THIS WEEK THURSDAY 23 NOVEMBER U3A @ Grahamstown Bowling Club 10:00 – 11:00 R5 entry fee Grahamstown Bridge Club @ Grahamstown Bowling Club, African Street…
By Ross Marriner Most good investments need time to achieve their expected goals. A serious investment is not something that can be viewed as a “get-rich-quick” scheme. An investment that seems too good to be true is usually just that – too good to be true. Unfortunately, unwitting investors continue to be enticed into placing their money in unregulated schemes that promise unbelievable returns – and they often end up losing all or a large amount of the capital invested. The provisionally liquidated BHI Trust is a recent case in point. This type of scheme neatly fits the definition of…
By Chris Totobela and Luvuyo Mjekula It was supposed to be one of the happiest days of her life. But sadly, things turned out differently for Linomtha Skade, a 12-year-old Extension 9 schoolgirl, who tragically passed away during a school outing at a resort in Makhanda three weeks ago. The unfortunate incident apparently occurred during a day trip organised by the NV Cewu Primary School, where Linomtha was a grade 7 learner. Details of the tragedy have been sketchy, with the girl’s family reportedly still searching for answers. Reports on social media suggested that the learners swam unsupervised at the…
By Rod Amner Two in five Grade 4 children in Makhanda (40%) can read for meaning, more than twice the national rate of just 19% measured by the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) in 2021. These remarkable results emerged from a comprehensive study by local NGO Gadra Education and the Rhodes University Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education. GADRA Education research and communications manager Kelly Long said the study measured the comprehension skills and reading fluency of over 1000 children and all 19 public primary schools in the town, of which just four are fee-paying. “In the…
Dear Editor The statement issued by the Communications Officer of the Albany Museum as published in the Grocott’s Mail, refers. The statement was a reference to myself as a member of the Board and was in response to the statement on my statement on matters of concern relating to the Museum, in particular the lack of action by the Province and lack of accountability on the part of the staff members following the serious burglary which occurred at the Observatory Museum. In my statement, I also expressed concern about the general state of the Museum specifying examples. The statement as…
By Loyiso Dyongman A sample toilet was handed over by the municipality to families in Mandela Park in Alicedale, Eastern Cape, in 2008, for approval. They say they were told that if they liked it, more toilets would be provided, one for each household. But 15 years later, the only toilet in the informal settlement is the sample they were given in 2008. One family uses it. The rest use the bushes. In 2008 Makana municipal councillors handed over one toilet to residents of Mandela Park informal settlement. They said it was a sample and if residents approved it, they’d be…
By Loyiso Dyongman Makhanda and surrounding areas have been without any post office for three months, and it is unclear when and if the post office will reopen. The Siphiwo Mazwayi post office closed a year ago and now has a for sale sign up. In September, Ground Up reported that the Hill Street post office closed on 25 July due to non-payment of rent. The South African Post Office is in business rescue with Anoosh Rooplal and Juanito Damons supervising the process. This week Rooplal told GroundUp that there was no clear indication on the future of the Makhanda post office…
Stay in the loop with the latest and join the MEW WhatsApp group! THIS WEEK THURSDAY 16 NOVEMBER U3A This week, Professor Roddy Fox will treat us to another visual feast. He will be giving us an illustrated presentation of how the different stages of flowing water – small streams, cascades and rapids – have inspired him to develop different techniques of photography. The title of Roddy’s presentation is The Nature of Water: A Photographic Impression. @ Grahamstown Bowling Club 10:00 – 11:00 R5 entry fee Grahamstown Bridge Club @ Grahamstown Bowling Club, African Street 13:15 for 13:30 Contact Sheila Hicks: 083…