Author: Grocott's Mail

By Rod Amner Over 100 enthusiastic children of the St Mary’s Development and Care Centre (DCC) delighted in the reading of a Nali’bali story about a lost kitten called Ginger to mark World Read Aloud Day on Wednesday, 7 February. ‘The Lost Kitten’ was specially written for World Read Aloud Day by South African child author Stacey Fru and was performed in isiXhosa, Afrikaans and English by centre staff. St Mary’s DCC literacy coordinator Brendan Williams asked the children questions about the story before they were invited to make their own kitten masks. St Mary’s DCC provides development and enrichment…

By Siqhamo Jama In the picturesque town of Makhanda, nestled in the heart of South Africa, a creative visionary named Shdenga Isaias Tivane has become a beacon of Afrocentric fashion. Born on June 17, 1964, in Chokwe, Mozambique, Shdenga’s life has been a testament to resilience and a deep connection to his African roots. Forced to leave his homeland due to the civil war in 1983, he found solace and artistic expression in Makhanda. A Journey of Resilience The rich cultural tapestry of Chokwe, Mozambique, marked Tivane’s early life. However, the upheaval caused by the civil war forced him to…

Stay in the loop with the latest and join the MEW WhatsApp group! THIS WEEK THURSDAY, 8 FEBRUARY U3A Professor Blackie had to cancel her talk, and Malcolm Hacksley will give an old talk of his about the intriguing stories behind virtually ALL the best-known English so-called “nursery rhymes”. They will be limited to 25 or so of them. @ Grahamstown Bowling Club 10:00-11:00 Free entry Grahamstown Bridge Club @ Grahamstown Bowling Club, African Street 13:15 for 13:30 Contact Sheila Hicks: 083 442 3322 R15 non-members | R10 members Thursday Pool Competition @ SSS Top Bar, 19b New Street 18:30 – 19:00…

By Jonathan Campbell In 2024, the Rhodes University Law Clinic will continue contributing monthly articles for publication in Grocott’s Mail as part of its “Rights with RULAC” series. This series forms part of the Law Clinic’s community education programme, which seeks to improve knowledge and understanding in the broader community about specific areas of law which the public is more likely to encounter. Besides this series, Law Clinic staff contribute to regular talk shows on similar topics on several community radio stations (currently Kingfisher FM, Ndlambe FM and Rhodes Music Radio). They also facilitate in-person workshops in schools, churches and…

By Loyiso Dyongman For years, residents of Makhanda have endured water outages. Upgrades to a water treatment plant are six years behind schedule. The latest completion date is April 2024, after a December 2023 deadline was missed. Amatola Water has blamed the delays on the slow progress of the contractor. The contractor refused to comment. Makhanda’s water woes are set to continue this year, with Amatola Water missing its latest deadline. Amatola Water has announced that it expects to complete upgrades to the James Kleynhans Water Treatment Works only at the end of April. After the liquidation of one of…

By Staff Reporter Rhodes University proudly spotlights the ground-breaking work of one of its lecturers, Dr Chikezie E. Uzuegbunam, whose research on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Africa has garnered international recognition. Funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, this journey began with a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Cape Town and has now reached an inspiring milestone at the 2023 African Studies Association (ASA) Annual Meeting in San Francisco. Dr Uzuegbunam was among the 20 fellows funded by Carnegie and recognised for outstanding scholarship in various disciplines. This prestigious cohort represents both Carnegie’s and ASA’s vision of future-focused,…

By Staff Reporter Top teams across South Africa were drawn to Makhanda January 25-28 for the St Andrews College Shield. The 13 schools participating in the water polo event were St Johns and St Stithians from Gauteng, Hilton, Westville, Michaelhouse, and Clifton, all from Kwa-Zulu Natal, St Andrew’s College, Grey High, Selborne from the Eastern Cape, SACS, Bishops, Paul Roos, and Rondebosch in the Western Cape. The competition met expectations, presenting a formidable challenge for all participating teams. The schools were divided into two pools, and most games were evenly contested. Bishops, St Johns, and Paul Roos remained unbeaten on…

By Staff Reporter This past weekend, Kingswood College hosted the 13th edition of the Brian Baker water polo tournament. The tournament has become a favourite over the years, with 20 schools participating and more than 400 people, from players and coaches to parents and spectators, joining the festivities. The tournament kicked off with hosts Kingswood College vs local rivals Woodridge College in a game that would see the hosts too strong for Woodridge with a final score of 14-2. The Brian Baker tournament includes many teams from the top water polo schools around South Africa, which always creates a spectacle…

By Lelethu Zono and Ntombentsha Yamiso Hooggenoeg, Sun City and Ghost Town residents constantly fear for their safety as most streets in these areas are without functioning streetlights. Community members say the streetlights have not been fully functional since the early 2000s. Because of this, each night, they are vulnerable to violence, including sexual violence, murder, robbery, cable theft, house-breaking and other criminal activities. This lack of safety is in contravention of Section 24 of the SA Constitution, which states that everyone has the right to have the environment protected for the benefit of present and future generations. It also…

Stay in the loop with the latest and join the MEW WhatsApp group! POP-UPS/ FESTIVALS/ EXHIBITIONS/REPEAT EVENTS Friday, 2 – Saturday, 3 February Table Too Vietnamese Evening A delicious array of Vietnamese food, including fresh rice paper wrap spring rolls & ginger dipping sauce, Bo Kho (slow-cooked beef with lemongrass, ginger, soy, paprika, 5-spice), Chicken stir-fry with caramelised sugar, ginger, chillies, lemongrass, Fragrant jasmine rice, Salad with pawpaw, cucumber, carrots, spring onion, peanuts, mint, basil, Chocolate and lemongrass mousse & lime sauce & coconut sorbet. Vegetarian option available. @ 16 Donkin Street 19:30 for 20:00 Contact ​​0826718558 or 0839602366 Price: R220pp THIS…