By Anga-Anganda Bushwana One of Makhanda’s most prominent public intellectuals and social activists, Eusebius McKaiser, died suddenly on 30 May at the age of 45 from a suspected epileptic seizure. McKaiser’s cousin, Ashwell Adriaan, told Grocott’s Mail that the family was deeply saddened by McKaiser’s death and they would miss his vibrancy, his debating abilities, but most of all his ability to reach out to the different communities across the spectrum. “He was not afraid to put his position on the table for what he believed in and what he stood for” said Adriaan. McKaiser was a giant in the…
Author: Anga Bushwana
By Anga-Anganda Bushwana and Linda Pona Exactly 30 years ago, the United Nations adopted World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) on 3 May, 1993. This year, the Rhodes University School of Journalism and Media Studies (JMS) launched an annual inter-school dialogue on press freedom on the African continent on WPFD, hosted by South African broadcast journalist, author, and academic Thandeka Gqubule-Mbeki. Rhodes University Lecturer and veteran journalist Thandeka Gqubule Mbeki. Photo: supplied The hour-long dialogue included scholars from South Africa, America, and Kenya. The discussion focused on the contribution African journalists made to founding WPFD. That is because the 1991 Windhoek…
By Anga Bushwana My full name is Anga-Anganda Amadinga Amaxesibe, which means my family and ancestors are expecting more blessings for me. At 25 years of age, I am my ancestors’ wildest dream, and slowly but surely, I believe I am living up to my name. Growing up, I lived with my mother, father, and late brother. We were a very tight and close-knit family until tragedy struck and my brother passed away in a horrific car accident when I was 16 years of age. Even with all the mental health problems I developed from that event, I was encouraged…
By Anga Bushwana On 8 March, emotions were high at Foley’s Ground hall in Hlalani as about 120 residents voiced their concerns and grievances about potholes, the water and sewage crisis, and the high unemployment rate. The meeting was part of the Makana municipality’s four-week set of Integrated Development Planning (IDP) meetings with communities. The IDP meetings take place every year in all 13 wards of the municipality. Phumla Joja from Hlalani. Photo: Anga Bushwana. Resident Phumla Joja said the potholes have derailed ambulance services in Hlalani. “My mom is 95 years old, and whenever she is sick, I have…