By Aphiwe Ngowapi Vutha Ndlovu, born Mawande Xungu, is an up-and-coming artist making his mark in the world of music. Hailing from the creative city of Makhanda, Vutha has worked hard for years to develop his talents as a master of ceremonies (MC), gaining valuable experience by performing at several prominent events. Some of the notable festivals he has participated in include the National Arts Festival, the Fingo Festival, the Sasko Kota Festival, and the Ecawa Music Festival. His involvement in these prestigious events has allowed him to showcase his energy and passion for music to wide audiences. In addition…
Author: Aphiwe Ngowapi
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By Aphiwe Ngowapi Sixteen Days of Activism against gender-based violence will be commemorated during the annual Goldrush Fabian Juries Community Fun Day this year. The annual tournament, in its 11th edition of the tournament is scheduled for Saturday, 30 November 2024. The annual event will be hosted in the township this year, with rugby matches taking place at Miki Yili Stadium and netball matches at the Indoor Sports Centre. The family fun day serves as a community sporting tournament organized by the Grahamstown Brumbies Rugby Club. It will feature eight rugby teams and eight netball teams, namely the Curry Park…
By Aphiwe Ngowapi The Makhanda High Court this week sentenced former paramedic Nomsa Seyisi to life imprisonment for the murder of her cousin’s boyfriend and 15 years for the attempted murder of the cousin. Judge Thandi Victoria Norman ordered the two sentences to run concurrently, effectively sentencing Seyisi to life imprisonment. After a trial that lasted a little more than a week, the matter was concluded on Monday with justice for Thembinkosi Wambi and Zukiswa Frans. Wambi, 41, was shot and killed on 25 August 2023 and Frans was also shot, but survived after playing dead. Seyisi had also been…
By Aphiwe Ngowapi Convicted murderer Nomsa Seyisi should be sentenced to direct imprisonment because she has shown no remorse and is not fit for rehabilitation. This was the recommendation of a Makhanda social worker to the Makhanda High Court on Wednesday. Nomonde Stamper, who worked for the Department of Correctional Services before becoming a private social worker, told the court Seyisi, 48, did not take responsibility for her actions. Seyisi still denied killing her cousin’s boyfriend or attempting to kill her cousin. She was convicted of the murder of Thembinkosi Wambi and the attempted murder of her cousin, Zukiswa Frans.…
By Aphiwe Ngowapi In a significant ruling yesterday, the High Court in Makhanda found Nomsa Seyisi guilty of the murder of Thembinkosi Wambi and the attempted murder of her cousin, Zukiswa Frans. However, the 48-year-old paramedic was found not guilty on the charge of robbery with aggravating circumstances. Wambi, 41, was shot in the head on 25 August 2023 and Frans was shot and injured on the hand, and surived after pretending to be dead. Seyisi had also been charged with robbing Wambi of his Stylo cellphone. She was arrested a month after the incident, but her two alleged accomplices…
By Aphiwe Ngowapi After 15 years of serving the Makhanda community, Red Café on High Street will close its doors at the end of October 2024. Known for its resilience, including surviving the challenges of COVID-19, the beloved local spot is transforming into the Red Café Online Art Gallery. This evolution aims to preserve the café’s ethos of community and creativity, while shifting focus from food to art. To mark this transition, Red Café will host the “Red Rebirth” Art and Memory Auction on Friday evening, October 25, 2024. Initially planned for last month, the auction was postponed as owners…
By Aphiwe Ngowapi A year after Grocott’s Mail reported the abrupt closure of Makhanda’s only specialist tuberculosis (TB) hospital, the now-abandoned Temba TB Hospital has become a target for criminals. The vacant facility has suffered extensive vandalism and looting by thieves who have stripped the premises of valuable materials. A recent visit by Grocott’s Mail, revealed a desolate scene: sewer pipes were dug up, electric cables torn out, and doors and burglar gates removed. On October 23, Grahamstown Anti-Crime members responded to a call reporting thieves on the premises. While a Smhart Security officer, Thabo Nkwinti, was dispatched to investigate,…
By Aphiwe Ngowapi The last day of October could be a pivotal moment for Nomsa Seyisi, the Makhanda paramedic charged with shooting to death her cousin’s boyfriend and attempting to kill her cousin. Last week, after the state and defence presented their closing arguments, the case was postponed until 31 October for judgment. State advocate Jan Engelbrecht spent less than an hour outlining the state’s case, and defence advocate Charles Stamper needed only 15 minutes. Engelbrecht told the judge: “It boils down to the way that you’re going to decide whether the accused person was a mere innocent spectator, a…
By Aphiwe Ngowapi In a fascinating development in the much-talked-about Nomsa Seyisi trial in the Makhanda High Court, the murder-accused paramedic took the witness stand this week. On Wednesday and Thursday, Seyisi testified, defending herself against allegations related to the August 2023 shooting of Zukiswa Frans and her boyfriend, Thembinkosi Wambi. Leading Seyisi’s testimony, defense advocate Charles Stamper, focused on discrepancies between Seyisi’s testimony and that of Frans, particularly around the events leading up to the incident, and Seyisi’s involvement. Stamper questioned Seyisi about her request for Frans to accompany her to Black Cat’s place on August 25, 2023. According…
By Aphiwe Ngowapi In a town rich with history but with modern challenges, a year-old organization named Imbumba Yeemboni (IY) is lighting a path toward empowerment, sustainability, and unity. Established on 20 September, 2023, by a group of passionate community members, this Non-Profit Company (NPC) will swiftly catalyze positive change in Makhanda. Imbumba Yeemboni translates to “a collective unity of visionaries”, a fitting description for this community-based organization. After Kagiso Trust’s Capacity Building and Asset Based Community-Led Development (ABCD) workshops in 2023, some driven and passionate members independently formed this NPC to tackle the persistent social challenges that plague Makhanda’s…