Person of interest: Mandisa Hani Occupation: Owner of Pem-Sun Cleaning Services Workspace: On-site Human of Makhanda: 4 By Dideka Njemla In a world where business revolves around profits, Pem-Sun Cleaning Services values trust and genuine relationships with clients. During a discussion with the company owner, Mandisa Hani, it was clear that her aim extends beyond merely doing a thorough job in the homes and workplaces of those who welcome her for services. For her, it is about appreciating each person’s presence and fostering trust. “I am very content with the way my business is now. I’ve known some of my…
Author: Dideka Njemla
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Person of interest: Desiree Wicks Occupation: Student Bureau Manager Workspace: Eden Grove – Rhodes University Human of Makhanda: 3 By Dideka Njemla Not all heroes wear capes; some quietly shape the spaces and people around them with precision, dedication and heart. Desiree Wicks has served the Rhodes University community for nearly four decades, taking on different roles across campus. She began as a secretary for the Instituteof Freshwater Studies in 1986 and later moved to the Registrars Division, where she leads the Student Bureau with exceptional efficiency and compassion. At the 2025 October postgraduate graduation held at the 1820 Settlers Monument,…
Person of interest: Unathi Sonwabile Koboka Occupation: Station Manager Workspace: Rhodes Music Radio/RMR Human of Makhanda: 2 Anyone familiar with her would know that she’s strong yet gentle and is a dynamite with a powerful spark. I started our conversation with a rather difficult question: “Who is Unathi Sonwabile Koboka?” When she responded by saying, “Unathi is a mother, a daughter, a sister. I’m a community developer, a station manager, an audio engineer and a voiceover artist. That’s Unathi, but in terms of character, I am the type of person who is either easy for you to deal with or…
Humans of Makhanda: Capturing the spirit of Makhanda through its people and their services to this town The current Humans of Makhanda series was sparked by Experimental Portraiture, a personal project of mine, Dideka Njemla, that I committed to for six weeks. This project allowed me to immerse myself in a refreshing experience that combined writing, design and photography. While experimenting with these digital treatments, I chose to focus on six individuals, paying particular attention to their occupations. Each week was dedicated to one individual whom I wanted to learn about. Out of curiosity, I shadowed several of them to…
In recognition of World Water Monitoring Day held on 18 September, the Rhodes University Biotechnology Innovation Centre (RUBIC) raised awareness on the importance of water quality testing. The Rhodes Biotechnology team used this day to promote sustainable and ethical water practices across several communities in Makhanda. One of our reporters, Dideka Njemla, went with the biotechnology team on their community engagement water testing tour that collected samples across eight sites. The water testing facility tour was facilitated by the biotechnology department research assistant Lithalethu Hashe and staff member Lwazikazi Madikiza. The water collection initiative retrieved water from three communal water…
By Dideka Njemla Elderly couple Valerie and Michael Tweedie are currently experiencing a persistent water crisis that has exacerbated their health. Since earlier this year, 83-year-old Michael has made several attempts to call for assistance from municipality officials and has been met with a lack of urgency. He described their current situation as a critical condition. Michael said their property on Bennett Street in Oatlands has been getting low-pressure water since the beginning of May. “There isn’t an official I haven’t reached out to. Some of them have responded and asked for our address, but no one shows up to…
“When it comes to sex:” “Maybe is not consent.” “No is not consent.” “Being afraid to say no is not consent.” “If a person is underage, it is not consent.” “Consent for one thing is not consent for everything.” “Sexual activity without consent is sexual assault.” By Dideka Njemla Consent is one of the many lessons emphasised and instilled in the young girls attending Entangeni Adolescents Girls Movement, an initiative organised by the Eugenia Nothemba Gxowa (ENG) foundation. The chairperson of the ENG foundation, Nomkhitha Gysman, said, “This project falls under our Knowledge Production and Application program.” She told the…
By Dideka Njemla Makhanda’s trees — indigenous and alien — give a unique character to the central business district’s biodiversity and streetscape. Verge of Change, which has taken on the urban renewal of the CBD, in collaboration with Rhodes University’s Geography Department, is now turning its attention to the trees. Phillippa Irvine brings her expertise to this tree-mapping project as a geography lecturer from the university and an active member of the Verge of Change. “The Verge of Change is something that I’ve been doing in a semiprofessional capacity, and it brings together my interest in civil society, community and…
By Dideka Njemla While many Rhodes students were away for the mid-year break, cable thieves stole copper worth more than R250 000 from the roof of the university’s Africa Media Matrix building — home to Grocott’s Mail — in Prince Alfred Street. “We noticed that the trap door outside was frequently left open. We immediately thought it was the people who cleaned the roof gutters,” said Fikile Samson, media technology and operations manager for the School of Journalism and Media Studies (JMS). She said that a staff member from the adjacent Department of Chemistry building had then informed JMS general…
By Dideka Njemla Yesterday Ward 4 community members were invited once again for another smart water meter briefing at Crown Hall in Scotts Farm. During the previous community meeting about the installation of smart water meters, residents of Ward 4 expressed their opposition to the installation of the new prepaid water devices in their area. On Tuesday, Ward 4 locals met with their ward councillor, Geoff Embling, Makana officials and Sakh’ikhaya representatives to discuss multiple topics relating to the smart water devices. The absence of power at the Crown Hall led to the meeting being held outside rather than inside.…