Author: Donnay Oosthuizen

It’s difficult to imagine what a school day will look like under Covid-19. Victoria Girls’ High School kindly shared their re-opening plan and protocols. This is an edited version. New term dates, curricula cut Holidays have been significantly shortened and Grade 8 to 11 curricula have been slightly cut to be able to fit in with the revised time available. Screening, access control, masks All staff and learners will be screened on entry to the campus. Initially they will only be using a single entrance for all learners, possibly changing this when numbers at school start to increase. No person…

Rugbyspelers in Makana probeer op verskeiewyses om gedurende die landswye grendel periode aktief en fiks te bly. Vir die meestespelers, afrigters en rugby en toesiaste is dit ‘n frustrerende periode as gevolg van die kansellasie van sport byeenkomste wat deur die pandemie genoodsaak is. Alle rugby byeenkomste is summier gekanselleer. Om fiks te bly, probeer die meestespelers om op hul eie te oefen en aktief te bly. Om op jou eie oefen is veelveiliger as om met ander spelers en spanmaats in aanraking te kom. Grocotts Mail het ondersoek ingestel na hoe spelers aktief en fiks bly gedurende die tydperk…

The New Year’s Cup soccer tournament is now in its fourth year. The inaugural New Year’s Cup was launched in 2016 in Grahamstown (Makhanda) and attracted clubs from various provinces including North West. This year, teams from Gauteng and Eastern Cape Rural are expected to participate. Although the 90 minutes of football remains the core of the event, its mission ventures beyond the field. The event runs during the period 16 to 31 December and serves as a gathering place for the soccer-loving community. The opening ceremony will take place at JD Dlephu Stadium in Joza on Monday 16 December…

By AALIYAH ABOOBAKER South Africa’s education system is currently in a crisis, proven by our dismal ranking in the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study. Pupils in primary school are not only hindered by the unfair education system, but also by language barriers that prevent them from performing at their optimum potential. According to the 2011 Census, approximately 88% of the population speaks native South African languages, and children are accordingly sent to schools that use their home languages as the medium of instruction from grades 1-3. Many pupils then remain in schools that teach in their mother tongue right…

As the Easter chocolate egg frenzy approaches, Donnay Oosthuizen reveals her dark and light childhood secrets (sometimes with raisins). A lot of children must have dreamed about visiting a chocolate factory when the movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory came out in 2005. Well, my brother and I lived that dream. Not only did we get to visit a chocolate factory, but we even had our very own Willy Wonka in the form of our mom. Our mom worked for Cadbury Chocolate in Port Elizabeth the 1980s, where a shop on the premises sold chocolate off-cuts: crunchie without the chocolate on,…

Fifteen pupils from Nombulelo Secondary School were introduced to the St Andrew’s College Academy on Friday 25 January. The Academy has been established to support the pupils and empower them academically. St Andrew’s College Headmaster Alan Thompson, welcoming the pupils and staff involved in the Academy, said its main focus was to enrich the academic results of those involved in the programme. St Andrew’s College Community Engagement Officer, Ncumisa Mzaza, said, “Our vision is to establish a world class academic training environment in partnership with schools in Grahamstown East, which is sustainable and which will have a significant influence on Grahamstown’s English, Mathematics…

Res food and digs food is standard fare for most students – but every now and again the budget may allow you to break free. Here’s where to go when hunger strikes! Cafe D’Vine 31 New Street 046 622 6524 Champs Action Bar Scotts Avenue 046 622 2324 Nordens at The Cock House 10 Market Street 046 636 1287 Debonairs 65A New Street 046 622 7661 109 High Street 046 622 2494 Delizzia 112 High Street 046 622 8728 Provost Cafe Lucas Avenue 060 489 1166 Fishaways 13 Bathurst Street 046 622 2665 109 High Street 046 622 9548 Forty…

Compiled by Kathryn Cleary and Donnay Oosthuizen As Makhanda (Grahamstown) gears up to welcome students for the new academic year, our team has put together a list of local mental health resources for residents. Grocott’s Mail encourages residents and students to mind their mental health, and make this 2019 year the best it can be.  Phone Resources by SADAG: If you are needing a referral to a psychologist, psychiatrist or support group, please can you call The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) on 011 234 4837 or 0800 20 50 26 and speak to a trained counselor who can…

The  committee of Vezi Danga Welfare Organisation for the Aged at Ethembeni Old Age Centre would like to thank all the sponsors, donors, visitors and volunteers who assisted the centre to re-open in 2018 after it faced financial difficulties in 2017. 2018 was a wonderful year for the elderly people who visited the centre and there were lots of activities to keep them happy. We hope to work with you in the future.

Ronnie Peters het op die 19de Oktober 2018 50 jaar as Metodiste prediker gevier. Sy amptelike prediker loopbaan het op die 29 Augustus 1962 begin toe hy n skriftelike nota gekry, n “Note to Preach” om te preek van die eedelbaar CW Moore wat n superintendent was in die kerk gedurend die ou bedeeling, lank voor die kerk die “geographic circuit” geword het en so ver as wat Peters kan onthou was hy die eerste prediker ooit om n “Note to Preach” gekry het. Nadat hy die nota gekry het, moes hy toets spreek doen en dit het hy gedoen…