By SIYAMTHANDA PONGCO Protestors disrupted a Rhodes SRC election’ grazzle’ at a packed General Lecture Theatre on Monday, 2 August, as presidential candidate Arthur Vamva got up to deliver his speech. Protestors objected strenuously to homophobic and transphobic remarks on Vamva’s Facebook page and asked the SRC election organisers why he had been allowed to participate. Vamva remained unshaken and delivered his speech despite the turmoil and unease in the hall. Students called on the Independent Electoral Board (IEB) and the SRC’s Student Defence Council (SDC) to lay charges against the candidate. The IEB runs the elections, and the SDC is…
Author: Siyamthanda Pongco
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By SIYAMTHANDA PONGCO Makhanda has two police stations – one in Joza, the other on Beaufort Street – and some locals may be surprised to learn that there is a significantly lower threat of serious crime in Joza than in the rest of the city. News24’s recently released Crime Check website shows that serious crimes reported at the Grahamstown Police Station on Beaufort Street in 2021 gave the city a “severe crime risk”, 78.3% above the national average. By contrast, the number of serious crimes reported at the Joza Police Station is moderate, 8.3% below the national average. The serious…
By SIYAMTHANDA PONGCO We remember not to glorify war, but rather to remember the pain and suffering war brings to, so many as we as a human race fail to learn to accept and embrace our differences”Andrew Kirk, Old Bill, Makanakop Shellhole Andrew Kirk, Old Bill, Makanakop Shellhole thanked all those present at the Delville Wood Memorial Parade on the morning of 17 July 2022 at the Waainek Military Cemetery. Kirk said the Battle of the Delville Wood was one of the best-known of World War One. The courageous sacrifice of South African forces during the war can never be…
By SIYAMTHANDA PONGCO and NAOMI GREWAN Standard Bank announced shortly before the start of the National Arts Festival (NAF) that they would be pulling out as the main sponsor of the National Jazz Festival. The withdrawal of funding undoubtedly dampened some of the bunting, glitz and ‘gees’ previously associated with the jazz festival. And this year, some performers have played their hearts out to tiny audiences. Despite this, the 2022 jazz program has an impressive lineup of national and international acts, and NAF CEO Monica Newton was upbeat about future sponsorship. “Some of the wonderful opportunities for branding that come…
By SIYAMTHANDA PONGCO Stage 4 load shedding, caused by Eskom strike action, adds an extra layer of complexity to the National Arts Festival programme. Some venues are equipped with generators, and some without generators will work with emergency lighting where possible. As a last resort, some shows are being rescheduled. Cue will issue rolling updates. In an official statement, Eskom said due to “ongoing unprotected labour action”, the company had been “compelled to implement Stage 4 load shedding. “While exploring possible solutions to unlock the deadlock with the unions, Eskom appeals to its labour partners and striking employees to embrace…
Fun times ahead at the Pothole & Donkey at NAF Live music performances showcasing local talent. Daily specials on the menu.
BY SIYAMTHANDA PONGCO Recently, South Africa’s Defence Minister Thandi Modise lamented the low level of public trust in law enforcement agencies in the country. In particular, the minister drew attention to a persisting legitimacy problem in the relationship between the police and the public. In Makhanda, many residents have turned to private security companies like Hi-Tec and Schmart – as the city’s de factor police force – for protection and law enforcement. Hi-Tec operations manager Kenny Knoetze has almost 20 years of experience in local law enforcement and has witnessed the evolution of crime in the city since 2002. Cable theft Knoetze…
BY SIYAMTHANDA PONGCO Inkondekazi, Mama Afrika. This year, The Black Power Station is honouring Miriam Makeba on the 90th anniversary of her birth as part of an ongoing initiative to celebrate and embrace fallen struggle heroes from an artistic perspective. In 2021, The Black Power Station celebrated Charlotte Maxeke and next year, they are looking to honour Mama Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. The Black Power Station’s Xolile Madinda said art was a vital model for commemorating icons like Mama Afrika, who have given so much to the art production of the country. Miriam Makeba grew up singing in a choir in Sophiatown,…
By SIYAMTHANDA PONGCO “The era of action is upon us,” said ActionSA Eastern Cape chair Athol Trollip, the guest speaker at a recent gathering of party enthusiasts in Makhanda. Trollip said Makhanda should be the Stellenbosch of the Eastern Cape. Both are educational centres of excellence; both are historic towns. “My son went to Rhodes, but the deterioration in Makhanda over the last 27 years has been very marked,” Trollip said. “Infrastructure has collapsed and decayed in Makhanda because of a lack of mundane routine maintenance – there is no political accountability, no leadership. “What I see happening in this…
BY NOLWAKHE YVONNE SEWELO We live in times where cruelty, evil, corruption, disruption, and turmoil are experienced even within the borders of the house of God. But, we shouldn’t hold back or fold our arms. The upcoming generation carries solutions within them – with the proper foundation, they can rightsize the future. Extramural activities and spiritual education are vital supplements to school. Through our initiative, Ikusasa lase-Makhanda (the future of Makhanda), we have discovered just how amazing young Makhandans are. They are filled with conviction and commitment – many are willing to travel miles to their music and chess lessons.…