Author: Grocott's Mail Contributors

CALEB VAUGHN-JONES AND J F VILJOEN IN CONCERT KINGSWOOD COLLEGE  17 February 2018 Review by JOHN JACKSON Anyone who had the pleasure of hearing Caleb Vaughn-Jones (cello) and J F Viljoen (piano) last Saturday would be surprised to learn that they have been playing together for less than a year.  Both are excellent performers in their own right, but they have the ability, which many virtuoso soloists lack, to blend with each other. No doubt, it helps that Viljoen also happens to be a highly accomplished string player. Less surprising was the fact that JS Bach featured prominently in a…

FNB Rhodes coach Carlos Katywa is braced for a wounded FNB WSU when the two sides meet for their inter-Eastern Cape clash at BCM Stadium in Mthatha. Both sides took a beating in their first round of the FNB Varsity Shield with FNB Rhodes going down 26-7 to FNB TUT at home. The Frontier Country side were blitzed by a clinical FNB TUT who scored three tries to the home side’s one. Katywa lamented their discipline against FNB TUT but believes the lessons learnt will help them with the rest of the season. “To be honest, it’s not the ideal…

By CHRIS TOTOBELA On Saturday 17 February, Eleven Attackers were at home against Friendly City from Alicedale in the SAB regional league. The slightly wet conditions of the day would prove to be a challenge for both teams to overcome. The visitors took the game to the home side from the first whistle and tried to use the speed of their wingers. Attackers did well to absorb the pressure and tried to string some passes together to try and open the stubborn City’s defence. Most of the action was in the middle of the park as both teams tried to…

By Sipesihle Mguga and Phumelele Jabavu Section 26 of the Constitution states that everyone has the right to adequate housing. This places an obligation on the state to the progressive realisation of this right as well as to put measures in place to prevent arbitrary evictions. Essentially, this section is a package of positive and negative obligation to prevent homelessness. In the 2005 Constitutional Court case Jaftha V Schoeman 2005 (2) SA 140 (CC) the court held that the indignity suffered during the apartheid era as a result of evictions from homes, forced removals and the relocation to land inadequate…

By Shuaib Rahim Through the 1913 Natives’ Land Act and other racially discriminatory laws and practices, a large number of individuals and communities were dispossessed of their land rights after 1913.  As early as 1994, the democratic Government of South Africa identified the need for land and agrarian reform as part of nation building and reconciliation. As part of the reform initiative, a Restitution programme was introduced to provide redress to persons and communities dispossessed of their land rights by the apartheid Government. This meant that in 1995, victims of forced removals were afforded an opportunity to lodge land claims…

The St Andrew’s 1st water polo team won the Vides water polo tournament for the fifth time in the tournament history. The Vides tournament was hosted by Selborne College in East London from Thursday 15 to Saturday 17 February. The team headed to Selborne College for the 2018 VIDES water polo tournament with mixed emotions, having had a topsy turvy preseason build up. They started the tournament with a hard fought win against Stirling High School 10-8. Next up, SAC beat Grey College from Bloemfontein 10-1 and Selborne Collegians 13-3. In the last pool game, SAC came up against a tough Glenwood High School…

By SIYABULELA FOBOSI The Public Service Accountability Monitor highlights challenges in higher education ahead of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation address on Friday 16 February On 16 February 2018, the newly elected President of the Republic of South Africa will deliver the 2018 State of the Nation Address (SONA). The country continues to face challenges with ensuring access to a fee-free higher education.[1]. When the President delivers SONA on Friday, the Public Service Accountability Monitor (PSAM) would like to highlight the following priorities that we he will address related to higher education in South Africa. Access to…

Inclusive planning that looks beyond the IDP, and skilled staff are required to lift Grahamstown out of the mess it’s in, writes Phenyo Nonqane-Lekoma The current poor service delivery and neglect of the infrastructure of Grahamstown is an insult to the city’s brave political activists who tirelessly campaigned for a better life for all residents. The people of the city seem to have given up as they live in unacceptable conditions. During the apartheid regime reign which ended in 1994, the people of the city were at the forefront of challenging injustices experienced head on. They campaigned for better services and…

Grooming is crucial especially in long haired animals. Matted fur can become so bad that it causes skin irritation, infection and painful wounds. Grooming products can also be bought from either the vet, supermarket pet aisles or at Hoof and Hound. For more information or advice, please contact Grahamstown SPCA or any of the vets in town: Grahamstown Veterinary Practice on Fitzroy Street, Tel: 046 622 6743 Ikhala Veterinary Practice on Strowan Road, Tel: 046 622 3261 The State Vet on George Street, Tel:  046 622 7112 Keep in touch with all the improvements and updates about your SPCA and…

By CHRIS TOTOBELA On Saturday all our 3 local teams were in action in their SAB regional league fixtures. In the first game Sakhulutsha defeated United Eleven from Bathurst by 2 goals to one, with Lindokuhle Mdoko scoring a brace. The second game saw two times New year’s cup champions Maru taking on Eleven Attackers in the local derby. The game started with both teams still weighing each other’s strength. It was always going to be a battle of midfield as both teams have very good and skilful midfielders who are comfortable on the ball. Both started going at each…