Author: Grocott's Mail Contributors

Preparations towards the customary male initiation practice (ulwaluko) summer season are ready for execution, according to a statement from the Eastern Cape Department of Co-operative Development and Traditional Affairs (Cogta). This follows consultation processes with key stakeholders throughout the province. However, Councillor Ramie Xonxa, who is Chairperson of the Local Initiation Forum in Makana, cautions that while the Province has put plans in place, national government has not yet approved these. “As the Executive Council, we have deliberated on the matter and will make our comprehensive submission detailing our plans to mitigate the spread of Covid-19,” said Cogta MEC Xolile Nqatha.…

South Africa’s first woman Deputy President and current UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, was awarded an honorary doctorate by Rhodes University during a virtual graduation ceremony. For the first time in over 100 years of its existence, the University on Friday 30 October 2020 hosted an exclusive inaugural graduation ceremony for Masters and Doctoral graduates. The virtual graduation was the second during the 2020 lockdown period following the first virtual graduation in September. Of the 125 certificates awarded, 55% were for women graduates, 30% for international students. Domination of graduation statistics by women has been a…

By MZUKISI MPAHLWA I am worried about the rapid rise in the number of Covid-19 cases over the past month. In September we had 17 active cases, and at the end of October, the number rose to 114 infected in total with the number of active cases being 71. We are at the beginning of November and we now have 106 active cases. Members of the Makana Joint Operating Committee heard on Tuesday afternoon how residents within Makana are not adhering to Covid-19 regulations and safety measures. Makana Municipality has had 58 deaths since the start of lockdown because of…

By ROGER ROWSWELL What lovely rainfall for the month! The rainfall for the months May to September was a total of 81.8mm. By 10 October we were at 71.4mm and on 29 October we just surpassed the five-month total for May to September 2020. At the end of October, at 599.0mm and with two months to go, we were just short of an annual rainfall of 600mm. This is significantly better than in 2019 (411.3mm). When I started this series, I made the prediction that we would have slightly above the long-term average (LTA) rainfall in 2020. Now I’ll have to revise…

Dear Editor Nomalanga’s Mkhize (‘Speculative buying squeezes out families’, Grocott’s Direct 23.10.20 ) that Grahamstown EYE should be less concerned about the historical character of Sunnyside than the “rapid studentification and rentalisation of the area caused by the greedy speculative tendency of the town’s property owners”. The comment was also posted on the Grahamstown EYE site and EYE responded as follows: “EYE agrees that the issues referred to by Nomalanga are a problem, a manifestation of which are the most likely illegal backyard flats that are proliferating in the area and the structure in the background of the attached photo…

Dear Editor, It was very dismaying to see the so-called Grahamstown Eye group misrepresent the simple matter of a back wall (not front façade) being fixed on a historic home on George Street, as being an ‘assault’ on the town’s historic heritage.  Of course the aesthetics police only see neighbourhood problems through the irrational lens of nostalgia instead of focusing on the real problem we are facing in Sunnyside: rapid studentification and rentalisation of the area caused by the greedy speculative tendency of the town’s property owners over the years. How about these old curmudgeons take responsibility for their rent-seeking greed…

Survey shows growing pandemic fatigue, complacency and unnecessary risk of exposure to Covid-19 during lower lockdown levels This week the Centre for Social Change, University of Johannesburg in partnership with the Development, Capable and Ethical State of the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) release the latest summary findings from the UJ/HSRC Covid-19 democracy survey. These findings illustrate, among other things, that there is a growing pandemic fatigue and greater complacency in compliance with public health measures, increasing the unnecessary risk of exposure to Covid-19 during the lower lockdown levels. These latest findings come from round 2 of the UJ/HSRC Covid-19…

By SHAUN BERGOVER Introduction The purpose of a pension or provident fund is to provide an income to its members when they retire from employment. However, the members can also be paid when they are unable to work in cases of illness or retrenchment. The term ‘pension’ is a generic name for all types of retirement funds that fall within the scope of the Pension Funds Act. Employees that are part of pension or provident funds are called members, and employees that are not are called non-members. The difference between a pension fund and a provident fund The main difference…

October is breast cancer month and, according to the Cancer Association of South Africa, more than19 million women aged 15 years and older risk being diagnosed with breast cancer. The National Cancer Registry describes breast cancer as being the most common form of cancer affecting women of all races in South Africa. Their research shows that one in every 25 women will suffer from some form of breast cancer during their lifetime. The good news is that the vast majority of patients survive for many years after diagnosis if their condition is detected and treated at an early stage. Unfortunately,…

By PRUDENCE MINI As the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions ease, locals are seeking out travel options closer to home. Makana Tourism in association with the Graham Hotel provided just the right entertainment for them in time for Halloween with Makhanda’s Creepy Pub Crawl last Saturday. Townsfolk and visitors from students to pensioners joined in on the fun of walking around Makhanda’s historic locations. Makana Tourism Director, Sue Waugh said the haunt and history walk had successfully given townsfolk an opportunity to get out of their homes for a safe and fun way to experience their own backyard. “It was great to…