Author: Grocott's Mail Contributors

By LINDA DYANI On 5-6 September the Albany Museum will officially re-open the Observatory Museum in Bathurst Street. The Story of Observatory Museum The Observatory Museum is part of the Albany Museum complex in Makhanda. It is located in a unique, historic Victorian building built in 1850 as the house and place of work of Henry Carter Galpin who lived in Makhanda from 1850 until he died in 1886. The building is steeped in history as it was a family house, Victorian jewellers shop, clock maker’s workshop, optics laboratory, astronomical observatory and the site of the identification of the first…

Dear Residents; Last week we reported on progress made by Kagiso Trust regarding Indigent Management. This week we report on progress made regarding the Development of Local Economic (LED) Strategy. The Centre of Local Economic Development (CENLG) was appointed by Kagiso Trust to conduct a Status Qou report on Makana LED environment. As expected the report highlighted the following challenges: • High Unemployment Rate • Youth Development • Skills Development for all ages • Infrastructure Development and • Small Business Development The municipality’s Local Economic Development Strategy was appointed in 2010 and is long overdue for review. (CENLG) is assisting…

By ZAMAMIYA MAJOLA The locals were beaming with joy at the sight of a spectacle rare to the City of Saints. On 22 August 2019, students and members of various organisations brought High Street to a standstill with a flash mob to call for change and awareness. Makhanda (formerly known as Grahamstown) has been recognised as a creative hub for decades. In as much as the creativity is constantly bubbling seeing it explode has been rare and nothing ruins a glistening bubble experience like the lack of water. The Idea of a flash mob was initiated by Dr Heike Gehring, a…

Compiled by JEN GON WATER VIGILANCE We should all be aware by now that at present Makhanda (Grahamstown) is almost completely reliant on the Glen Melville Dam for its domestic water supply. This water is ‘imported’ from the Orange River via the Fish River– and we are extremely fortunate to have access to this pipeline. However, we should not be lulled into thinking that we will always have access to this supply. Currently the Gariep Dam is almost 90% full, so the quotas can be honoured. But bearing in mind that we are at the end of the line of…

By CHRIS TOTOBELA Sport lovers were treated to a feast of activities last weekend in celebration of National Women’s Day. Makhanda sportswomen showcased their talent in a multisport demonstration on Sunday 11 August at JD Dlepu stadium in Joza. The programme kicked off with junior girls’ football with the official launch of the African Connection junior team. The girls played small sides on a mini pitch that allowed them to show off some great football skills and got the crowd going. Next up were the karatekas from Joza Karate Club with impressive demonstrations of kata, kumite and bunkai. But is…

Dear Residents On Thursday 8 August 2019, officials from the Department of Energy and Central Energy Fund met with the officials of Makana municipality.  The purpose of the visit was to brief Makana municipality on the Department of Energy’s rollout of the Solar Water Heater (Geyser) programme. Makana is one of 19 municipalities nationally and one of the three in the Eastern Cape that will benefit from this pilot programme. Already, 87 000 units have been manufactured nationally. These have been made by 12 selected South African manufacturing companies. Each geyser is approved by the South African Bureau of Standards…

Serious talent – seriously entertaining By TYRA EDITH WARREN Be prepared to sit on the edge of your seats at Young Directors’ Season this year. We have four talented participants: Noluthando Mpho Sibisi devising and directing an adaptation of Koropa by Gha-Makhulu Diniso with excerpts from The Cry of Winnie Mandela by Njabulo Ndebele; Uvile Memory Samkelisiwe Ximba devising and directing The Suit by Can Themba; Siphosethu Balakisi directing Molora by Yael Farbe, and Takalani Ralephata will be devising and directing Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett in the fourth term. The annual Young Directors’ Season is definitely something to…

Many traffic Intersections in South African cities are occupied by beggars and peddlers of wares, who pursue a captive audience when the lights turn red. The definition of harassment involves a person not being able to escape unwanted demands or threats; and demanding a driver’s attention while he is trapped at a robot falls under this definition. The illegal activity at intersections has become one of the so-called “little” misdemeanours that law enforcement officials and the public turn a blind eye to. Because of the lack of jobs and a general disregard for law and order, those who are seen…

Since we are in the beginning of women’s month, we dedicate this month to you women. Wish you could send us your poems in isiXhosa. This poem is about refugees who are from the same area that is Africa. The poet has the stuttering tone as you can hear her. Yintoni intsusa which could mean what could be the reason for Africans to be refugees in their forefathers land. Ndiqale kweziphi iintaba ukulaqaza ndifun’ intsusa? Kwezetafile bethu okanye kwezokhahlamba? Iimbacu zomgquba! Yinton’ intsusa? Qakatha! Qakatha! Tsi! Tsi! Gxada gxada ngaphi bethu? Iimbacu zomgquba! Yinton’ intsusa? Cala liphi? kwiintaba zikaHoho kusinina?…

The title of the poem is “a grinding stone” referring to women of South Africa and Africa at large. The imbongi is touching various things that are attributed to women. He recognises their role from when the person was in the womb to their struggle for the freedom. Halala makhosikazi! Aha Mfazi Ndini othwele inyanda yeSizwe Owu sihle isizalo somntu onguMfazi ewe umfazi uzalela omnye umfazi Siyabulela ngesizalo esihle sabafazi abaqina imixhadi belwela ilizwe lethu Besithi mayibuye iAfrika makulinganwe ngamalungelo ewe ngoku emisebenzini sixelenga ngofanayo, Besithi mawaphele amaDompasi ewe ngoku sinezazisi ezizi Ngcwadi Besithi wathinta abafazi wathinta imbhokotho ewe siwabonile…