Author: Grocott's Mail Contributors

Dear Residents As the 2019 National Arts Festival comes to a close, perhaps it is the right time to explore some reflections on what was arguably the best festival under the current conditions. For me during the start of the National Arts Festival, I bumped into a group of Brazilians at the City Hall. A day later, I attended a function hosted by the Swedes. On Sunday 30 June, I enjoyed a show by the Chinese at the Sundowner at the Monument. Lastly, I was invited by the Consular General from Switzerland to a Jazz show that took place at…

South African Library for the Blind hosted a variety show and exhibition showcasing the talents and skills of blind or visually impaired artists as part of the Makhanda National Festival in Makhanda from 27 June to 7 July. The Library was proud to host this unique and multi-faceted show featuring performers who, while not blessed with the gift of sight, have certainly been blessed with talent. Hosted by the warm and entertaining Fiks Mahola (7de Laan’s Simphiwe Mashiya), the show featured the poetry of Lelethu “Poetic Soul” Mahambehlala and Dr William Rowland (Chairman of the South African Library for the Blind).…

By NICHOLAS LORIMER The 1980s are remembered as an unhappy decade in South Africa’s troubled history. Replete with violence, economic stagnation, soaring levels of government debt, the dying years of the Apartheid state were a time of extreme crisis. With pressure from outside and inside the country, the National Party government was forced to abandon apartheid and move towards reform to prevent the wholesale collapse of the South African State. Whilst total disaster was avoided, the ANC government after 1994 had to swallow bitter economic pills and embrace policies and spending that ran counter to the wishes of its allies…

Dear Residents As Makana Local Municipality we are ever determined to improve the services we offer to the community. We strive for transparency, accuracy and completeness of billing of customer accounts and improved relations with each member of the community. To this end we have embarked on a drive to cleanse and update the data on all customer accounts. Indigent Policy The Makana Local Municipality indigent programme is aimed at including those currently not able to afford access to basic services, through the provision of the indigent programme. The common need among impoverished people in South Africa is to have…

Jonathan Edwards was arguably one of the greatest philosophers, theologian and pastor of the eighteenth century, who at the age of seventeen graduated from Connecticut Collegiate School, known to us today as Yale University. As a young man he was both deeply devoted to his studies and deeply religious spending much time in the studying and memorising of the Word of God. He knew it very well and attempted to obey its moral and spiritual guidelines. However, as important as knowledge and obedience are, neither can save the soul and transform the heart. One must acquire what Jonathan later called…

In 2017, Christmas Eve, my in-laws came to us, my wife and I and our son, all the way from Cape Town. They drove through the night into Christmas Day. My wife’s parents never made it to our home. They were in a head on collision approximately 15-20Km outside of Grahamstown. So close, yet they never made it to us. My mother in-law died on the scene and my father in-law died two days later at Livingston Hospital in PE. We were of course devastated and broken into pieces but God was with us all the way giving us strength…

Elijah was a great Old Testament prophet, whom the Lord used mightily. Yet there came a time in the prophet’s life that he became so fearful that he ran for his life when a woman named Jezebel said she would take his life. When the spirit of fear overcomes us it is often because we have forgotten about the greatness of God. And that we have failed to trust that God would take care of us. Elijah should’ve reminded Himself of the God, who responded with fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice on Mount Carmel (and of the other miracles).…

I asked the kids at a service “What’s Easter all about” and received a promp response, “It’s about eggs!”. I don’t think it’s a crucial probem really. Sometimes the real story behind our popular fectivals like Christmas and Easter gets overshadowed and even obscured by the festive spirit and eggs and recipes and gifts and shopping and partying. But the question will keep on recurring about the real essence and reality behind all the wordly activities and business. In a way it sets the stage. Believers are challenged to creatively populate the stage with the real characters and storylines. Way…

The Amazwi Puku Story Festival kick-started its 7th annual festival, running from 21 – 23 February 2019 hosted by Nelm, based in Makhanda. The 21 February is a very important day worldwide as it is the International Mother Language Day. Also, 2019 has been declared by UNESCO as the International Year of Indigenous Languages. It was no wonder the likes of Akhona ‘Bhodlingqaka’ Mafani wowed the crowd with his isiXhosa lingo. His isiXhosa poetry and talk on the importance of reading, writing and speaking in isiXhosa nailed the points home, equipping everyone and especially the learners. Ululations and whistles followed…

IS AN ASSURANCE TO ATTEND TO HEALTH ENOUGH? By TLAMELO M MOTHUDI On 20 June 2019, the President delivered his State of the Nation Address (SONA) in which he not only opened Parliament but also addressed the world on the status of the nation and reported on his administration’s agenda and priorities for the upcoming financial years. This year’s theme for the SONA was “Following up on our commitments to the people: Making your future work better” – a theme we hope will be followed by action. The President outlined seven priorities for the sixth administration, along with five fundamental goals…