Author: Grocott's Mail Contributors

BY SAMANTHA CAROLUS Once again, the Rocher family will bring to Spiritfest a mix of trios, duets and solos with the sounds of organ, piano, violin and viola. Music has always been a very prominent feature in the Rocher Home. Cornelia (14) who has been playing since the age of 9 says “playing is my favourite thing to do, it is definitely way above studying”, and will be playing the viola. Cornelia’s younger brother Julius (13) has been playing the violin since he was 8 years old. Salomie, their mother, will be playing both the organ and the piano, which…

By HARRY OWEN As part of Grahamstown’s contribution to the International Year of Indigenous Languages, 2019, a superb collaboration between Amazwi, the South African Museum of Literature (formerly NELM) and Grocott’s Mail took place on Friday 7 June. Visiting award-winning Scots language poet Stuart Paterson was filmed in conversation with imbongi Dumisa Mpupha as they shared observations about their work, their mutual passion for language, for poetry, and their activism in promoting their own languages, Scots Leid and isiXhosa. Stuart Paterson, from Galloway in South West Scotland, has been working at various places locally for the past couple of weeks, including on Rhodes…

Barely a year before the 200th anniversary of the 1820 English Settlers who occupied parts of the Eastern Cape including Makhanda, the 27th Biennial Conference of the Southern African Historical Society (SAHS) comes to Rhodes University. The conference, which is held every two years, will be hosted by the University’s Department of History under the theme “Trails, Traditions, Trajectories: Rethinking perspectives on Southern African Histories” from Monday, 24 to Wednesday, 26 June 2019. The SAHS President and Deputy Dean of Humanities (Research), Professor Enocent Msindo said all the countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region with Universities that…

PRE-SONA 2019 STATEMENT By SIYABULELA FOBOSI On 20 June 2019, President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver the first State of the Nation Address (SONA) of the 6th administration. This follows the 2019 General Elections and his speech during the last SONA of the 5th administration. Therefore, the first SONA of the 6th administration is the second one in just over four months. The SONA is delivered in a context where South Africa is celebrating 25 years since democracy. SONA is an important opportunity to know government’s plan of action for the year. President Cyril Ramaphosa will be sharing with the citizens’…

By Ruth Woudstra How much time do you spend thinking about your feet? Unless you are on your feet all day, probably not that much. And yet, our feet house over 7000 nerve endings, and may just hold the key to healing. Reflexologist Dawn Turner has been practicing this modality since the 1980’s, and more recently acupressure has added depth to her healing practice. Acupressure works deeps into the cells, unblocking trapped energy and assisting with the natural energy flow in the body. Since the organs of the body correspond with reflex points in our feet, it is possible to…

Rhodes University students are called to participate in by-elections for Ward 12, here’s how: There will be a Targeted Communication and Registration (TCR) taking place at the Steve Biko building between 14 and 17 June 2019. This is in aid of publicising the date of the by-election among residents of Ward 12. Makana Municipality has a ward vacancy in Ward 12, and the Electoral Commission is to hold a by-election to fill the vacancy. Although Rhodes University normally doesn’t allow for events to take place during exam time, this was granted with special permission by the University so that the…

By CHRIS TOTOBELA The South African women’s national soccer team, better known as Banyana Banyana, failed to make it to the next round of the Fifa Women’s World Cup in France. Banyana are in a very tough group, competing with some of the world’s best teams. In their first game, Banyana faced Spain. They did well in frustrating them for the entire first half and took the lead via the boot of Africa’s best footballer and golden boot recipient who currently plays in China, Thembi Kgatlana. Banyana  took their lead to halftime. But Banyana were guilty of giving away possession…

Dear Residents For a while now, residents of Makhanda East have been supplied with clean, uninterrupted drinking water. This was until a foreign object was found inside one of the two pumps at James Kleynhans Water Treatment Plant. Up until this incident happened, James Kleynhans was producing 13 mega litres (Ml) per day, three Ml more than its full capacity of 10Ml/day. The damaged pump had to be removed and sent for repairs in George, with some parts having to be ordered from Johannesburg. I am glad to report that this pump has since been repaired, installed and aligned as…

By MOGUA MATLOGA The Inkululeko project hosted a wine and cheese social on Wednesday 29 May at the Graham Hotel. Students from Syracuse University (SU) in New York travelled to Makhanda (Grahamstown) as part of their South Africa trip, the visit was planned by both local Inkululeko staff and those based in the United States. According to the Board Chair, Nicole Osborne; the Inkululeko project aims to give learners the necessary support to graduate high school and progress to universities or into fields of their choice. The group is housed at Ntsika Secondary School and works with students in Extension…

Each day, children across South Africa come into contact with a number of people and organisations, some of which are meant to protect them. These include – among others – schools, school transportation operators, hospitals, child care centres and religious organisations. Given the unacceptably high levels of child abuse, neglect and exploitation in South Africa, suitability checks for persons working with, or having access to, children is crucial as a preventative measure in the child protection system. As we commemorate Child Protection Week, the Department of Social Development calls upon all employers throughout South Africa whose employees’ job responsibilities require…