Author: Grocott's Mail Contributors

It is common knowledge that we here in this town are facing a crisis. The water shortage is impacting on us all. No one can walk by the heaps of rubbish and pretend that nothing is wrong. Schools are struggling, with children being sent home because there is no water for the toilets, to wash hands or to cook food. Many homes have been without water for days and days. We need rain. We need compassion from each one of us to help where we can. We need wisdom on the part of leaders to address the crisis. Wisdom. Choosing…

We at the Child Welfare SA Grahamstown are absolutely delighted to acknowledge the receipt of fund of R14,000.00 from the Grocott’s Cheer Fund. We would like to thank the many individuals who contributed to this worthwhile cause, as well as the bigger donors including GBS Mutual Bank and the Pro Carmine Choir, whose Christmas Cheer Concert audience gave generously. Your financial support helps us continue in our mission and to assist the vulnerable children in our community. The generous support of this incredible annual fund makes it possible for our organization to exist and to make the community a better place…

Gadra Education has opened a second site of its ‘Whistle Stop School’ at Tantyi Primary School in Makhanda (Grahamstown). At the official opening event last week, the surrounding community poured into the school premises to show their support and appreciation for the initiative. The event was graced by many prominent members of the education community in Makhanda, including Ken Ngcoza and Margie Keeton. The Whistle Stop School (WSS) is a unique, specialised school that focuses on improving the literacy skills of learners from Grade R to Grade 4. The intervention is intended to assist learners to become fluent, competent readers,…

St Andrew’s College enjoyed a successful run of 20/20 matches over the past week. On Sunday 17 February, St Andrew’s College beat Grey High School by 4 wickets in the Cricket South Africa 20/20 Provincial Final. It was a superb display of 20/20 cricket from both teams. Grey’s Jade Smith struck a solid 65 off 41 balls, helping Grey post a competitive 148 in their 20 overs. Ryan Ford picked up three key wickets whilst spinners Chris Poole and Nicholas Frances were effective in the middle overs. The St Andrew’s fielders were also on target in hitting the stumps which influenced…

The Annual Buffalo and Selborne Sprints Regattas were held on the Buffalo River in East London over the weekend of 14-17 February, and as always produced some exciting and challenging racing for all crews. Conditions were mostly good throughout the weekend, leaving the St Andrew’s rowers with a first opportunity in 2019 to race over the full competitive distance for their respective age groups. Thursday’s (14 February) racing produced a number of promising performances in the heats with the majority of top crews progressing to their Saturday finals. Five boys from the U14 SAC squad also raced an age group…

LETTER I visited James Kleynhans Water Treatment Works (JKWTW) on Monday, 11 February, to see for myself the degree of turbidity in the water that was preventing the provision of water to the eastern areas of the city. My timing was fortuitous in that it coincided with a visit by Grocott’s Mail and Mayor Mpahlwa. The existing plant is antiquated and the sludge draw-off system from the Settling Tanks is clearly inefficient. The demonstration of sediment settling by a gentleman at the GRA meeting on the evening of 11 February, while entertaining, has no relevance to the conditions at JKWTW. Flocculation Jar…

I would like to congratulate the Grocotts editorial team (particularly Kathryn Cleary) for the latest two editions of the paper in which you provide a detailed focus on the problems of Seven Fountains, Salem, and Alicedale. Besides providing useful information (including excellent colour photographs) these editions are both informative and compassionate. It is very sad to read about the crises which these once-thriving rural centres are suffering from critical water shortages and neglect. Grahamstown is privileged to have such a wonderful newspaper of such an excellent standard. Keep up the good work! Irene de Moor

On behalf of the community of Nombulelo, I would like to publicly express our thanks to the municipality, our ward councillor, Mr Moya, the Speaker and to Rhodes University for the support we received during this terrible water outage. With over 900 learners our reserves soon ran out, and we are so grateful for the deliveries of water that enabled the school to keep going over this difficult time. Nicci Hayes, Principal

Uwile umthi omkhulu mawethu, simkille iSikhukukazi, imkile iNtsengwanekazi MzoNtsundu, “LIYEZISA” uNozipho Ruth Plaatjie, uzalwa nguDuncan Nominah Sinxo. Wazalelwa eDikeni kwilali yaseNjwaxa ngomhla wama21 November 1943. Bazalwa bebahlanu bebonke engowesine, besekusele yena yedwa. Ngo1955 waza kuhlala eRhini eneminyaka eyi11, kuDadobawo wakhe uNobaka Harriet Sinxo Twaku.   Imfundo yamabanga aphantsi uyenze eNjwaxa, waze wagqithela eTshetshi, eyiFikizolo Lower Primary, wenyukela eAndrew Moyakhe Higher Primary School. Amabanga aphezulu uwenzele eNathaniel Nyaluza waphumelela uForm 5, waze wadlula wenza iDiploma kwiCommunity Development eMelika, neDiploma kwiLocal Development (SALGA, LGSETA, trained analyst Gender Education and training eZimbabwe Women’s Centre) Uzimanye ngeqhina lomtshato noDumilo George Plaatjie, uMthunzi ongasekhoyo ngo1971. Balizwe…

Graeme College enjoyed a fantastic weekend of cricket from 2-3 February, with their draw against Union in a rain-abandoned encounter being their only blemish. The Graeme First team took on Union High in a two-day encounter, while the Second team and U14 A sides took on Port Alfred High School’s First team and U15 A sides respectively. The junior teams also enjoyed a clean sweep of results against Woodridge, with the U13 A and B, as well as the U11 A and B teams earning victories. The GC Firsts were sent into bat first against Union in their scheduled two-day…