Author: Grocott's Mail Contributors

UCOCEKO Ngu: Chumani uBhejula isiduko  kunye noDumisa Mpupha Vukani Sizwe sako Wethu ndithi vukani ndithi vukani nindiboke indlebe Kaloku indaba yotyelo ayikholi ndithi makhe ndinixelele iindaba ezimnandi Zimnandu kaloku kuba siphethe ucoceko Siphethe ukuzikhathalela  kunye nolondolozo Sekuthethiwe kwavakala kwavokotheka mna ndiyoleka nje ndisoleka umsudulwa Vasani kaloku izandla rhoqo ndithi rhoqo xa nizophatha ukutya Hayi ngxebe xa nibuya ngasese Heyi wena ubhangisa utshabalalisa ugesi wokhanyisa ngantoni na? Heyi kwedini vala lompopo ulondoloze amanzi kaloku amanzi sisiseko sobomi kwane mpiliso kuthi Kodwa ke qaphela ucoceko lokuqala kuwe wandule ukuphumela ngaphandle Vukani Sizwe ucoceko ngamandla Kwenzeka ntoni na kweli lizwe? Ziindumba zeenkukuma mbombozone…

By JUDITH REYNOLDS Shortly after I was diagnosed I had an MRI scan. Just before the scan I was in the changing room after having put on a gown. I overheard a conversation between one of the nurses who does the scanning and what I assume was a doctor who looks at the scan results. The doctor asked the nurse about a particular patient. The nurse’s reply was something like “I’m about to do breasts. I’ve just done a brain and before that was a liver.” I had a little giggle about this. I was no longer a whole human…

By JUDITH REYNOLDS The usual rallying cry during Breast Cancer awareness month is that ‘early detection saves lives’. Early detection would usually mean stage 1 or 2. Doctors describe people as being stage 1, 2, 3 or 4 when they are diagnosed. And some of these stages are further sub-divided.  For breast cancer, the stages depend on the size of the tumour and whether any of the lymph nodes near the breast are found to have cancer in them. If there is cancer anywhere else in the body apart from the lymph nodes, and if that cancer has come from…

ANALYSIS By REG RUMNEY A look at the Municipal Money website shows why sewage overflows from broken pipes, there are constant water interruptions, and roads are deteriorating in Makhanda/Grahamstown. Municipal Money is an initiative of the National Treasury, a website that allows citizens to see at a glance the finances of their municipality. In short, Makana Municipality is spending too much on running costs, too little on repairing and maintaining what it owns, and massively neglecting to spend money set aside for renewing the underlying infrastructure of the city. For a start, the operating budget, the money planned for day-to-day…

ANALYSIS By THE BUDGET JUSTICE COALITION Rather than taking bold steps to stimulate the economy and embark on a more inclusive growth path, the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) tinkers at the margins. While the statement focused on improving governance and strengthening institutions such as SARS, it is the view of the Budget Justice Coalition (BJC) that an economic recovery and turnaround will come only from investment in our human capital and a stronger focus on meeting the constitutional obligations of the State. The anaemic social spending of recent years that is bankrupting many social services will only further…

If I am asked at some time during the few years that I have to live: “Where do you live?” I will proudly reply: “In Grahamstown.” But if in the future a child or grandchild of mine who is left in this country is asked: “Where on the earth is Makhanda? I would suggest the following reply: “It is where a city was founded some 200 years ago, and developed and administered by some settlers from Britain. “During that time these settlers started educational institutions called Training College, St Andrew’s, St Aidan’s, DSG, Kingswood, Graeme and Victoria. Some of those…

One might be forgiven for becoming used to the wonderful support for our bazaar out in Riebeeck East. But come to think of it, it takes some guts – and surely good word of mouth reports – to tackle the bumpy dusty 42km drive out there. We believe it still is a great opportunity to go and enjoy the warm hospitality and quality stuff spread out on the tables. With it also comes a very “lekker kuier” with friends and whoever you may bump into. Our new “koster”, Gavin, took trouble to also invite guests to go and have a…

The Annual Aquabear gala took place over four days in Port Elizabeth over the past weekend. There were  25 local swimmers from Diocesan School for Girls (DSG), St Andrew’s College Prep (SAC), Kingswood College and Graeme College participating. While most of the swimmers were swimming out of their age groups, they swam unbelievable times, with some  managing SA qualification standards. A total of five gold, three silver and six bronze individual medals were won, with some silver and bronze relay medals from various relays also being won by local swimmers. Toni Rafferty set three new Eastern Province records in the…

United Shotokan-Ryu’s (USR) intention of bringing top class international karate instructors to South Africa will be realised with Sensei Pascal Lecourt’s (7th dan) arrival in the Eastern Cape later this week. Lecourt’s Seminar will be held in the university town of Makhanda (Grahamstown) and is open to Shotokan karateka 12 years and older, who hold the level of green belt or higher. The occasion will mark Lecourt’s first visit to South Africa. Lecourt is a former protégé of the legendary Japanese karate master Sensei Taiji Kase (1929-2004) and is currently one of the world’s leading authorities on Kase’s unique form…

Some years ago in the Festival there was a play entitled “Paradise is closing down”.  With the latest news of threatened power outages, combined with water shortages, damaged roads and pavements, wandering livestock and inadequate infrastructure, Paradise does seem to be closing down. The exorbitant amount owing to Eskom is alarming and a reflection of poor financial management  by the Municipality. Perhaps GRA and Makana Revive could negotiate an administrative deal whereby citizens pay directly to Eskom. In that way the money for electricity would go directly to Eskom and not be used for an inflated municipal salary bill. Rosemary…