Author: Grocott's Mail Contributors

St Andrew’s College hosted their annual 24 4 Smiley fund-raising event over the weekend of Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 September. The event, organised by the St Andrew’s College Community Engagement Committee, was held in honour of St Andrew’s student, Stuart “Smiley” Van Oldenborgh, who was tragically killed in an aircraft accident in his Grade 9 year (2011). Twenty-for for Smiley is also in fond memory of those boys who died during their time at St Andrew’s and has also become an event in which people celebrate the lives of the people whom they have lost. Over the course of 24 hours, students and…

Marco Joubert was pleased to be back on the winner’s podium after a long struggle with injury as he successfully defended his title in the Bestmed-Makro mountain-bike race near Port Elizabeth on Sunday 16 September. The 21-year-old, who grew up in PE but now lives in Stellenbosch, defeated Grahamstown’s Jason Meaton in a sprint finish in the 70km race held at the Hopewell Conservation Estate, St Albans. Riding for Imbuko-Momsen, Joubert crossed the line in 2:51:47, with Meaton just a second behind. Grant Daly was third in 3:04:29 Collar bone injuries kept Joubert sidelined for nearly three months earlier this year and he…

The Fords filled in the missing piece of their cricketing puzzle when they won the Salem Family six-a-side tournament for the first time on Saturday 15 September. Sponsored by Warwick Financial Maturity, the event at the village club near Grahamstown produced another excellent day of competitive cricket. When the dust had settled at 5pm, the Fords had emerged as deserving winners, defeating the Brothertons in the final with three balls to spare. It made up for the disappointment of the previous two years when they were beaten in the final. From the moment they defeated the Emslies in the opening game…

The Oldenburgia Trail Run was held for the first time at its new venue, starting and finishing at PJ Olivier School on Saturday, 9 September. There were three separate events on the day – an 8km, 15km and 30km. Around 75 brave souls ventured out into the cold, wet morning to explore the trails around Grahamstown’s southern commonage. The event is fast gaining a reputation for having some of the most challenging and spectacular running trails in the Eastern Cape (as well as some of the worst weather). This was event organiser, Nicola Brown’s, second year since taking over the…

This poem is about death. The imbongi talks about it in detail, saying it is our door to heaven and he gives hope to those who are left behind that the deceased are in a better place. Nokuba asikhankanyanga magama apha eMakhanda sikhe sashiywa ngabo besibathanda. Kwanga banga phumla ngoxolo. Ngumntwana wenu kwakho bahlali. Kufa ndini uzala nini, kufa ndini woneliseka nini? Ewe ubathathile abasawethu wabathatha abantawethu! Kodwa wena uyindlela esisa ekhaya Wena uyinqwelo esisa kwikhaya lethu Liyinene elithi elona tshaba lokubhangiswa ekugqibeleni nguwe kufa Ewe ndiyavuma ungayidla inyama yethu kodwa hayi! Ndithi hayi imiphesumlo yethu ngoba yona inekhaya Kufandini…

By Andrew Martin Kgositsile was born, raised and educated in Johannesburg. He began his writing career as a journalist for the New Age. In 1961 when there was clampdown on the opposition press Kgositsile went into exile, first working in Tanzania after which he spent several years in the United States where he continued his education, including a Master of Fine Art from Columbia University in New York. While Kgositsile was in the US he was attracted to the current writings and debates within the African-American cultural scene and went on out to meet, share ideas and platforms with several…

By Dirk Coetzee It is good for us to see what other people have asked from God, and how and for what purpose they asked it. David, the writer of Psalm 141, opens his life to Divine correction, Divine direction and Divine protection. This prayer we are about to read is a prayer for HELP. Help to live a life that is honouring to God. That he might be safe-guarded against speaking wrong or evil words, that he might be safe-guarded when facing temptation and that he might be open and accepting of honest criticism. In (vv1-2) we see the…

Name: Burchellia bubalina (L.f.) Sims Family: Rubiaceae (Coffee, Madder or Bedstraw family) Common names: Engl. Wild Pomegranate, Afr. Buffelshoring, Wildegranaat Xho. Ithobankomo Description A shrub or small tree, usually 3-5 m in height but occasionally reaching 10 m; Bark: grey-brown, mottled, smooth, becoming rougher with age; young branchlets hairy. Leaves: simple, opposite, broadly ovate, softly to thickly leathery, glossy dark green, hairless or finely hairy, lateral veins indented above to give a quilted appearance, dull green with fine soft hairs, especially along the veins, below; apex tapering; base rounded to slightly lobed; margin entire, wavy, rolled under; petiole thickset, velvety;…

The Oldenburgia Trail will once again be held on Saturday 8 September. The run showcases some of the Eastern Capes most beautiful landscapes and it’s right on our doorstep. The various runs follow stunning paths around Featherstone Valley and Mountain Drive which has become synonymous with Grahamstown. The event caters for runners from all fitness levels and endurance with a 8km, 15km and 30km distances, not forgetting the Kiddies dash. There will be an obstacle course for the 2-5 year olds, for the 6-9 year olds a run and obstacle course plus for 10 years and up, there is a…

Understanding depression and related symptoms key to suicide prevention in SA According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), South Africa has the sixth highest rate of suicide in Africa, with the data revealing that approximately 11.6 of every 100 000 people in the country completing suicide.  It is commonly accepted that the majority of suicides and suicide attempts occur among individuals who suffer from undiagnosed and untreated depression, with the WHO estimating that more than 300 million people are affected by depression worldwide.    Cipla’s Associate Director – Marketing in the portfolio, Central Nervous System, Wouter Lombard, says that in light…