Author: Grocott's Mail Contributors

Lauren Ranger is a young woman from a superb sporting family and it is no surprise that she excels to her chosen field of road running. On Sunday 2 September, at the Tony Viljoen Masters Marathon, spectators were treated to a special performance by the talented young athlete. In April of 2017, Ranger ran her first Two Oceans 56km in Cape Town. This after running an impressive personal best at the Buffs Marathon in East London, having ran a half marathon shortly before that. However, at a half marathon in Port Alfred shortly after the Two Oceans, Ranger suffered a…

Tailor your pet’s food to their life stage. All puppies should be fed puppy food and all kittens fed kitten food until they are ONE year old. Cats and dogs over the age of 10 should be fed a senior diet to help support their joints and kidneys as they age.  For more information and or advice on animal care, please do not hesitate to contact the Grahamstown SPCA or one of the friendly vets in town. Ikhala Veterinary Practice on Strowan Road, Tel: 046 622 3261 The State Vet on George Street, Tel:  046 622 7112 Grahamstown Veterinary Practice…

One rape per year is one rape too many! I will never condone rape nor blame a victim of the same. However, I think that the thousands of women who have had positive experiences in their relationships, must speak out. I am one of them. As a young woman I wore mini-skirts and platform shoes. I partied and danced and had various relationships with men: Male bosses and colleagues with whom I worked very well with mutual respect and professionalism. Male friends with whom I had lots of fun; hiking, canoeing, camping and late-night talks (as well as arguments). Friends…

By Bryan Marx We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. 2 Thessalonians 1v3-4 In the book of 2 Thessalonians Paul begins his letter with an expression of gratitude, giving thanks for the fact that the Christians at Thessalonica are growing, both in their faith and in their love for each other. In other words, they are making progress…

August being Woman’s Month in South Africa makes it appropriate to focus on some financial planning issues that affect women directly. While the basics of good financial planning are the same for both men and women, women often face particular lifestyle and economic issues that require special consideration. On average, women live longer than men. According to the latest World Health Organisation data published in 2018, the average life expectancy for men in South Africa is 60 years and 67 years for women. In the United States, these averages increase to 79 and 81 years respectively and life expectancy is…

Full bench to hear arguments on property foreclosures and sales in execution Today and tomorrow, (28 and 29 August 2018), the Legal Resources Centre will be making oral submissions before the full bench of the Johannesburg High Court on behalf of the Lungelo Lethu Human Rights Foundation (LLHRF) in the matter between ABSA Bank Limited and D K Mokebe and three other matters. This case is related to the Court’s practice in foreclosures and sales in execution. On 13 April 2018, four unopposed applications relating to the foreclosure of bonds over primary residences were referred for hearing by the full court in…

Horses and donkeys can be difficult to keep in good condition during droughts and poor weather. Make sure you can feel their ribs but you should not see them. They should have a rounded back end and good muscle coverage. Poor condition can be a sign of underfeeding or poor nutrition but also of health problems. For more information and or advice on animal care, please do not hesitate to contact the Grahamstown SPCA or one of the friendly vets in town. Ikhala Veterinary Practice on Strowan Road, Tel: 046 622 3261 The State Vet on George Street, Tel:  046…

By Liz Campbell Our bodies don’t lie. We can invent stories, assert beliefs and construct mental ideologies, but our bodies faithfully reflect our inner state as they are impeccably designed to do. After all our motion essentially reflects our e-motions and everything else inside – how we move mirrors how we are. We are sluggish and limp when tired. We bounce when excited. Our wonderful bodies are unable to feign a mask for any length of time. We’ve all experienced the overwhelming urge to move, to get up and stretch a leg or more, usually during some arduous repetitive task.…

By TOLAKELE SILO Grahamstown’s Amasango Career School Marimba Band came third in the 2018 Education Africa International Marimba and Steelpan Festival held in Johannesburg on 28 and 29 July 2018. Curated by Education Africa, the seventh edition of the Festival brought more than 2 000 performers from South Africa, Nigeria, Botswana and Zimbabwe to compete to be crowned Southern Africa’s best marimba and steelpan band groups. “I am so happy that they won because our school is a special school and winning in such competitions is an achievement for our learners. It boosts their confidence and motivates them to do more,” said Pincipal,…

Name: Halleria lucida L. Family: Stilbaceae Common names: Engl. Hilarious Lucy, Olive, Tree Fuschia, White Olive Afr. Geelhoutkop, Kinderbessie, Ouhout, Notsung, Septee, Wilde Druiwe, Witolienhout, Witolyf, Witolyfhout, Witolyn Xho. Umbinza An attractive and usual garden plant that is easily grown from seed.  Description Evergreen shrub, often trailing branches, or a small to medium-sized tree 2-12 m in height, occasional 20 m; Bark: pale greyish brown, rather rough, longitudinally fissured, flaky. Leaves: drooping, ovate, thinly leathery, shiny bright green, hairless; apex tapering to attenuate; base very broadly tapering to square, often asymmetric, margin finely toothed to scalloped; petiole up to 10 mm…