By LIKHAPHA THAATHAA Many Scotts Farm street lights are burning again after Makana Speaker Mthuthuzeli Matyumza responded to a residents’ petition. According to Ward 4 councillor Geoff Embling, over 600 residents signed the petition in June with their full names, ID numbers, and addresses. The petition included a questionnaire, which illuminated the fact that a substantial number of lights on Scotts Farm streets had not worked for as long as three years. Matyumza attended a successful public meeting in Scotts Farm on 13 September along with the infrastructure portfolio chair, the electricity manager, and several residents. Ward 4 committee members…
Author: likhapha
Read More
By CHRIS TOTOBELA It was perfect weather for football as fans packed Dlepu stadium to witness the SAB Regional League Nedbank encounter. Local side Jacaranda Aces hosted Alicedale-based Friendly City in a closely contested clash. Both teams started the game with purpose as they were looking for any early advantage. The home side got the visitors on the back foot and kept them in their half for the first 10 minutes of the game. Friendly City quickly found their rhythm, started putting together decent passes and threatened the Aces’ goal. The City was unfortunate when their striker narrowly shot wide…
By CHRIS TOTOBELA All roads will lead to the home of local football JD Dlepu stadium this Saturday for the Nedbank Cup preliminary round clashes. First up will be last season’s strugglers Jacaranda Aces against Friendly City from neighbouring Alicedale. Abachathazi will cut their work out in this encounter as Friendly City is no pushover, and they enjoy playing against local sides. These two will square off in the lunchtime kick-off. Following up at 3 pm will be the much anticipated local derby as overwhelming favourites Maru hosts newly promoted City Pirates. The derby will be a big test for…
By CHRIS TOTOBELA Zikhona ‘Zyco’ Mahlakahlaka was in the wrong circle of friends before joining the African Connection Women’s Football Club (Amakonokono). She has confirmed that joining Amakonokono six years ago turned her life around. “I was slowly moving onto the wrong lane of life until I came across this team. I soon realised this was more than just a team but a home for young girls eager to make something out of their lives.” Zikhona Mahlakahlaka with her teammates at the High-performance Centre. Photo: Chris Totobela Mahlakahlaka struggled to break into the all-conquering squad of many good players, but…
By LIKHAPHA THAATHAA KAGISANO held a gender-based violence dialogue at Duna Library, Joza, on 17 August. The day’s theme, ‘meeting the reality ( our stories make us who we are)’, had a significant impact on opening doors to people’s emotional experiences. It also taught people to be good listeners to other people’s stories without being judgemental. The emotional men’s and women’s dialogue started with a moment of praying and lighting candles to commemorate gender-based violence victims. In his welcoming speech, Ward 2 councillor Ramie Xonxa encouraged residents to teach their children to stop crime and violence. “The community, including the…
By CHRIS TOTOBELA Makhanda’s popular DJ Mandile Kongwana, also known as DJ Nemo, is living his dream. Born and raised in Fingo, Kongwana was only in Grade 9 at Nathaniel Nyaluza Secondary School when he fell in love with the music industry and learned the basics of being a DJ on his regular visits to nearby farms. He juggled school with his hobby but always emphasized the importance of education. His passion for music grew, especially after seeing his love from his audience, and he started taking it seriously. He got an opportunity to become one of Mandisa’s resident DJs…
By CHRIS TOTOBELA Makhanda representatives in the South African Breweries (SAB) Regional League returned to training in preparation for the upcoming season. Maru FC, Jacaranda Aces, and City Pirates will lock horns with this region’s best. Maru had a good season and played scintillating football. They seemed solid in all departments and had great depth in their squad. They have a lot of talented youngsters in the team who have plenty of pace, although sometimes they seem to rush things and lack composure at crucial moments. Among the three teams from Makhanda, Maru is undoubtedly the favourite to challenge for…
By LIKHAPHA THAATHAA and SIVE FAITH GINYA The Action for Accountability (A4A) project held its second public meeting at the Assemblies of God Church, on Blackbeard Street, Scotts Farm, on Wednesday, 10 August. A4A is a project administered by Public Service Accountability Monitor (PSAM), Accountability Lab and Ahmed Kathrada Foundation. It aims to boost public participation and encourage different communities in Makhanda to work collaboratively in local governance. Last month, the first official meeting was held in Extension 9 at Noluthando Hall. According to A4A project facilitator Andile Nayika, the project strives for transparency within the municipality, works with different…
By LIKHAPHA THAATHAA As part of its community outreach program, Families South Africa (FAMSA) Grahamstown/ Makhanda, together with a group of six Journalism and Media Studies (JMS) students at Rhodes University, launched a funding campaign on Women’s Day. As part of this initiative, the group has launched the ‘Break the Silence’ video https://www.instagram.com/reel/ChC3ii4IGOM/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y on the famsa_grahamstown Instagram page. The group has also created a go fund me link https://gogetfunding.com/famsa-makhanda/ where people can assist financially. Citizens and private companies can donate as little as R5 to FAMSA Grahamstown. The organisation’s mission stresses the significance of the healthy and practical relationship between families, partners, parents,…
By LIKHAPHA THAATHAA The Oppidan Committee held an educational event, ‘Knowledge through film and poetry’, commemorating LGBTQAI+ people, including Anele Bhengu, Motshidisi Pascalina, Bonang Precious Gale, Andile ‘Lulu’ Ntuthela, and Lonwaba Jack, who lost their lives to hate crimes. The Saturday event at the Barratt Lecture Theatre at Rhodes University included activities that showcased arts through poetry, storytelling, film, and games. The hostess mentioned names during the ice breaker game – most Oppidans had not heard of them. The game led to discussions on how media does not adequately cover LGBTQAI+ issues. South Africa’s Constitution was the first to protect…