By LINDA PONA Batho Pele literally means “people first”, and it is a concept that emanates from the Ubuntu principle of “Umntu ngumntu ngabantu,” which can simply be translated as “I am because you are.” Batho Pele is an initiative birthed in 1997, when South Africa’s dawn of democracy was still new, and the country was hopeful with the promise of a government that sought to place its people first and deliver excellent services. The initiative is still an overarching concept under which the government operates today. Yet every day, I look at the things that happen, particularly here in…
Author: Linda Pona
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Stage 3 loadshedding will be implemented at 05:00 – 16:00 daily, while Stage 4 loadshedding will be implemented nightly at 16:00 – 05:00 on both Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday Stage 2 loadshedding will be implemented at 05:00 – 16:00, followed by Stage 3 loadshedding at 16:00 – 05:00. A further update will be published as soon as any significant changes occur. Since Saturday two generation units at Arnot, a single unit each at Camden, Duvha and Kendal power stations were taken offline for repairs. The return to service of a generation unit each at Kendal and Lethabo power stations…
Ngu CHRIS TOTOBELA Kule mpelaveki siya kuyo iCity Pirates izobe isamkela iMighty Forest yase Cawa, ze yona iMaru ijongise imibombo eQhorha nalapho izakuvana amandla neFriendly City kumdlalo ozakutakisa iintlantsi. IJacaranda Aces kunyanzelekile iwafumene onke amanqaku xa izakutyelela iGolden Chiefs yase Mnyameni kodwa ke kuzofuneka ilwe kubemdaka iisali ukuba ifuna ubuya nodumo. Iqela lalapha ekhaya iMaru isathe ngcu phezulu kumanqwanqwa okhuphiswano lwenginqgi iSarah Baartman oluxhaswa ngabakwa SAB. IMaru ayikabethwa kwimidlalo esithoba eyidlalileyo nalapho iphumelele emithandathu yaze yadlala ngoku lingana kwimidlalo emithathu. Iqokelele amanqaku angamashumi amabini ananye logama abahleli kwi ndawo yesibini iFriendly City yase Qhorha iqokelele amanqaku alishumi elinesixhenxe. Kusenzinyana kumanye…
By LINDA PONA, Grocott’s Mail co-editor Fly away my heart don’t despairThe world is full of joyYou cry, you smile, then you dance- Judith Sephuma What started as a jubilant year for former grade 12 learners, full of joy, has turned into a cry for help as learners struggle to get the necessary resources for their educational journey. But I hope we will smile and then dance as people work together to fix our town. The year started on a high note for TEM Mrwetyana with a 74% grade 12 pass rate, but despite the win, they are facing innumerable…
By LINDA PONA The African DiasporaThe African Union’s Academy of Languages (ACALAN-AU) held the African Languages Week from 24 to 30 January 2023 across different African countries. The week was an opportunity to showcase and promote African Languages and cultures across Africa and the African Diaspora. Launched in July 2022 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, the initiative was set to promote and empower African languages across different societies. Amazwi Museum celebrated the week on Monday, 30 January 2023 by inviting South African literary icons and recipients of the South African Literary Awards (SALA). “We have to celebrate African languages alongside colonial…
A big shout-out to MEW for these listings. MAKHANDA EVENTS WEEKLYPOP UPS/ FESTIVALS/ EXHIBITIONS/ REPEAT EVENTS Friday 3 & Saturday 4 FebruaryTable Too: PortugueseTreat yourselves to a delicious, exotic four course meal.19:30 for 20:00The cost of the meal is R210/ person.Equipped for loadshedding.Full menus available. Booking essential.junitha@geenet.co.za Phone Junitha 082 671 8558 or Michele 083 960 2366 Tuesday 14 FebruaryValentine’s Day DinnerHennie van der Mescht (vocal & guitar) will play 2 hours of love songs while you enjoy fine dining with your loved one@ Fork & Dagger, 49 African Street18:30Booking essential082 801 2385R300 per person THIS WEEK THURSDAY 2 FEBRUARYU3ARoy Lubke speaks…
The South African Centre for Digital Language Resources (SADiLaR) is forging ahead with an initiative to help students with basic academic writing. SADiLaR’s language development and testing node, the Inter-institutional Centre for Language Development and Assessment (ICELDA), has developed a series of videos, called Write It, to help students with their writing. Academic writing is key to academic success, but getting it right is not easy, particularly for students who are learning in a second or third language. Some institutions offer modules in academic literacy and academic writing support, but not all students in South Africa have access to this…
A big shout-out to MEW for these listings. MAKHANDA EVENTS WEEKLY POP UPS/ FESTIVALS/ EXHIBITIONS/ REPEAT EVENTS Friday 3 & Saturday 4 FebruaryTable Too: PortugueseTreat yourselves to a delicious, exotic four course meal.19:30 for 20:00The cost of the meal is R210/ person.Equipped for loadshedding.Full menus available. Booking essential.junitha@geenet.co.za Phone Junitha 082 671 8558 or Michele 083 960 2366 Tuesday 14 FebruaryValentine’s Day DinnerHennie van der Mescht (vocal & guitar) will play 2 hours of love songs while you enjoy fine dining with your loved one@ Fork & Dagger, 49 African Street18:30Booking essential082 801 2385R300 per person __ THIS WEEK THURSDAY 26 JANUARY…
A big shout-out to MEW for these listings. MAKHANDA EVENTS WEEKLY POP UPS/ FESTIVALS/ EXHIBITIONS/ REPEAT EVENTS WEDNESDAY 25 JANUARYAlbany Club Steak Evening250g rump @ R80 / 500g rump @ R120Served with freshly baked potato bake and a side saladDrink specials@ Albany Club17:00Place orders via WhatsApp by Monday 12:00 to get the specialWhatsApp on 062 151 4224 THIS WEEK THURSDAY 19 JANUARY Grahamstown Bridge ClubAll welcome@ Grahamstown Bowling Club, African Street13:15 for 13:30Sheila Hicks: 0834423322Entry R15 non-members/R10 members FRIDAY 20 JANUARY Live Music with LeroyNeo Soul, Afro Jazz, and PopDrinks specials@ The Pothole and Donkey, 123 High Street19:00 – 21:00Free entry Blom’s…
By SIBABALWE TAME At the Observatory Museum, people gathered to celebrate the Museum’s herb garden on Friday, 25 November 2022. Present at the occasion were various stakeholders, including the local municipality represented by Makana Tourism, Albany Museum staff, Albany Horticultural Society, and various Makhanda community members. The Observatory Museum Garden was established with the generous assistance of friends of the Albany Museum Society, the Department of Nature, Environment and Conservation, and the Grahamstown Women’s Agricultural Association. In 2018, the Observatory Museum building underwent a restoration process, where they focused on fixing the leaking roof, painting the walls, sanding the floors…