By Chesley Daniels Rosebuds Rugby Club concluded a remarkable season with a prestigious awards ceremony at the Day Care Centre in Alicedale recently. The event, attended by members, supporters and invited guests, celebrated the team’s outstanding achievements. Dyllan Bruintjies, a speedster and utility backline player, received the coveted Player of the Year award. Bruintjies had an exceptional season, leading the team in try scoring and creating numerous opportunities for his teammates. Shaneed Peterson, a talented 19-year-old flyhalf, was awarded the Junior Player of the Year award. Peterson impressed with his accurate kicking and point-scoring abilities, making him a promising prospect.…
Author: Luvuyo Mjekula
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By Chesley Daniels The Eastern Province (EP) u17 Rural Team has been crowned the champions of the Rural Cricket South Africa (RCSA) u17 tournament for 2024. The event took place in Worcester from December 5-10. EP faced hosts Boland in the opening match, batting first on a challenging wicket. Despite being bowled out for 100 runs, EP’s bowlers showed tremendous fighting spirit in attempting to defend their low target. However, Boland eventually secured a win. In their second match, EP met Kei and bowled them out for 142. Vice-captain William Beamish top-scored with a splendid century (103*) as EP won…
By Chesley Daniels Siyabulela Ngesi, the talented scrumhalf and playmaker of Tantyi Rangers, was recently named the Gold Rush Fabian Juries Community Fun Day 10s player of the tournament. The event took place at the Miki Yili Stadium, where Currie Park Rebels (CPR) emerged as back-to-back champions, narrowly defeating Tantyi Rangers in the final. The Brumbies Local Organizing Committee (LOC) voted Ngesi as the player of the tournament, and he received the prestigious Chris Herring Gift Prize. Throughout the tournament, Ngesi demonstrated exceptional game management, brilliant kicking, and pinpoint accuracy. His performance was instrumental in his team’s success, particularly in…
By Chesley Daniels Swallows Cricket Club recorded an impressive six-wicket away win against Cuylerville and a dramatic draw against Rainbows in the Grahamstown Cricket Board (GCB) 2nd League fixtures over the weekend. Meanwhile, Southwell hammered Tiger Titans by 380 runs in a bonus-point win in a high scoring match at Southwell on Saturday. Cuylerville 1st also recorded a dominant five-wicket bonus point win over archrivals Southwell in their GCB 1st League derby at Shaw Park. Cuylerville ended the first half of the season top of the GCB 1st League log while Swallows ended on top of the GCB 2nd League…
By Chesley Daniels Garin “Brock” Strydom, the seasoned hooker of Grahamstown Brumbies Rugby Club, scooped the coveted and prestigious Player of the Year award at the club’s annual presentation awards ceremony held at Dakawa Centre on Saturday, 7 December 2024. The event was well attended by club members, supporters, sponsors and guests and turned out to be a profound success on the night. The event was followed by Dona celebrations as everyone stood behind to enjoy drinks, a braai and eatables. The club rewarded and acknowledged players and administrators who performed exceptionally well throughout the rugby season. Guest speaker, Phila…
By Luvuyo Mjekula The Makana Municipality is set to end 2024 at a low ebb, having received another disclaimer audit opinion from the Auditor-General (AG), the DA asking national and provincial government leadership to intervene again in a seemingly unending water crisis and ratepayers dialing the Presidential Hotline to vent their water frustrations. Makana Citizens’ Front (MCF) PR councillor Lungile Mxube even labelled the beleaguered institution “a scrapyard municipality”. The AG announced the disclaimer audit outcome for the 2023/24 financial year at a virtual Makana Municipality special council meeting on Wednesday this week. He said he was unable to obtain…
By Chris Totobela Relegated Extension 6-based Jacaranda Aces are adjusting to life back in the Makana LFA. Abachathazi, as Aces, are affectionately known in the football circles, played in the Sarah Baartman’s Hollywood Bets Regional League for the past few seasons and managed to finish in the top four of their stream for two seasons in a row. But last season, things turned for the worst. According to their manager and coach, Asanda Koliti, Aces faced too many challenges in that league and last season, they just escalated. Koliti spoke to Grocott’s Mail about the team’s fall from grace. “There…
By Staff Reporter GBS Mutual Bank has joined the “Verge of Change Makhanda” initiative, a community-led effort to enhance public spaces across the city. Driven by the ward 8 committee, the project encourages collaboration among residents, businesses, schools, and organisations to beautify and maintain local verges, street islands, and open areas. As part of its contribution, GBS Mutual Bank recently improved the sidewalk along Hill Street, from its historic head office to High Street. The project involved replacing the deteriorating tar pavement with fresh paving and restoring the building’s original stone façade. During the restoration, four stone-framed panels were uncovered…
By Luvuyo Mjekula A 38-year-old Makhanda man charged with killing his girlfriend and concealing her body, made a brief appearance in the local magistrate’s court on Wednesday, facing murder charges. The case against Mthuthuzeli Manyathi was postponed until 30 January 2025 to facilitate a transfer to the Makhanda High Court. Manyathi remains in custody after his application for bail was denied after his arrest a few months ago. Manyathi allegedly killed his 47-year-old girlfriend, Ntombomzi ‘Nomirana’ Nonze, earlier this year. Nonze’s body was found in her home in Vukani by law enforcement authorities in May. In court, it was stated…
By Chris Totobela Makana LFA has taken a much-needed break and football games in Makhanda will now resume on 11 January 2025. Teams have welcomed this break as most were starting to feel the heat as this is the most critical time of the year because of the initiation season. Makana LFA secretary Akhona Heshu told Grocott’s Mail that this is the time for clubs to rest and enjoy the festive season. He also took time to clarify some of the talking points in the local game. “We were supposed to have an AGM last weekend, but clubs did not…