By Chris Totobela Local football fans were treated to a feast of football on Saturday as JD Dlepu Stadium hosted a Hollywood Bets Regional League doubleheader. In the lunchtime kick-off, City Pirates came up against Port Alfred’s Mighty Forest in a game that failed to produce any goals. In the main game of the day, XI Attackers dusted themselves off from last week’s defeat at the hands of City Pirates to face Alexandria-based Superstars FC in an exciting game. The game started at a blistering pace with both teams throwing everything at each other but failing to convert any of…
Author: Luvuyo Mjekula
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By Chris Totobela Boxing fans from all over the Eastern Cape made their way to Foley’s Community Hall in Hlalani this past weekend to witness the province’s professional boxers in action. Makinana Boxing Promotions hosted the tournament. Speaking to Grocott’s Mail before the tournament, Phakamile Mandla of Makinana Boxing Promotions, said Makhanda was very close to his heart. “Many young boys from here are rehabilitated in my Mooiplaas-based rehabilitation centre in the Buffalo City Metro.” Mandla alluded to the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture’s campaign to take boxing to rural areas and small towns. He said they…
By Chris Totobela Makhanda’s top female boxer Esona “The General” Peter had trained hard and was ready to compete with the best boxers in the world. But her hopes to represent her country at an all-women world championships in Serbia were dashed when the trip to the European country was called off, due to administrative problems. Esona had recently raised her home town’s flag very high at the South African National Amateur Boxing Organisation’s National Championships in East London, emerging as a national champion in her category and thus booking herself a ticket to Serbia. The championships formed part of…
By Gcina Ntsaluba The South African Library for the Blind (SALB) celebrated South African Library Week 2025 with a special event held on Thursday in Makhanda to highlight the library’s importance for social support and lifelong learning. The event, which aims to promote human rights issues amongst the blind and partially sighted communities, was held under the theme “Libraries for Sustainable Communities”. “Today’s event is particularly significant as we focus on the crucial intersection of human rights and sustainable communities,” said Vuyo Mandongana, a senior librarian for Outreach and Member Liaison. She said that libraries, especially those that serve marginalised…
By Chesley Daniels Grahamstown Brumbies Rugby Club profoundly reclaimed the famous Abrahams-Brooks Stallion Cup with an emphatic 38-33 win over PE Harlequins at the Rhodes Prospect Field in Makhanda on Saturday afternoon. The annual memorial event and fixture had taken a hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic and Harlies were still the holders when they came up against Brumbies. A Prospect field packed with a large crowd and a sunny day provided the perfect atmosphere for the spectacular battle. The spectators were certainly treated to some highly entertaining running rugby, long range tries, big hits and high intensity rugby. The…
By Chris Totobela Football lovers made their way to the JD Dlepu Stadium in Joza this past weekend to watch a top local derby between City Pirates and XI Attackers in the Hollywood Bets Regional League. The game started at a blistering pace with both teams showing good intentions. Attackers took control of the midfield battle and created good scoring chances but failed to convert them. Pirates absorbed a lot of pressure and caught Attackers with a sucker punch in the 29th minute when Sibulele Ndibaza blasted home a loose ball from a set piece to give his side the…
By Chris Totobela Boxing officials gathered at the offices of the Department of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture (DSRAC) in Makhanda to elect new leadership for the Sarah Baartman Boxing Organisation (Sababo). Representatives came from all over the Sarah Baartman district and the election process went seamlessly under the observation of the DSRAC officials T Qwili and M Dingana. Khayalethu Richards was elected as the new president while former president Thembisa Qinela is his deputy and Bongi Mbangeli secretary. Notably all three senior officials come from Makhanda. The deputy secretary is S Mahonono from Kirkwood while M Funde, the new…
By Luvuyo Mjekula Makana Municipality ward 10 councillor Zodwa Cetu told residents at a public meeting in Xolani Location on Sunday that threats on her life had prevented her from carrying out some of her duties. Although she would not be drawn into providing specific details, Cetu told the meeting that because of death threats she had been unable to call public meetings and visit the area. The meeting also heard that a ward committee member had recently announced his resignation, reportedly due to death threats. The member was not present at the meeting on Sunday. Residents of Xolani hauled…
NguChris Totobela Zidla zigoduka ngoku kwisigaba soompondo zihlanjiwe kwiMakana LFA. NgoMgqibelo kwicandelo B, iRhodes University ibambene ngenqaku elinye neMakana Tigers logama iYoung Eagles ibhaxabule iSeven Stars ngamanqaku amathandathu kwamabini. Komnye umdlalo iRiebeek East Academy ibethe iGolden Brothers, ethande ukuba yingqongqo mvanje, ngamabini eqandeni. NgeCawe, kwicandelo A, iHellenic itywatyushe iJacaranda Aces ngamanqaku amahlanu eqandeni logama iJoza Stars ibethe iAfrican Spears ngamathathu kwelinye, yaze yona iRiebek City ethe ngcu encochoyini yavuthulula iCameroon ngamanqaku alishumi eqandeni. Kumdlalo wokugqibela nobutakisa iintlantsi iSophia Stars iphantse yohluthwa intlaka emlonyeni ngethuba ivumela iJoza Callies ibuye sele isilela ngemva ngamanqaku amabini eqandeni, yalinganisa phambi kokuba iSophia Stars ifake…
By Chesley Daniels It was heartbreak and despair for Trying Stars – the pride of Alexandria, Ndlambe Municipality and Sedru, as they crashed out of the Eastern Cape Super 14 at the penultimate stage after a controversial winning penalty at the Wentzel Park Sports Ground in Alexandria on Saturday afternoon. Stars narrowly lost 13-15 to Fort Beaufort United. With a controversial denial of a 77th minute penalty conversion by replacement utility backline player Garth “Gaga” Oosthuizen, the final score remained 15-13, as FB United went through to the final. It was a game full of controversy with Stars, the home…