By Luvuyo Mjekula President Cyril Ramaphosa has given the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) the green light to investigate allegations of serious maladministration in the affairs of Makana Municipality involving seven tenders, and to recover any loss the state has suffered, the SIU said in a statement yesterday. According to SIU spokesperson, Kaizer Kganyago, the agency will probe allegations of unlawful and improper conduct that occurred between 1 January 2019 and 18 October 2024, as well as any related activities before 1 January 2019. Makana Municipal spokesperson Anele Mjekula confirmed the development a short while ago. “I can confirm that the…
Author: Luvuyo Mjekula
Read More
By Luvuyo Mjekula The Sarah Baartman District expects a 91% pass from Makana and Ndlambe matrics set to sit down for their final exams in three days’ time. The ambitious target was announced by Nosipho Hanise, a senior education official in the Sarah Baartman District, in Makhanda recently. “In my analysis, I said in 2024, [from] Makana 1, 2 and Ndlambe, we are no longer expecting 82.9%, we are expecting 91%,” Hanise said. She was addressing a gathering of matrics, teachers, parents, district education officials, education forums and the religious community at the Joza Indoor Sports Centre last Friday. The…
By Grocott’s Mail Reporters Recent social media reports of Makhanda children falling ill and hospitalised after eating suspected contaminated chips, have sparked fear and concern among parents and residents. A social media post trended on social media claiming: “Good evening leaders, please have a talk with your participants about monitoring their kids from buying stuff from the foreign owned shops, at 13:00 I took six kids to the hospital from St Mary’s Primary. Luckily they are doing fine, I just dropped them off at their homes. Diagnoses: food poisoning. Please spread the word.” Following widespread concerns from parents and residents,…
By Chesley Daniels Southwell 1st XI and Salem 1st XI played exceptionally good cricket this past weekend in the Grahamstown Cricket Board (GCB) 1st League with dominant victories over Willows and Makana Sona respectively. There were also impressive wins for Station Hill in their GCB 2nd League derby encounter against Port Alfred, while Sidbury narrowly edged Swallows and Southwell beat Manley Flats. Nicholas Wilmot (Salem) and James Stirk (Southwell) recorded impressive centuries with the bat while Sipho Saki took five wickets for Station Hill. GCB 1ST LEAGUE 1. SOUTHWELL VS WILLOWS SOUTHWELL 237/8 (50) * James Stirk 100*, Jesse Van…
Chesley Daniels In a captivating display of skill, determination and teamwork, Alicedale United Women’s Rugby Club clinched their second consecutive Sarah Baartman Women’s Rugby League title, defeating Rhodes Phoenix 31-15 in a pulsating final. The match kicked off with both teams displaying exceptional intensity, but it was Rhodes who drew first blood through scrumhalf Andiswa Ngqeniso’s clever blindside try. However, the conversion attempt sailed wide. Alicedale United swiftly responded through their talismanic flyhalf Bridgette Coetzee, who mesmerized the defense with her trademark pace and agility, scoring a stunning 50-meter try and converting it effortlessly. As the heat began to take…
With roadworks at every corner of Makhanda, there have been mixed reactions from the locals, some expressing joy that their complaints about the sorry state of the roads have finally been heard, while others lament the inconvenience of detours and ‘unfair’ labour practices at the various projects. Grocott’s Mail reporters hit the busy streets and asked the local residents for their reaction to the road rehabilitation projects in Makhanda. Alison Plaatjies from Hooggenoeg I think it’s a good thing that they are revamping the roads because of the potholes, but the road that they are revamping when you go to…
By Lufuno Masindi, Zanele Hlungwani and Thandile Masinyana Victoria Girls High School learners made history recently representing their school in the National Moot Court Competition in Pretoria. Hosted by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development in collaboration with the University of Pretoria and the Foundation of Human Rights, the competition seeks to uplift schoolchildren nationwide. The initiative was set out to enlighten schoolchildren about the South African Constitution by exposing them to the operations of South Africa’s courts. Two leaners from Victoria Girls High School who were fortunate to be part of the competition, returned and shared their experiences.…
By Lufuno Masindi Victoria Girls High School rising star Mairi van Schoor shared her inspirational experience of juggling being a learner and an art and debate competition fanatic. The grade 11 learner redefines what it means to be talented and dedicated. Van Schoor has an outstanding history of successful competitions and team-leading experience. This multi-faceted learner has showcased her exceptional skills and unwavering determination through her art and debate competitions. This young genius’ recognition can be tracked back to 2020 in the general knowledge competition where she was among the champions at Victoria Primary School. The competition emerged due to…
By Chris Totobela Boxing lovers packed the Hlalani Community Hall last Saturday to witness the best of amateur boxing. Teams came from all over the province to take part in the Mfuzo Boxing Camp’s 29th anniversary celebrations tournament. There were so many exciting and electrifying bouts that had the big crowd on their feet as boxers went all out to make sure they didn’t disappoint. Mfuzo Boxing Camp’s public relations officer, Mfuzo Dyirha, was pleased. “We had a very successful event and we are happy with all the support we got. Having clubs coming from very far shows how successful…
By Staff Reporter The School of Journalism and Media Studies (JMS) of Rhodes University, in partnership with the Eastern Cape office of the South African National Editors’ Forum are hosting a webinar on Friday, October 18 to officially launch the Makhanda Declaration — a bold call to revitalise journalism in South Africa. The milestone event marking SA Media Freedom Day on October 19 is a historical commemoration of Black Wednesday in 1977 which saw the apartheid state’s banning and closing of the World and Sunday World and the imprisonment of several anti-apartheid journalists under the Internal Security Act. The Makhanda Declaration revisits the…