Dear Grocott’s Mail readers, Grocott’s Mail wishes to thank all our loyal readers and followers for your continued support and extend a warm welcome to our newly-found supporters. To all our readers, and everyone in Makhanda, South Africa and the rest of the world, may you enjoy a wonderful, safe festive season filled with love, kindness, generosity and good health. Please note that we are taking a break from publishing our weekly PDF edition until 2025. This Friday’s edition is the final publication for 2024, and we hope you enjoy all the jolly, festive season-inspired reads and photos, coupled with…
Author: Luvuyo Mjekula
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By Chris Totobela Sarah Baartman district boxers took part in the South African National Boxing Tournament in Willowvalle and a number of local fighters came back with a variety of medals. The exciting tournament, under the auspices of the South African National Defense Force, took place in the Willowvale Indoor Sports Centre from 3 to 6 December 2024. Almost all Eastern Cape district municipalities were represented, with the Western Cape province team as guests. A number of boxers from Makhanda and Port Alfred made up the Sarah Baartman district team. In the female section, Esona “The general” Peter, Sangenathi Valela…
A pioneering three-day Education Journalism Think Tank took place from 5-7 December in Makhanda to address critical gaps in South Africa’s education news coverage and communication landscape. The event, jointly organised by Rhodes University’s School of Journalism and Media Studies (SJMS) and the Binding Constraints Lab (BCL), brought together media leaders, journalists, academics, education NPOs, government communicators, and civil society activists. Photos: Steven Lang
By Staff Reporter The Andrew Martin Annual Christmas Chess Tournament held at the Lalibela Recreation Centre in Seven Fountains recently was a dream come true, the organisers said. They said working with the community of Seven Fountains had been a dream, and they thanked the individuals and organisations who made it a reality. A total of 32 children from Makhanda schools such as Samuel Ntlebi, CM Vellem, Saint Mary’s, Ntaba Maria, Graeme College and the YISL Afterschool Program, participated in the tournament, along with their counterparts from Seven Fountains. The tournament consisted of eight sections of four players who played…
By Tom Hamilton Three of St Andrew’s College staff members recently graduated from the Aspiring School Leaders Course which was an initiative of the Makhanda Circle of Unity and delivered through the generosity of the Rhodes University Business School. The three staff members, Joe Orsmond, Jared Kruger and Kaamil Adams obtained their Certificate in School Leadership, Management and Governance. The course comprised modules on: Governance and Rick Management Strategy Formulation and Execution HR Management Project Management Financial Management Labour Relations Leadership Practice Congratulations to Mr Orsmond, Mr Kruger and Mr Adams.
By Tom Hamilton It is with great pleasure that we announce the appointment of Kaamil Adams as the new Director of Rowing at St Andrew’s College. Adams will succeed Ed Goodier and bring a wealth of experience and expertise to our rowing programme. Adams joined us from South African College School (SACS) in Cape Town in September 2023, where he served as Director of Rowing. Before his tenure at SACS, he was instrumental in establishing the rowing club at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), where he was manager and head coach. Adams’ passion for rowing was ignited during…
By Staff Reporter The festive season is a time for celebration, but it’s also peak season for financial scams. As South Africans prepare for the holidays, scammers are on high alert, targeting stolen phones, credit cards, and even stokvel cash payouts. The police in the Sarah Baartman policing district call for vigilance. “Whether you’re shopping online or in-store, your safety should always come first,” reads a message from the SAPS. SAPS’ safer festive season shopping hints: Be careful when shopping online. Shop only on trusted secure websites using a secure form of payment such as a credit/debit card. Protect your…
By Staff Reporter If you’re living in South Africa, then there’s a very good chance the twelfth month on the calendar is your favourite time of year. The weather is great, the beach or pool beckons, and the air is filled with festivity as people wind down – or wind up – for the year. KeDezemba is here, and South Africans take it very seriously. Part of the season’s appeal is that for those who receive a bonus, it generally lands in their account around this time. If you are one of the fortunate ones, pause a minute before you blow your year-end package on gifts…
By Staff Reporter Rhodes University is ending the year on a celebratory note as Dr Boudina McConnachie, head of the Department of Music and Musicology at Rhodes University, has been honoured with the prestigious National University Teaching Award (NUTA) for 2024. This accolade recognises her exceptional contributions to music education and innovative approaches to integrating indigenous African musical arts into academic curricula. The NUTA, established to acknowledge excellence in university teaching across South Africa, celebrates educators who demonstrate outstanding commitment to student learning and engagement. Dr McConnachie is one of only two academics nationwide to receive this honour in 2024,…
By Olwethu Kota In a groundbreaking effort to tackle the roots of gender-based violence (GBV) and promote men’s mental health, St. Mary’s Development and Care Centre recently hosted a powerful awareness campaign as part of the international 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. The event centered on emphasizing the role of men in addressing GBV, while also shining a spotlight on the often-overlooked issue of men’s mental health and emotional expression. The campaign sought to break down harmful stereotypes, including the societal notion that “a man does not cry nor feel pain,” which often perpetuates cycles of violence and…