By Division of Communication & Advancement The Rhodes University Sports Department is proud to announce that it will host the 2024 USSA Rugby Tournament from 1 – 5 July 2024. This prestigious event will gather twenty-six universities from across South Africa, promising a diverse and competitive field of teams for an exciting week of competitive matches, camaraderie, and celebration. This year’s tournament is particularly noteworthy as it coincides with two significant anniversaries: Rhodes University’s 120th anniversary and USSA’s 30th anniversary. Adding to the significance, the tournament will, for the first time, feature a women’s section, underscoring our commitment to gender…
Author: Luvuyo Mjekula
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By Zindzi Nkunzi As South Africa marks 30 years of democracy, Rhodes University celebrates its 120th anniversary, and the National Arts Festival reaches its 50th year, Mr Thumamna Sibhozo, in collaboration with the Isikhumbuzo Applied History Unit from the History Department at Rhodes University, presented a play that depicts South Africa’s past and present – called “Madam President Evelyn”. Having been part of the 2023 Standard Bank Ovation Award-winning production “Pumla-Rest”, Mr Sibhozo was inspired to write this classical South African satire with the aim of fostering empathy among audiences for domestic workers nationwide. The play reflects on how past situations…
By Luvuyo Mjekula The National Arts Festival, South Africa’s longest-running arts festival, is going nowhere, and its 50th edition in the past couple of weeks was a success, CEO Monica Newton said this week. Newton conceded that the National Arts Festival has had its fair share of challenges over the last 50 years and will no doubt continue to face more. “But it is resilient and works hard to rise above them in service of what we all believe is a truly important project for the country. We see ourselves remaining in Makhanda and feel very aligned to the fortunes…
By Chris Totobela The recent good run of Banyana Banyana (South Africa’s national women’s football team) has ignited the long lost spark in women’s football in many parts of the country. Sarah Baartman is one of the few Safa regions that does not have a women’s football league. However, plans are underway to try and change this situation. The last time that this region had a women’s football league was more than a decade ago, when the league crumbled without any explanation from the authorities. The South African Football Association (Safa) national office used to allocate R20 000 to each…
NguChris Totobela Bekuthe bhazalala kwisixeko seengcwele kule mpelaveki sisuka kuyo, ingumbo nomxesibe abantu bezitikatika kwiziyunguma nezibiliboco nanjengoko bekuvalwa umnyadala wenkcubeko obubanjelwe kwesi sixeko sethu. Amaqela ebhola wona ebebila esoma emaxhaphetshu elwela amanqaku amathathu ezama ukulungisa indlela yokuzibekela indawo kwisigaba soompondo zihlanjiwe kwiMakana LFA. NgoMgqibelo iRising Stars edlala kakuhle mvanje ibhaxabule iEagles ngamanqaku amathathu eqandeni, logama yona iLeicester City neMayfield zibambene ngamanqaku amabini macala. IJoza Stars ibethe iCameroon ngamanqaku amabini kwelinye. NgeCawe iJacaranda Academy itsalele iAttackers Academy. Kumdlalo obuvala ibala nobuthande ukuba nenqwaba yamanqaku, iTantyi Eleven ibingathi idiliza ityotyombe ngethuba itywatyusha iSantos ngamanqaku alishumi kwamathathu kumdlalo obukekelele calanye.
By Chris Totobela Christmas came early for one of the legendary Tantyi-based rugby clubs. Old Collegians were this past week the recipients of rugby boots donated by one of their former players, Sima Mthetho, who grew up in the Old Collegians’ youth ranks, which gave him a solid foundation for his game. Mthetho donated six pairs of boots to his former club. A product of the Tantyi club, Mthetho is currently coaching All Stars RFC in Tshwane in Gauteng. Speaking to Grocott’s Mail, club captain Khanyisa Solomon, thanked Mthetho for this generosity. “The club is very grateful to Mr Mthetho…
By Chris Totobela A total of seven Makhanda boxers are taking part in the four-day South African Boxing National Championships in Durban. The young fighters were recently crowned provincial champs at the Eastern Cape championships in Mthatha. The national championships is scheduled to take place in Durban from 3-6 July. Masibambane Boxing Club’s Qhama Kilana and Khayalethu Prince joined Mfuzo Boxing Camp’s five boxers, Sesihle “Stinging Bee” Matebese, Esona “The General” Peter, Azola “Destroyer” Moses, Luyolo Nketsheni and Masibulele “Tank” Sigwela for the trip to KZN. Matebese earlier spoke to Grocott’s Mail about their readiness. “We have trained very hard…
By Luvuyo Mjekula Makhanda’s performers received special recognition at the 50th National Arts Festival at the weekend, with the Makhanda Kwantu Choir winning a Standard Bank Ovation Award. Music sensation Zoë Modiga shared the stage with the award-winning Makhanda Kwantu Choir in an entertaining collabo before popular hitmaker Mandisi Dyantyis paid tribute to the mother of his Makhanda-born pianist in a packed Guy Butler Theatre on Sunday. Dyantyis made special mention of Lonwabo Mafani’s mother Buyiswa and thanked her for praying for them and coming to watch him perform at the National Arts Festival. Lonwabo told Grocott’s Mail: “It feels…
By Luvuyo Mjekula On Thursday, the Democratic Alliance called on the Eastern Cape Legislature to debate the proposed relocation of the main seat of the Eastern Cape Division of the High Court from Makhanda to Bhisho. This follows recommendations by the Committee on the Rationalisation of areas under the jurisdiction of the Division of the High Court of South Africa and Judicial Establishments. Grocott’s Mail reported a couple of years ago that a committee set up to ‘rationalise’ areas under the jurisdiction of South Africa’s high courts had recommended that the main seat of the Eastern Cape High Court, currently…
By Luvuyo Mjekula The ongoing feud between two factions of the Makhanda Citizens Front (MCF) over which of them has the right to lead the embattled organisation, is escalating into a bitter game of cat and mouse. The two groups in the MCF are both heading to court to plead their case as rightful leaders of organisation. On one hand, the one group is seeking to appeal an Electoral Court judgment that declared them unlawfully elected and ordered their removal, while the other faction wants the Makhanda High Court to force the Makana Municipality to reinstate them pursuant to the…