Hunger Count Carin Bester spends eight hours every day at the Monument counting out beans. She counts out 25,660 beans to symbolise one percent of the households that experience hunger in South Africa. (StatsSA 2023). Over the course of Festival she will have counted out ten times this number to show only ten percent of the households experiencing hunger. Photos: Steven Lang
Author: Luvuyo Mjekula
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By Luvuyo Mjekula A group of local residents swam in freezing cold Grey Dam waters in the 21st Polar Plunge on Friday morning. The icy swim is a Makhanda ritual, held every year to celebrate the winter solstice. There were four of the original plungers this time on Friday, and all the participants were rewarded with a hot chocolate. It was reported that every year, PG Glass challenges participants and supporters to bring an item of warm clothing, or a blanket, to bring warmth and comfort to needy people in Makhanda. The object is to fill the PG Glass bakkie…
By Chris Totobela Football loving people of Makhanda made their way to JD Dlepu Stadium this past weekend as the June 16 tournament knockout stage took place. On Saturday, in the first quarter final, AT Mambas eased past Kwandwe-based Eastern Mubs 5-0 while Golden Eagles edged Maru Academy 2-1. In the third quarter final game, Joza Callies came back from a goal down to take the game to penalties where they emerged victorious 6-5 on penalties. In the last of the four quarters, City Pirates edged Makana Tigers 2-1. On Sunday, in the first semi final Golden Eagles dumped AT…
By The Division of Communication & Advancement During her second year at Rhodes University in 2020, Lethabo Makweya’s journey through the National Arts Festival (NAF) began. Music composer Stacey van Schalkwyk Naidoo was searching for a talented writer and performer. Lalu Mokuku, a supervisor and Drama lecturer at Rhodes University who formed MEQOQO Playback Theatre Collective, recommended Makweya. The excitement was palpable, but the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic led to the festival’s cancellation that year, forcing plans to be postponed. In 2021, the festival transitioned to an online platform, providing a chance to realise the postponed project. The online…
By Staff Reporter The third edition of the three-day Eastern Cape Film Expo which has attracted more than 240 delegates kicked off on Wednesday night in Makhanda on the sidelines of the National Arts Festival. The expo kicked off with a film and television community outreach targeting youth in Joza Township in Makhanda where information was shared about opportunities in the sector. The session was facilitated by well-known actress Lonalinamandla Bawuti of the popular telenovela Gqeberha: The Empire. Hosted by the Eastern Cape government through the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC), the film expo brings together filmmakers, distributors, actors, financiers,…
By Chesley Daniels Swallows and Old Collegians (OC) recorded impressive wins in the Epru Adams Cup Competition, while Rosebuds hammered Black Lions in their Sunsed Regional League fixture over the past weekend. Swallos vs Karoo Springbokke – Albany Sports Ground The Sedru Champs of 2023 Swallows took sweet revenge over the Midlands champs of 2023 Karoo Springbokke on Saturday with an impressive yet hard-fought 21-14 win. Bokke beat Swallows in their own backyard in last year’s semi finals of the Inter Regional League for promotion/relegation. The win saw Swallows move up in to 5th position on the overall log with…
By Staff Reporter The overall winner of the Sarah Baartman District Women Entrepreneurs Awards (WEA), Kholiswa Seti, from Makhanda, says she aspires to be a fabric design factory owner who is able to employ local people in the Eastern Cape town. Speaking from the National Arts Festival where she is displaying her products following the award ceremony that saw her also named the best smallholder in the rural development category, Kholiswa Seti of Kholi Designs yesterday expressed joy for winning the awards. “Winning this prize has happened at a time when I have just identified my niche market. It was…
By Chesley Daniels Trying Stars continued their winning streak in the Score Epru Grand Challenge Top 12 competition with a bonus point win against Park, while Grahamstown Brumbies, Lily White and St Marks Alicedale all suffered defeats over the weekend. Trying Stars vs Park – Alexandria In a crucial Epru Grand Challenge Top 12 encounter, it was hosts Trying Stars who registered their second consecutive win over a decent Park side at the weekend. The 30-20 bonus point win put Stars in 4th position on the overall log standings, with one game outstanding, while Park moved down to 6th position.…
By Ross Marriner South Africa’s retirement system is set to undergo significant changes with the introduction of the two-pot reform, effective from September 2024. Historically, South Africans could not access their retirement savings until reaching retirement age. The upcoming reform allows individuals who have invested in retirement annuities access to withdraw a small portion of their retirement savings on an annual basis, if required. From September 2024, retirement annuity investments will be structured to include a retirement lump sum pot and a retirement income pot. (There will also be a third pot known as the vested pot, which will be…
By Steven Lang Artistically designed acrylic buttons have been found topping off a number of potholes in several Makhanda streets. These individually crafted buttons measure about 10cm across and serve two useful purposes. The first one is to brighten up one of drabbest facets of our town with some creative artwork and complement the 50th edition of the National Arts Festival. The see-through acrylic encloses either decorative pieces of cloth, colourful bottle tops or other elements creating an interesting badge to complete the pothole filling. Some of the buttons were intentionally used to fill potholes close to Festival venues just…