By the Division of Communication and Advancement Rhodes University Council has welcomed a clean audit with no findings for the 2023 financial year. The results further extend the institution’s established impeccable financial performance and stewardship record. “Council is pleased by this effort and the positive outcome in the first year of the University’s five-year Institutional Development Plan 2023-2028, the institutional blueprint for achieving academic excellence and ensuring long-term sustainability,” Council chairperson Judge Gerald Bloem said. “The financial statements and the annual report paint a fantastic picture of which students, staff, alumni, funders and all stakeholders can be proud. This is…
Author: Luvuyo Mjekula
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By Henning Naude Limise Gagayi is a local celebrity among children in the King Flats and Joza township areas of Makhanda. She runs a local community non-profit programme called Meal After School, focusing on feeding and guiding underprivileged children in her home area. Limise has done impressive work over the last three years of the programme, and it all started with a few social media posts and the humble giving personality of one person. Limise ran a soup kitchen out of her home in 2020. Covid-19 had struck, leaving many unemployed and without basic needs, so she decided to help…
By Luvuyo Mjekula Alicedale children enjoyed an exciting mix of fun, fitness and competition last weekend, thanks to the Khulasande Wonder Kids Programme. The programme supports exceptionally talented track and field, cross country, and road running athletes from Addo, Alicedale and Komga to help them reach regional, provincial and national level. The programme offers professional coaching to young athletes, promotes mass participation in sport and teaches life skills using sport, among other things. The programme is the brainchild of the Khulasande Sports Development, a non-profit organisation with a goal of implementing sports development programmes in rural and township communities in…
By Chris Totobela It was a weekend of goals in the Makana LFA first division league this past weekend. On Saturday, Jacaranda Academy edged out Eagles 3-2 while Santos eased past Mayfield 5-1. In the main game of the weekend, Riebeek East Academy entertained the fans when they pulled out all the stops to dish out the best of attacking football against Cameroon. Riebeek East made their intentions very clear from the first whistle with Cameroon seemingly unable to provide any answers, for all their hard-running style of football. It was a high scoring game that kept the fans on…
By Chris Totobela August is a month to celebrate women, and Grocott’s Mail will this month feature a number of women in sport who are doing their best in their communities. Kicking off the National Women’s Month series is a feature on aerobics icon Vuyokazi “Miss Fitness” Smaile who got attracted to aerobics while she was busy with her afternoon jog. A few years ago, while jogging home, Smaile heard music playing inside the old Indoor Sports Centre in Joza, and decided to pop in and investigate. She has never looked back since. She started aerobics in 2010 under male…
By Chris Totobela and Luvuyo Mjekula On Monday morning, Victoria Primary School handed over collected toiletries to top Makhanda women’s football side, African Connection. Victoria Primary heeded the call to help African Connection with the collection of toiletries that will be handed over to young girls who need them most in the community. A box of toiletries was handed over by the school’s sport committee in a well organized function in a packed school hall on Monday. The VP girls only had a few days to collect the goods and have done a stunning job. A few days later, two…
By Luvuyo Mjekula Breastfeeding mothers in all their diversity will be celebrated throughout their breastfeeding journeys while showcasing the ways families, societies, communities and health workers can have the back of every breastfeeding mum. This is a joint message from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and various other concerned groups. The message was also shared during a breastfeeding awareness event in Makhanda yesterday (Thursday) to mark the start of World Breastfeeding Week (1-7 August). World Breastfeeding Week is held in the first week of August every year, supported by WHO, Unicef and many ministries of health and civil society partners.…
By Chesley Daniels In a mesmerizing display of attacking flair and defensive prowess, Trying Stars 1st XV left Joubertina United in their wake, securing a resounding 34-20 bonus point victory in their Score Epru Grand Challenge Top 12 showdown at Wentzel Park Sports Ground in Alexandria on Saturday. With their sights firmly set on the playoffs, Stars delivered a statement performance, showcasing their explosive backline and relentless forward pack. Lucian Milborrow’s sizzling brace and the team’s precision playmaking left United reeling as the Stars soared to a 17-8 halftime lead. The second half saw Stars continue their dominance, scoring their…
By Chesley Daniels In a breathtaking display of brute force and tactical brilliance, St Marks Alicedale 1st XV ravaged Adelaide Rangers with a crushing 29-10 bonus point victory in the Score Epru Grand Challenge Bottom 12 Fixture match at Alicedale Sports Ground on Saturday. The home side’s forward pack, a behemoth of unrelenting power and precision, dismantled their opponents with a mesmerizing showcase of scrummaging, mauling, and tackling ferocity. This was a performance for the ages, a testament to the Bulls’ unyielding resolve and unwavering commitment to their game plan. From the opening whistle, St Marks laid siege to the…
By Chesley Daniels Old Collegians (OC) produced a stunning turnaround to defeat Steytlerville Barbarians 20-17 in a thrilling Epru Adams Cup encounter at Lavender Valley Sports Ground on Saturday. Trailing 17-12 at halftime, OC conjured a second-half masterclass, showcasing their trademark attacking flair to level matters and snatch victory through Siyabonga Mahapi’s last-gasp penalty. The win marked a triumphant return to form for OC, rebounding from their heavy defeat to Newtown Wolves two weeks prior. This victory demonstrated the team’s resilience and determination as they leapfrogged to 3rd position on the log. Steytlerville Barbarians, despite the heart-wrenching loss, showed immense…