By Rikie Lai The African National Congress (ANC) currently leads in the polls with 42.54% of support or 682 342 votes after 16.07% of counting. Following the ruling party is the Democratic Alliance (DA) with 25.65% or 411 388 votes and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) with 8.50% and 136 256 votes. Following these parties and closely behind the EFF are newly formed uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) led by former president Jacob Zuma with 8.08% and 129 565 votes. Closely behind the MK party, is the Patriotic Alliance with 4.47% and 71 648 votes. Valid voting has been noted at…
Author: Luvuyo Mjekula
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By Ross Marriner 20 May 2024 was Tax Freedom Day, which according to the Free Market Foundation, was the day when the average South African taxpayer had earned enough money to fulfil his or her annual tax obligation. Put differently, if all taxpayers had to pay their taxes up-front instead of paying a portion every month, they would have to pay everything they earned to Government until Tax Freedom Day. Only after reaching this date would they be able to spend any of their earnings on themselves and on their families. Tax Freedom Day was first calculated in the United…
By Luvuyo Mjekula In a twist that brought jubilation to the Grahamstown-Anti Crime faithful, murder-accused former Makana ward councillor Luyanda Sakata and one of his three co-accused have been released on bail after winning an appeal in the Makhanda High Court. Judge Sunil Rugunanan found that in opposing bail against Sakata, 42, and Mphithizeli Diko, 63, in the Makhanda Magistrate’s Court, the state had relied on affidavit evidence from the investigating officer in the murder case against the duo. The two men, along with two other co-accused – Xolisile Mlatsha, 54, and Vuyo Madinda, 42, are accused of fatally wounding…
Bekuxhelw’ exhukwane kubathandi nabalandeli bebhola ekhatywayo yabafana abaselula kule mpelaveki sisuka kuyo. Sele inethuba elingaphezulu nje kweeveki ezimbini iqalile imidlalo yamakhwenkwana aneminyaka engaphantsi kweshumi elinesithathu kwakunye nalawo angaphantsi kweminyaka elishumi elinesihlanu. Nangona kuye kugqube ubuqhetseba kule midlalo yokudlaliswa kwamakhwenkwana sele ethande ukubangqathuvana kancinci nangafanelanga ukuba kanti ayadlala kwesi sigaba, kodwa ke akukavakali ziganeko zokufakwa kwamakhwenkwana amadala. Iqhube kakuhle kakhulu imidlalo kule mpelaveki sisuka kuyo. Komnye umdlalo obubanjelwe kumabala ase JD Dlepu ngoMgqibelo, iSophia Stars ibhaxabule iJoza Callies ngamanqaku amahlanu kwelinye. Lo mdlalo ubuthande ukukekelela calanye nanjengoko iSophia binkqunkqa ibuyelela kwiimpondo zeJoza Callies ixele izulu laseMthatha. Into enkomeke ngayo iJoza callies…
By Luvuyo Mjekula Democratic Alliance (DA) National Council of Provinces member and deputy Eastern Cape leader, Mlindi Nhanha, cast his special vote at the St Aiden’s Voting Station in Makhanda on Monday morning. Nhanha, a resident of Makhanda, was emotional after making his mark at 9am. “For me at a personal level, this is quite an emotional vote, on two fronts – it’s the first time that I’ve come to vote without my family, because of work commitments and related stuff. My wife and kids could not be with me to come and vote as we normally do as a…
By Chris Totobela The Hollywood Bets Regional League concluded its fixtures a couple of weeks ago while the local premier league ended a week ago with XI Attackers promoted to the regional league. Two other two local sides have been relegated back to the Makana LFA. This regional league recess has given the local football people an opportunity to look at why local teams are struggling in the regional league and they have come up with some interesting findings. Rhodes University’s sport administrator Siya Dumiso shared his views with Grocott’s Mail. “We have a lot of talent in Makhanda, however,…
By Luvuyo Mjekula Chaos reigned at the Ncame Street upgrade site on Thursday as angry project workers blockaded the Joza intersection demanding immediate payment. A group of about 20 workers demonstrated, blocking the unfinished road paving site with burning tyres and other rubble, forcing visibly frustrated motorists to change routes. For two months, the workers have not been paid their wages, says CLO Sinazo Ncube. The project covers various wards in Joza and involves four contractors who employ a number of unemployed Makhanda residents. “We have families to feed, some of us are breadwinners. Two months is a long time,”…
By Luvuyo Mjekula With more than 44 000 registered voters in Makana, the local ANC is hoping to win 80% or 35 000 of their votes, sub-region chairperson Mabhuti Matyumza declared during a pre-election rally in Raglan Road on Thursday. “We need to pull more than 35 000 to vote for the ANC because we want to defend the democracy you fought for,” he told the party’s supporters in Raglan Road on Thursday. They had come out in their numbers to welcome provincial secretary Lulama Ngcukayitobi to Makhanda. Alliance partners Cosatu, the SACP and Sanco as well as the party’s…
By Luvuyo Mjekula Makhanda is one of 32 small towns in 11 Eastern Cape municipalities the Democratic Alliance has flagged as facing total collapse due to alleged poor governance and corruption. “Constant water and electricity outages, crumbling roads, overflowing sewage, sky-high unemployment, a total lack of basic services, and rampant corruption due to cadre deployment have broken the Eastern Cape’s once thriving small towns,” said Vicky Knoetze MPL, the DA’s Eastern Cape shadow MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) in a statement recently. The state of the “utter collapse” became clear after the DA recently concluded a tour…
By Chesley Daniels Lily White put in a highly impressive performance to beat a spirited and determined African Bombers 20-18 in a hard fought titanic battle in their Epru Grand Challenge bottom 12 clash played at a packed Lavender Valley Sports Ground in Makhanda on Saturday afternoon. The Blues took a narrow 12-8 lead into the break. Lily White kept the Sedru flag flying high with another intense win after Brumbies and Trying Stars both lost their respective encounters in the Grand Challenge. The win saw the Blues move up to fourth place in the overall log standings, with three…