By Steven Lang The ANC in the Makana Municipal area shadowed the party’s poor performance nationally, but not quite as catastrophically. The local ANC dropped from a commanding 62.25% share in the previous national and provincial elections to a narrow majority of 51.6% this year. While the drop of 10.6% would normally be alarming, it is not as harsh as the party’s national loss of 17%. The local ANC’s performance looks even marginally healthier when compared to the 2021 local elections. In this year’s vote, the local ANC actually improved its position from 50.65% to 51.6%. This slight recovery can…
Author: Luvuyo Mjekula
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By Orla Quinlan, Director of Global Engagement Friday 31 May, the last day of Africa Month coincided with the 120th birthday of Rhodes University. Activities in May included public lectures, seminars, panel discussions, a conference, a colloquium, a book launch, interactive activities with students, a photo shoot celebrating cultural diversity, education campaigns, a postgraduate funding fair; all demonstrating Rhodes University’s continuing commitment to a vibrant intellectual life on campus. Notable public lectures: Culture, language, and Africa’s future: Emeritus Prof. Kwesi Kwaa Prah, a renowned sociologist and linguist, delivered the first lecture. He has driven Pan-African language development projects across the continent through…
By Siviwe Mxuma On 20 May 2024, Rhodes University continued its 120th-anniversary celebrations by hosting the first session of its two-day Sustainability Colloquium. This session, titled “Governance and Civil Society: Towards Reduced Inequalities,” featured distinguished speakers including Dr Nomakwezi Mzilikazi, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research, Innovation, and Strategic Partnerships; Professor Leticia Greyling from the Rhodes Business School; Mr Alistair McMaster from the Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs, and Tourism; and Advocate Shuaib Rahim from the Rhodes University Law Faculty. “This event is part of our year-long celebrations, proudly marking 120 years of excellence at Rhodes University,” remarked Dr Mzilikazi, and…
By Sibongiseni Maphumulo Makhanda’s non-profit organisation Food4Futures recently hosted its highly anticipated fundraiser at the 1820 Settler’s Monument’s Fountain Foyer. The event came alive with the sounds of music and the spirit of community, featuring stellar performances from the Makhanda Kwantu Choir, Kingswood Music School, Rhodes Jazz Band, and the Access Music Project and drawing a lively crowd eager to support a worthy cause. Food4Futures is a Makhanda-based NPO with a primary focus on hunger alleviation, although they address other areas of need as well. The organisation supplies food parcels to families who are unable to adequately feed themselves. They distribute…
By Siliziwe Mahambehlala The NAF injects enjoyment and joy into this very small town. Suddenly, the locals, who typically have nothing going for them during the year, find their schedules filled with diverse activities to partake in. The never-ending honking of taxis and the electrifying energy show the town’s sudden change into this energy-driven factory. Overwhelmed with excitement, I find it in me to pardon this town for the moments it once drowned me in boredom. The NAF means the absolute world to me. It is a time in the year where I experience pure excitement in all aspects of…
By Farirai Dangwa Institutions like The Dakawa Arts and Crafts Centre have played massive roles in the enrichment and empowerment of the arts even before the declaration of democracy in South Africa. It was originally started by exiled ANC members in Dakawa, Tanzania, in 1982. The Swedish government funded it during its time in Tanzania before being permanently relocated to the Eastern Cape in 1992. Even though big cities such as Johannesburg and Cape Town wanted the institution to be transferred to their metro, it was ultimately decided Dakawa should move to Makhanda. As the Eastern Cape was known as…
By Chris Totobela The Makana LFA first division league campaign kicks off this weekend. This league was last played almost a year ago, and teams have not kicked the ball since. This weekend’s opening fixtures will see some mouth watering clashes. On Saturday, Mayfield will open the new season against Rising Stars, followed by Cameroon and Leister’s clash, while the Eagles are set to close the day against Riebeek East Academy. On Sunday, Joza Stars will lock horns with XI Attackers Academy while Vukani Anchors will take on Santos FC in what promises to be a cracker judging by the…
By Luvuyo Mjekula Makana is one of 11 municipalities in the Eastern Cape where result capturing had been completed by yesterday, with the declaration of results set to be done tomorrow (Sunday), the Electoral Commission of South Africa has confirmed. The others were Dr Beyers Naude, Blue Crane, Sunday’s River, Koukamma, Great Kei, Amahlathi, Ngqushwa, Intsika Yethu, Walter Sisulu and Umzimvubu. “We have finalized capturing and auditing in those 11 municipalities. There is nothing outstanding – there are no objections and we don’t have to do any verifications,” provincial electoral officer Kayakazi Magudumana told journalists late yesterday. The only objection…
By Luvuyo Mjekula, Ayabonga Kosi and Khanyisa Khenese According to the latest 2024 election results, the African National Congress (ANC) is in the lead in the Makana Municipality, ahead of the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). As per detailed results on the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) website, of the 44 350 registered voters in the national ballot, 22 912 voted and of those, 11 628 or 51.41% voted for the ANC. The DA followed with 5 083 votes or 22.47% while 3 378 people (14.93%) voted for the EFF. The Patriotic Alliance (602 votes…
Scores of Makhanda residents streamed to various voting stations across the town on Wednesday to cast their ballot in what has been described as one the most telling elections in South Africa’s history. Grocott’s Mail photographers, Steven Lang, Rikie Lai, Khanyisa Khenese, Ayabonga Kosi and Luvuyo Mjekula were out and about to document this important event in the calendars of Makhanda and South Africa as a whole.