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,”…
Author: Luvuyo Mjekula
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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…
By Chesley Daniels The 2023 Sedru champs, Swallows, registered their first win of the Epru Adams Cup competition with an emphatic 43-3 bonus-point win over Malmaison United at the Albany Sports Club on Saturday . Swallows led 21-3 at halftime. Having lost their first two league matches, it was a must win for the Makhanda side, to put points on the overall log standings and to get back to winning ways. The home side put in a dominant performance from the outset and made their intentions very clear by taking full control of affairs throughout the game. The bonus point…
By Steven Lang This weekend both the ANC and the DA will be holding their final election rallies in Gauteng while the EFF will hold their rally in Polokwane. All the major parties appear to be focussing most of their attention on KwaZulu Natal, so Steven Lang says that it is not surprising if the people of Makana feel that the election is happening somewhere else. Citizens of Makana can’t be blamed if they are feeling left out in the cold ahead of next week’s voting. Yes, the national and provincial elections are being held this coming Wednesday, and at…
WHAT’S ON IN MAKHANDA THIS WEEK THURSDAY, 23 MAY U3A Come and hear @Grahamstown Bowling Club 10:00-11:00 R5 entry fee All welcome Grahamstown Bridge Club @ Grahamstown Bowling Club, African Street 13:15 for 13:30 Contact Sheila Hicks: 083 442 3322 R15 non-members | R10 members Thursday Pool Competition @ SSS Top Bar, 19b New Street 18:30 – 19:00 Contact: Mike Theron on 082 477 3689 Free entry __ SATURDAY, 25 MAY Parkrun 5km run or walk Family-friendly Dogs on leads are welcome @ The Bot Gardens, Lucas Avenue 07:45 for 08:00 Register online: https://www.parkrun.co.za/register/ Free entry Christ Church Stoep Sale…
By Chris Totobela Last Saturday, Joza Aerobics and Fitness Club hosted a fitness and wellness event that was open to the entire community. Participants paid R30 per ticket to take part and all the funds made from the event were for a good cause. This was not just a fitness event but a fundraising initiative as well that was aimed at giving back to the community. One of the senior and long serving members of the club, Anam Klei, was pleased with how the event went. “Our event was very successful as we achieved what we wanted. We are a…
By Siyamthanda Hobo On 15 May 2024, Rhodes University hosted the 2019 Vice Chancellor’s Distinguished Research Award lecture with recipient Professor Makaiko Chithambo, Head of the Department of Physics and Electronics. The Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Senior Research Award is made annually to a staff member of Rhodes University, to recognise their indisputable academic status, engagement in research and general scholarly activity. Prof Chithambo’s lecture delved into the intriguing realm of materials science, specifically focusing on the significant role of imperfections in solid materials. Setting the stage, DVC of Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships, Dr Kwezi Mzilikazi introduced Prof Chithambo, emphasising the…
By Staff Reporter Karabelo Ramosala, a Counselling Psychologist and Lecturer in the Psychology Department, has been awarded the 2024-2025 Fulbright Visiting Researcher scholarship. She will be based at the City University of New York (CUNY) Department of Educational Psychology, where she will be exploring the methodologies and impact of student success initiatives that are used to shape the future of higher education. This scholarship aligns closely with her PhD research through which she is exploring the academic resilience of first-generation university students who have participated in the Nine-Tenths Mentorship program, a community-based program that is aimed at increasing access to…