By Chris Totobela The Makana LFA first division league season kicked off last weekend and many football fans who took time out to go and support their respective clubs were not impressed with what they saw. Most teams seemed unprepared for the start of the season, considering the big score margins in the various matches. And some club officials did not hide their feelings at the lack of preparation by officials. Black Stars’ chairman and coach Andile “Ace” Mpulani was extremely disappointed. “This is what happens every season, our league is not taken seriously by the officials. There is not…
Author: Luvuyo Mjekula
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By Luvuyo Mjekula Makana Engineering and Infrastructural Services director Bavuyise Tshitshi, who resigned last week, just three months into the job, was set up for failure and faced death threats. This is according to a reliable source in the Makana council. “Within just three months of taking office, the director faced insurmountable challenges, including lack of support from the municipal manager [Phumelele Kate] and chief financial officer (CFO) Nomfundo Ntsangani, receiving death threats, and feeling set up for failure,” the source said this week. Reports emerged late last week that Tshitshi had stepped down from his post, effective immediately. While…
By Luvuyo Mjekula At a Makana Citizens Front (MCF) press briefing at the Graham Hotel on Monday, a myriad allegations were made against leaders of Makana Municipality. In the pursuance of honest, fair and unbiassed reporting, Grocott’s Mail afforded the municipality an opportunity to respond to the allegations. This is what Makana Municipality Council Speaker, Mtutuzeli Matyumza, had to say in response. Speaker’s response Responding to Cllr Mxube as the Speaker of this Council, I must remind all members that the integrity of the council chamber rests on adherence to the rules of order and respect for established protocols. While…
By Chesley Daniels In a closely-contested Score Epru Grand Challenge Bottom 12 encounter, St Marks Alicedale recorded a crucial 27-23 bonus-point win over hosts Lily White Grahamstown in a crowded Lavender Valley Sports Ground on Saturday afternoon. The all important second round derby had so much at stake. St Marks needed a win to stay clear of the relegation zone pending results from the other Bottom 12 fixtures. Lily White came in to the contest in 7th position and St Marks in 8th. Adelaide, Windvogel and Aberdeen are only within one point of St Marks and a defeat would have…
By Chris Totobela We are closing off our Heritage Month feature with one of the best footballers Makhanda has ever produced. Like many before him, Mvuyisi Plaatjie, better known as Vicky in football circles, started playing football at a very young age. He went on to make his senior team debut for XI Attackers in 1993, coming on as a substitute. His peers and former teammates at junior level, Sabelo “Piye” Melitafa and Mazizi “Mkwena” Nombiba, were already part of the senior team, he recalled. “I was a young boy when I was thrown into the deep end by Attackers,…
By Chris Totobela Rhodes University men’s football head coach Thembelani “Bravo” Mzalazala is enjoying a successful year, bagging top accolades. Mzalazala was voted Staff Coach of the Year at the Rhodes University Sports Awards at the 1820 Settlers Monument recently. His team was voted Team of the Year. The team was recently promoted to the Hollywood Bets Regional League after being thrown a lifeline when one of the regional league sides was relegated. The varsity team and Port Alfred-based Arrows competed in a two-legged contest for the remaining spot in the regional league. In the first leg, Arrows played at…
By Luvuyo Mjekula George Street in Makhanda is a hazardous road, and according to several residents, nothing is being done to address the issue. “I have been reporting the dangers of George Street to both [the Makana Municipality and the Department of Transport] since 2023, but nothing has been done,” the DA’s ward eight councillor, Cary Clark, said recently. Clark was commenting after a head-on collision about two weeks ago. “Last night, a massive accident as a result of a manhole and no warnings or streetlights. Are we waiting for someone to die again? Why is nobody responding?” she wrote…
By Luvuyo Mjekula and Asemahle Vumsindo The Makana Citizens Front (MCF) this week gave clarity on a number of controversial developments within Makana Municipality, including the recent council resolution to pay R2.2m for a water pump. The MCF held a media briefing at the Graham Hotel on Monday to provide the “correct narrative” on three issues: The MCF’s vote of no-confidence against Makana mayor Yandiswa Vara in March The cessionary agreement approved by Makana council at a recent special council meeting The MCF’s criminal case against the municipality. All five PR councillors Lungile Mxube, Philip Machanick, Paul Notyawa, Kungeka Mashiane…
The residents of Empolweni Squatter Camp have written to the Makana Municipality seeking a meeting to resolve their land concerns. However, since delivering the letter dated 11 September 2025, they say they have been left in the lurch. “[The municipal leaders] received the letter. They just decided not to respond.” The residents have since turned to Grocott’s Mail. The letter reads: Dear Mr Kate, Mr Matyumza and Ms Vara. We, the delegates of the residents, are writing to request a meeting with you to discuss the pressing land issue affecting our community. As representatives of the municipality, we believe it…
NguChris Totobela Abathandi nabalandeli bamanqindi balapha eMakhanda batsho ngolukablankethi uncumo emva kokuqhuba kakuhle kweembethi-manqindi zalapha kwitumente yamaphondo ebibanjelwe eKomani, nezizakumela iphondo iMpuma Koloni kwimidlalo yobuntshatsheli yoMzantsi Afrika eRustenburg kule nyanga izayo. Kule mpelaveki sisuka kuyo iimbethi-manqindi zalapha ekhaya ziye zafulathela isixeko seengcwele zajongisa imibombo eKomani nalapho beziyokuvana amandla kwitumente yobuntshatsheli yalapha kweli phondo iMpuma Koloni. Ziliqela iimbethi-manqindi zalapha ezibuye nembasa yegolide, ngokwenza njalo zazibekela indawo kwiqela elizakumela eli phondo kwitumente yobuntshatsheli yoMzantsi Afrika jikelele nalapho azakumelwa khona onke amaphondo. ULinathi Biko, Simnikiwe Stamper, Sisonke Matshotyana, beMfuzo Boxing Club noQhamani Mkhunkqwana weThembalethu Boxing Club, kwakunye noEndinako Ndwayana noSangenathi Valela beMasibambane Boxing…