By Malebo Pheme The long-awaited road repairs on Milner Street are making excellent progress, with construction company LTE set to begin laying the new tar next week. This anticipated step is scheduled for Monday. LTE Construction is currently managing several critical road repair projects across Makhanda. According to Moses Phiri, the project’s foreman, the work is progressing well and is currently on schedule. Phiri expressed his satisfaction at being part of the solution to a major community problem. “Many people have been complaining about the potholes, so I am happy to be a part of the people who are making…
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By Malebo Pheme At just 24 years old, Lelethu Gagayi from Xolani Location, Makhanda, is already making her mark in local politics. Her selection as one of the ANC candidates sparked discussions about youth leadership, bravery, and representation in a field that is frequently dominated by older voices, despite her not winning the most recent Ward 10 by-election. Born and raised in Makhanda, Gagayi describes herself as a young woman driven by the desire to transform her community. “What inspired me is the people around me, and wanting to change the circumstances we live under. I want to motivate the…
By Malebo Pheme Ward 2 celebrated its residents at the Rubber Ndzengu Food Gardens Annual Competition awards ceremony. A key component of the ward’s dedication to food security and poverty alleviation, this project, supported by Councillor Ramie Xonxa, turns backyards into essential sources of income and nourishment. Councillor Ramie Xonxa highlighted the core mission of the annual event, run in partnership with the Department of Agriculture. “We are empowering our residents to become self-sufficient. This program is a direct response to the challenge of poverty,” he said. With the help of the provided tools and seedlings, thirty committed homesteaders created…
By Malebo Pheme Bergview College and its principal, Jaco Pieterse, have officially parted ways after a wave of misinformation and public indignation wrongfully accused him of the rape of a seven-year-old learner, Cwecwe. The school attested that the separation was mutually agreed upon, although the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) declined to prosecute owing to insufficient evidence. AfriForum’s private prosecution section represents Pieterse, who has insisted on his innocence from the beginning. In a brief interview with eNCA, AfriForum spokesperson Barry Bateman said the principal’s departure resulted from an “intense and harmful disinformation campaign” that threatened his safety. Bateman told eNCA,…
By Malebo Pheme In the Diski Queens 7s final on Saturday, 9 August, African Connection defeated Kutliso Daniels 2-0 to reclaim their title in an exciting Women’s Day match at JD Dlepu Stadium. The audience went wild when Emihle “Ratomo” Dyonashe scored a brace in the first half to seal the victory for the 2025 winners. It wasn’t an easy journey to the final. Following a goalless semi-final, African Connection defeated their development team, Amakonokono FC, in a thrilling penalty shootout. Kutliso Daniels also put up a strong fight, holding off Bonani FC’s constant pressure before winning 4–3 on penalties.…
By Malebo Pheme As South Africa prepares to celebrate Women’s Day, a different kind of celebration is taking shape in Makhanda, one where football becomes more than just a sport. On 9 August, the legendary JD Dlepu Stadium will host the third edition of the “Diski Queen’s Sevens Tournament”, a community-driven event by Chris Totobela and the African Connection Football Club. But this isn’t just a tournament. It’s a movement. Speaking to Grocott’s Mail, Totobela shared how the initiative began in 2023 at Mickey Yili Stadium with a full crowd and growing community interest. Since then, the tournament has transformed…
By Malebo Pheme As South Africa honoured Nelson Mandela’s legacy, Thembelihle Ngcai woke to an announcement that would honour her and remind the country of the quiet battles still being fought in the margins. When Thembelihle Ngcai was six years old, doctors told her mother she wouldn’t live beyond fourteen. Today, at 31, she has outlived that prognosis by more than a decade, and she’s just getting started. Ngcai, a Rhodes University alumna and disability rights advocate, was recently named one of News24’s Top 30 Young Mandelas of the Future, a recognition awarded to young South Africans whose work carries…
By Malebo Pheme The Judicial Conduct Tribunal investigating Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge on allegations of sexual harassment has adjourned until October, following an intense week of testimony and cross-examination. The case, which has stretched over seven months, centres on complaints by former court secretary Andiswa Mengo, who accuses Mbenenge of repeated, unwanted sexual advances. The proceedings resumed on Monday, 7 July, with Mbenenge taking the stand. He firmly denied the most serious allegations, claiming that accusations of asking for oral sex in his office and sending a photo of his private parts were “devastating lies.” While acknowledging that…
By Malebo Pheme and ‘Maleruo Leponesa Rhodes University is stepping confidently onto the global stage after Vice-Chancellor Prof Sizwe Mabizela returned from the 2025 BRICS University Rectors Forum held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The gathering brought together university leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, along with newly joined members such as Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia and the UAE to discuss how higher education can tackle global challenges. A document to be known as the Rio de Janeiro Declaration was signed on 7 June and outlines a shared commitment to collaboration in eight critical areas: health, energy, poverty,…
By Malebo Pheme According to Archbishop Nkosinathi Ngesi, chair of the Concerned Makhanda Residents (CMR), death threats have been made against him, allegedly linked to a high-ranking official within the Makana Municipality. The threat, reportedly overheard and reported to the Archbishop, underscores the growing tension between the CMR and Makana’s embattled municipal leadership. At the heart of the matter are accusations of corruption, poor service delivery, and political intimidation issues that have plagued the town for years. MRA reacts The Concerned Makhanda Residents, a grassroots civil society group, released a strongly-worded press statement on Tuesday. In it, the organisation condemned…