By Malikhanye Mankayi and Luvuyo Mjekula A great tree has fallen in Makhanda. Those who knew him described him as an ambassador and a producer of great men. Vakele Reubin Ndibaza, popularly known as Nxele, was probably the most popular ingcibi (traditional surgeon) in Makhanda. He passed away last week aged 84. Ndibaza had run his race, considering he had retired as an ingcibi in December last year. On Thursday, 16 November, he took his last breath. His funeral will be held on Friday, 24 November, at the Ethiopian Episcopal Church (KwaMateyu). On Thursday, Isiko Loluntu, an organisation of traditional…
Author: Malikhanye Mankayi
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By Malikhanye Mankayi Singamandoda Men Empowerment Spaces, a men’s organisation whose mandate includes fighting the scourge of gender-based violence, hosted a workshop on Tuesday, 14 November, with the aim of recreating a platform for men to reclaim their space – with families communicating and denouncing patriarchy, toxic masculinity and social ills. Different stakeholders and departments, such as Border Rural Committee, Kagisano, Makana Rape Survivors Support Group were invited to contribute. Jongi Hoza, the head of the Secretariat of the Eastern Cape Men’s Movement and the programme manager of Empilisweni HIV/Aids Care Centre, opened a platform for all those present to…
The Springboks defended the Rugby World Cup in a tightly contested encounter against the All Blacks of New Zealand on a rainy Saturday (28 October 2023). Grocott’s Mali journalist adked residents of Makhanda for their reactions. Rudzani Manafe: “The game was a very good game. Obviously we won and that’s exciting. I am proud of the guys. I think the energy and drive they showed, displayed the dedication for fighting for their country. The best player for me was Bongi Mbonambi because I think we don’t get to appreciate players who play in his position, which is Hooker and I…
By Malikhanye Mankayi The Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature’s portfolio committee on human settlements noted with disappointment, recently, the slow delivery of only 13 housing units out of the 323 planned as the target for this year in the Sarah Baartman District Municipality. These shocking developments emerged at a three-day Taking Legislature to the People (TLTTP) stakeholder meeting at Folley’s Ground in Makhanda and via Zoom from 24 to 26 October 2023. All Sarah Baartman district municipalities were part of the meeting. Day two of the event, directed by Eastern Cape speaker Helen Sauls-August, aimed to assess three areas: Human Settlement,…
By Malikhanye Mankayi Caring for the Earth means we are caring for ourselves, we are caring for others, and we are caring for future generations. On 13 October, Fikizolo Primary School and Usiba Creative Arts hosted a creative arts performance to promote environmental management in Makhanda through Drama, Music, Poetry and Art. Fikizolo Primary School principal Zoleka Kate welcomed everyone, saying that she’s delighted that the school has well-respected community members participating in the school, referring to Reverend Nokuzola Gitywa Usiba Creative Arts organisation founder and other prominent community members. Kate added that the initiative will add to the holistic…
By Malikhanye Mankayi Older Persons Week is celebrated annually in South Africa to honour and pay tribute to older persons and raise awareness on issues that affect and impact them. On 28 September 2023, the Older Persons Forum in Makhanda hosted a build-up programme to the week at the Nompumelelo Creche in Joza, which was filled with different stakeholders including the Department of Social Development, the Health Department, SASSA, Home Affairs and SAPS. The programme’s primary objectives were to maintain and promote older persons’ status, well-being, safety and security and protect their rights. The theme for the day was “Combat…
By Malikhanye Mankayi The Social Employment Fund (SEF) workers who have been cleaning up Makhanda and fixing potholes for the past year held a mass protest at the offices of the National Arts Festival (NAF) at the Settlers’ Monument on 5 September over what they say is their unfair dismissal from the project. The NAF manages the interns on fixed-term contracts funded by the SEF, with the first phase of workers hired in June 2022 and a second phase of workers beginning in April 2023. But workers from the first phase say they did not sign any contract that outlined…
By Malikhanye Mankayi The Makhanda Youth Choir ( MYC) opened Heritage Month with their performance, “IsiNgqi sama Afrika”, on Sunday, 3 September at Noluthando Hall in Joza Location. The choir proudly sang traditional African songs, reminding Makhanda residents about what it truly means to be African. The choir proudly displayed their roots by wearing traditional Xhosa attire. Loyiso “Bhoki” Saki, the deputy chairperson of the choir, said, “Today we wanted to show the richness in our African songs, not focus on the western song and therefore to embrace our culture through music as the youth. It’s been an enjoyable journey…
NguMalikhanye Mankayi Umbhiyozo omkhulu ububanjelwe e-Amazwi Museum ngomhla wa-29 EyeThupha. Ibilusuku lokuphehlelelwa kwencwadi yokuqala yesiXhosa ebhalwe nguMphumzi Rumsell ‘Ramie’ Xonxa. Ncwadi leyo inesihloko, Masichub’ Isikhwebu, igxile ngembali yamaqhawe akwaXhosa. Ibingu mhla wethamsanqa kubemi nolutsha lwaseMakhanda kuphehlelelwa incwadi equlathe imixholo kwakunye neziganeko ezingqonge indawo yaseMakhanda. Amgqabantshintshi encwadi achaza ukuba umntu angafumana, “imbali ngamaqhawe awathi athabatha inxaxheba kwimbali yeli lizwe, amaqhawe awathi aqatshelwa igalelo lawo kunye nalawo kungazange kwathethwa ngawo.” Umntu omaziyo uXonxa kunye nohambo lwakhe ebenganokucinga ukuba angangumbhali wencwandi yaseMakhanda, echaza ngentsusa nentsingiselo yamagama eendawo ezithile zeli. Kungokuba sele exilonge kumasebe ohlukweneyo amaninzi. Nangona kunjalo, uthe nwagqiba kwelokuba abhale ayikhuphe incwadi…
By Malikhanye Mankayi Ibingumhla omkhulu kubantwana abenza amabanga aphantsi ngelixa beqala ukuba yinxalenye yesiseko esibizwa ukuba yiMakhanda Stibili Music Festival. NgoMgqibelo, umhla wama29 KweyeThupha, imilonji nemilonjikazi esakhulayo ibiqhayisa kwaye izidla ibonisa isakhono sabo somculo. Umbhexeshi wequbo uAkhona Mafani.Ifoto: Malikhanye Mankayi. UVelile Phantsi, onguSihlalo weliphulo lemvumi zaseMakhanda, uchae unobangela wala mhla. UPhantsi uthe, eyonanto ibengu nozala walo mhla ngumbuzo abathe abawufumana, njenge sigqeba, othi “Bazishiya ngelithini izikolo zamabanga aphantsi kweli phulo? Lo nto yabangela ukuba baxhamlise nezintsana zamabanga aphantsi. Phakathi kwezinto athe wazikhakanya ekwenzeni kwabo eliphulo kukuzama ukubuyisa iikwayala ezaziwayo zaseMakhanda nokubuyisa isithethe somculo kwisixeko iMakhanda. Imilonji nemilojikazi kwizikolo ezahlukileyo zinikwe…