Author: Malikhanye Mankayi

NguMalikhanye Makhayi IDyunivesithi iRhodes izityande igila ngokunika imbeko kwingqala ngokubhala ulwimi lwesiXhosa nobene ngalelo elikhulu ekuphakamiseni ulwimi lweenkobe ehlabathini ngoku banzi uS.E.K Mqhayi. Ngelixa kubhiyozelwa iminyaka engama-200 isiXhosa sibhaliwe. Owayekuphela konyana kusapho lwakhe, uMqhayi, wayezinikele kwiminhalo yakhe kwaye esebenza nzima. Umbhalo wokuqala oye waduma kwisizwe esintsundu, ngumbhalo weqonga, onesihloko Ityala Lamawele. Njengo mbhali owaye balasele esiXhoseni ukhunjulwe nange mibongo athe wayibhalela isizwe kwakunye nangendlela benomndla omkhulu ngayo kwinkcubeko nesiNtu. Ingcamango yosuku kaS.E.K Mqhayi, isuka kwiprojekthi yabafundi besiKolo seeLwimi noNcwadi kwiYunivesiti iRhodes apho bajonge imisebenzi kaMqhayi. Abafundi njalo, benza uphando ngemvelaphi yakhe, imisebenzi yakhe kunye nababhali wayesebenza nabo. Isithethi sekhaya lakwa…

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By Malikhanye Mankayi Andy Soper of Makhanda has endured six months of badgering by lawyers after a major bank lost one of his payments and then handed him over to attorneys, claiming he never made the payment to begin with. The 77-year-old Soper paid a debit order early in December last year. But the major bank, which he has asked not to be named, handed him over to attorneys a month later, saying they had no record of his payment. For two months, Soper visited the branch in Makhanda regularly with proof of his payment but was never allowed to…

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By Malikhanye Mankayi A wonderful time unfolded at the Joza Youth Hub Open Day on Saturday, 3 June, which provided kids and parents the best platform to come and see what is being done by the children who attend the hub. For the young children of Makhanda, this was an exciting day involving games, competitions and activities. The emcees of the day were Sesethu Mtshelu and Zukhanye Myeka, with live music by Access Music Project (AMP) to get everyone dancing. A traffic police officer educated younger children on the rules of the road. The officer warned that children who walk…

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By Malikhanye Mankayi A multilingual Spelling Bee took place at Duna Library on 18 and 19 May. Organised by singer Pastor Nolwakhe Yvonne Sewelo (known in the singing world as Yveslight) and the Sewelo Maths and Chess Academy, the Spelling Bee, which began in 2022, gave out stationery, dictionaries, and R100 to the lucky prizewinners from Grades Four to Seven. For a R30 registration fee, Grades Four and Five competed on 18 May, spelling out words in IsiXhosa, Afrikaans, and English, while Grades Six and Seven spelled words in IsiXhosa and English on 19 May. C.M. Vellem Primary, N.V Cewu,…

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By Malikhanye Mankayi A new, five-month-old Makhanda cycling club called AmaRiders is keeping young children away from drug and alcohol abuse. The club visits Makhanda’s surrounding farms to enrich the young minds. It is open to everyone who is passionate about cycling, of any gender. AmaRiders traveling from Makhanda to Riebeeck East. Photo: Supplied. Lelethu Demka, a member of AmaRiders, said the club was for “those who are passionate about riding bicycles because in our schools locally, cycling is not one of the sports offered”. Demka added that there is a lack of professional cyclists around, and children who want…

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By Malikhanye Mankayi and Sibabalwe Tame Despite the stormy weather, Makhanda community members and parents filled the Joza Indoor Sports Centre on 8 May during Khutliso Daniels Secondary School’s second annual concert. The show, hosted by comedian Tsepiso Nzayo, included vocal performances from the Nathaniel Nyaluza Secondary School choir and guest performing artists, mezzo-soprano singer Liyabona Qutywa and baritone singer Khumbulani Ntabeni. The concert’s purpose was to raise funds for children needing essentials like sanitary towels. More importantly, the show was held to encourage youth to avoid drugs and alcohol. Nzayo motivated the learners by saying, “I want to say…

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By Malikhanye Mankayi Tantyi resident, Ntombizanele Regina Wokolo and her three grandchildren lived in a dilapidated house made of mud, straw, sticks, cloth, and corrugated iron sheets for years before the South African Communist Party (SACP) and Young Communist League (YCL) stepped in and secured a temporary structure for her. “Since the handover of the temporary house at least now I do sleep comfortably, because it`s clear that if I remained in that mud house, I was going to die. It was no place for a human being to stay. Inside my heart, I am very happy. I can not…

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By Malikhanye Mankayi The Methodist Church of Southern Africa’s Grahamstown Circuit 201 has launched an after-school programme to provide tutoring and mentoring to Makhanda’s Grade Eight to 10 learners, in isiXhosa, English, Maths Literacy and Pure Mathematics. The programme will run at Magqunukhwebu Society in B Street, St John`s Society in Tantyi, and Joseph Bam in Extension Seven from 3pm – 5pm, Monday to Friday. At the launch, tutor Athenkosi Nkewana broke the ice by asking the learners what they wanted to be. Most said doctor, police officer, soldier, teacher or social worker. “This initiative is one of the pillars…

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By Malikhanye Mankayi I was born in Joza, Makhanda. I grew up here and attended Ntsika Secondary School. That is where I obtained my matric certificate. How did I get to Grocott’s Mail? Well, I was selected by Nwabisa Nkani of the Assumption Development Centre (ADC) to be part of journalism training. My role as a journalist in Makhanda is to collect news, check up on all the different Makhanda issues, and make sure that everyone in Makhanda knows what is happening around the town. My biggest role is to make the citizens of Makhanda aware of everything so that…

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By Malikhanye Mankayi and Sibabalwe Tame It was a joyful night for the people of Makhanda and those who are passionate about music as the National Arts Festival presented the 10th annual Masicule 2023, an evening celebrating the voices of Makhanda. Massed Choir performing Yele Yele Masicule with the Conductor Saki. Photo by: Malikhanye Mankayi. The special guest artist at the event in the Guy Butler theatre on 13 March was Dumza Maswana, an uMhlobo Wenene radio presenter and an Afro-soul and Jazz artist, who is also known for the singular depth of his soothing voice. Beautiful performances came from…

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