By MBASAKAZI MAKUBALO The Amazwi Literary Museum was buzzing when I arrived at the 15th Annual RUTV Documentary Film Festival, where stylishly dressed fourth-year students from the School of Journalism and Media Studies were celebrating the immanent screening of their documentary series, The Young and the Restless. This bunch of aspirant filmmakers is exuberant, glamorous, and charismatic. After socializing over refreshments, we finally take our seats in the auditorium as we await the big reveal. Andisiwe Cetyiwe graces the stage as MC for the evening. Andisiwe Cetyiwe graced the stage as MC for the evening. Photo: supplied. The first film…
Author: Mbasakazi Makubalo
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By MBASAKAZI MAKUBALO A Good Samaritan who does the little that she can to ensure that a girl child is taken care of goes by the name Unathi May. Raised in Makhanda’s Joza location, her aim is to give back to her community which is why she took the initiative to donate sanitary pads to girls in need. May started running her sanitary pads project in December 2021 after she felt propelled to do something positive that would have a positive impact on her community. The decision to start this initiative came from her visit to a children’s home where…
By MBASAKAZI MAKUBALO Looking for something very local, and extremely lekker? Close to 120 local vendors supply a wide range of wholesome and enticing food to The Ten CROSS Shoppe in Sunnyside. And attached to the Shoppe is Chantelle’s Kitchen. Chantelle van Eyssen was an office administrator at the Economics Department at Rhodes University when she opened the restaurant part-time in May 2020. “When I started cooking, it was a hobby. I was a vendor at the shop and supplied frozen meals, milk tarts and koeksisters,” Van Eyssen said. Chantelle co-partnered with the initial owner of The Ten CROSS Shoppe…
By MBASAKAZI MAKUBALO Thelela Nzanzeka grew up in a violent home in Joza. Her parents abused each other physically and verbally. Her mother was dependent on chronic medication, and when Thelela was 14, her mother was diagnosed with a light stroke. Pressured by her personal, social and academic life, she turned to drugs and alcohol. At 17, she fell pregnant, and her mother passed away on the day she gave birth. She said her mother was a stoical and resilient giant who presented her with opportunities. She attended good schools – Ntaba Maria at the Foundation Phase, and later Victoria…
By MBASAKAZI MAKUBALO Nervous excitement pervaded the Drill Hall on Wednesday, 21 September, as 12 participants from various local primary schools gathered for the finals of Makhanda’s isiXhosa Spelling Bee. Co-hosted by the Rhodes Education Department and GADRA Education, this is the only isiXhosa Spelling Bee in the country, according to GADRA Education’s Demi Edwards. “All other spelling bees are in English,” she said. The first edition of the isiXhosa Spelling Bee was held in 2021. “It was a big success – the competition has always been tough. This year, we were just as excited as the learners, and we…
By MBASAKAZI MAKUBALO Petitions for unsolved murder cases Angry community members march in protest to the Alicedale Police Station on Monday, 19 September, to get answers about the three-year-old girl who was raped and suffocated in her parents’ home earlier this month. The march followed a community petition sent to the police a week earlier regarding unsolved murder cases handled by the local police station. Leader of the Ethiopian Episcopal Church Archbishop Nkosinathi Ngesi, Makhanda Legends chairperson Sky Albany and members of Child Welfare Care attended the gathering in solidarity with the community. Community Activist Martin Ruiters and Archbishop…
By MBASAKAZI MAKUBALO The Women’s Manyano is an organization within the Methodist Church of Southern Africa (MCSA). Alternatively known as ooMama Bomthandazo, which loosely translates to ‘women of prayer’, these matriarchs recently marched on the streets of Makhanda to kick-start Women’s Month, express solidarity and take an active stand against gender-based violence (GBV). To portray their anger and disgust, the Grahamstown Circuit Women’s Manyano used last Thursday (a day set aside by women of the MCSA in dedication to prayer) to join hands in a silent march from Border Alliance Taxi Rank to the police station. Upon their arrival, Colonel…
By MBASAKAZI MAKUBALO Checkers has introduced a new way of shopping for its clientele. On Wednesday, 3 August, Checkers introduced the Sixty60 service in Makhanda. Checkers now delivers groceries in sixty(60) minutes. Photo: Mbasakazi Makubalo Checkers Sixty60 is a delivery app exclusive to Checkers in South Africa. By using the app, customers have the luxury of getting their groceries delivered to their doorstep in 60 minutes. “Checkers Sixty60 is an upmarket way of shopping for groceries,” said a Checkers staff member. “The service was only available in cities and reputable towns, but it is now being phased in in Makhanda.…
By NOLWAKHE YVONNE SEWELO Kwakhanya Khuse from St Mary’s Primary emerged as the queen bee at a Spelling Bee competition at the Recreation Hall on Albany Road recently. The hall was abuzz with 64 spelling bees in a competition organised by Yveslight, in partnership with Sewelo Maths and Chess Community Development Youth Academy (SEMCCYA). Some of the learners who attended the Spelling Bee contest. Photo: supplied. Zenande Skere from George Dickerson Primary claimed the second prize. Grahamstown and Samuel Ntsiko Primary Schools were also well represented. Spelling Bee is a word-spelling competition to improve the learners’ vocabulary and spelling, and…
By MBASAKAZI MAKUBALO Marginalised youth have limited access to computer technologies in schools and libraries and little to no internet access. The Makhanda-based Talking Technology to Power project was recently launched at the Joza Youth Hub. Powered by Awarenet – a non-profit organisation bridging Makhanda’s cavernous digital divide – the project has mobilised young people to actively demand better access to public ICTs. Awarenet’s professional staff run a highly successful Open Lab in the Joza Youth Hub, which hundreds of local youth use every weekday. ICT training and educational support are also offered to scores of high school learners in…