Author: Nomfundo Mbatha

By Nomfundo Mbatha PJ Olivier Sports Field was filled with people from across the district for the annual Oldenburgia Trail Run on a crisp morning last Saturday. An event that is as much about community and healing as it is about endurance. Hosted by the Rotary Club of Grahamstown Sunset and Get-Out-and-Run, and supported by For the Love of the Mountain, the trail run welcomed athletes from near and far to take on distances ranging from 3km to  50km. But every step taken that morning moved toward something bigger: supporting the Rotary Club’s Miles for Meals project, which helps provide…

By Nomfundo Mbatha The cue sport community in Makhanda is making progress in its mission to grow pool games and attract recognition across the Eastern Cape. Over the weekend, pool enthusiasts gathered at Champs Action Bar for a successful tournament organised by Mkhulise Mancam, the founder, coach, and player of the Rhodes University staff pool team. The tournament was led by Tshililo Nangammbi, who placed first, followed by May Diago and Ntloko Uyanda, respectively. Mancam, who also works in Rhodes University’s Sports Administration, said the tournament, which first began in 2022, has grown as more players and supporters get involved…

By Nomfundo Mbatha Trail runners are gearing up for the Oldenburgia Trail Run, set to take place on Saturday, 1 November 2025, starting and finishing at the PJ Olivier Sports Field in Makhanda. Hosted by the Rotary Club of Grahamstown Sunset in collaboration with Get-Out-and-Run, and with support from For the Love of the Mountain in preparing the trails, the event promises a day of adventure, fitness, and community giving. The event offers five distances — 3km, 8km, 15km, 30km and 50km — across the Mountain Drive Commonage. The run is named after the Oldenburgia grandis, an endemic tree species…

Story and pictures by Nomfundo Mbatha The spirit of community and giving back was alive and well at the PJ Olivier Rugby Field on Thursdays, runners of all ages gathered for the 28th annual PJ Olivier Fun Run and Walk. The event, organised by Milanda Coetzer, safety officer for the fun run alongside Hoërskool PJ Olivier, featured a 5km fun run aimed at bringing the local community together while raising funds for a good cause. This year’s run and walk, was for Makana Revive, a local initiative that focuses on improving infrastructure, roads and community facilities in Makhanda. “We have…

by Nomfundo Mbatha When Bongeziwe Mabandla stepped on the stage last Saturday night, the Black Power Station crowd was buzzing with excitement. The room vibrated with energy as the audience anticipated the soul-stirring performance of one of South Africa’s most celebrated storytellers in music. Born and raised in Tsolo, Mabandla’s rise to prominence is a story of resilience and heart. “It took many years for things to start kicking off,” he said in our interview. “When I released my first album I was not getting shows, and nobody really knew who I was.” But that didn’t stop him. With a…

By Nomfundo Mbatha South Africa’s “spiritual Afro-folk” musician, Bongeziwe Mabandla, is bringing his soulful and spiritual presence to the Stage of Makhanda for a one-night show. Tomorrow, Mabandla will perform live at The Black Power Station, marking one of the most anticipated stops on his Solo Tour running from October 18–25. With his unique voice and deeply introspective lyrics, Mabandla has carved out a distinct niche in South African music, one that combines Xhosa storytelling with soulful melodies and contemporary production. His songs transcend genre and language, speaking to something deeply human: love, identity, and spiritual connection. With nothing but his…

By Nomfundo Mbatha and Malebo Pheme  The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has called for the dissolution of the Makana Municipal Council during a hearing on Wednesday in East London, citing the municipality’s ongoing failure to address critical service delivery problems which constitute violations of human rights. During the hearing Makana Executive Mayor Yandiswa Vara claimed even if the embattled municipal council is dissolved, the problems will continue to exist. Wednesday’s hearing — which commissioner Dr Henk Boshoff called a “chastisement” — was the second summons by the SAHRC over the same issues. The first followed a surge of…

By Nomfundo Mbatha One of Makhanda’s oldest football clubs, Eleven Attackers FC, is demanding the payment of prize money owed to them by tournament organizer Luyanda Papu and his company the Marketing and Events Firm following last year’s Soccer SuperBowl Easter tournament. The tournament, held in 2024, promised R50 000 for the winners and R15 000 for the runners-up. Eleven Attackers reached the final against Maru FC, eventually finishing as runners-up. While Maru FC reportedly received their R50 000 prize, Eleven Attackers say they are still waiting for their R15 000 payment more than a year later. Club chairperson Andile…

What’s a better way to celebrate Women’s Day than bringing local women together to challenge each other for the better? In celebrating Women’s Day on Saturday, the Methodist Church of Southern Africa brought together women in a netball tournament between the Kumkani Hintsa District and the William Kama District at Rhodes University. The tournament was organised by the women’s Manyano group from the church, Nomfundo Mbatha reports. It was an exciting display of netball skills, with the two competing districts vying for the victory and building a sense of community among other women of God, and celebrating shared values outside…

By Nomfundo Mbatha On any Sunday morning in Makhanda, you might spot a group of young cyclists riding up Mountain Drive, laughing, shouting encouragement, their faces lit up with joy. These are not just weekend riders. They are part of Amariders, a local initiative using bicycles to build futures, one ride at a time. It all started three years ago when Antony Wannell, an entrepreneur new to the town, noticed a group of boys riding their bikes. “They were calling themselves Amariders already,” he said. “I stopped and asked, ‘Why don’t we build something from this?’” From that conversation came…