By Nothando Yolanda Tshuma Residents of certain small towns in the Makana Municipality continue to be cheated of their basic human rights due to lack of service delivery, as a result of the embattled Makana Municipality which has allegedly failed to deliver drinking water and proper infrastructure for roads, water and sanitation across the municipality. According to the South African Human Rights Commission, everyone has a right of access to basic water supply and sanitation. Residents of small towns continue to face dangerous and life-threatening situations, largely due to the fault of government structures that are meant to support them.…
Author: Nothando Yolanda Tshuma
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By Nothando Yolanda Tshuma Rhodes University students, Amahle Shosha and Lesego Phale, a part of the Journalism and Media Studies fourth year Audio Class hosted a #RUJobReady seminar to equip students with the right information in preparation of the real world in collaboration with insurance brokers PPS for professionals last week. The panel consisted of Mike Rahfaldt from Radio Workshop, Investigative Assistant Editor Nomazima Nkosi from The Herald, Kapish Singh from PSS for Professionals and Lastly Corne Kritzinger from DG Murray Trust. “Twenty percent of young people in Africa live without an employed adult in their home and it paints…
By Nothando Yolanda Tshuma A new youth magazine Inthetho was recently launched in Makhanda by Zimbabwean born Nqobani Matthew Dabengwa last week. The magazine, an end result of a vision that was first conceptualized early last year, aims to represent marginalised communities. Influenced by his upbringing in Bulawayo in Zimbabwe where Dabengwa was born, the young entrepreneur said his experience in the third world conservative country exposed him to how people are struggling on the ground. Faced with a lot of economic hardship and other societal struggles, anger and frustration grew and propelled them to use their frustration to create…
By Nothando Yolanda Tshuma, Nandipha Twani and Andisiwe Plaatjie “Makana Municipality, get your act together.” These were the words of Brookshaw Old Age Home manager Estie Westcott, after the retirement home went without water for more than a week recently. While the water crisis persists in some parts of Makhanda, the situation has been dire at Brookshaw as the elderly residents continue to suffer lack of water, which deprives them of their human right and basic need. In an interview with the Grocott’s team this week, Westcott stated that before the municipal strike earlier this month, they did not have…
By Nothando Yolanda Tshuma Andrew Kirk’s long-standing leadership of the Community Policing Forum (CPF) was challenged by the Station Commander of the SAPS Grahamstown precinct, Colonel Mbulelo Pika, at the CPF AGM last week. CPF chairperson Kirk started the meeting by explaining that he was currently working in Tanzania and was, therefore, not always in the country. Pika objected and insisted that Kirk’s eligibility for the position should be debated at the AGM. Pika quoted a clause in the CPF constitution that states the chairperson “should ideally be a community member who resides within the area where the CPF is…
By Nothando Yolanda Tshuma SAPS Station Commander of the Grahamstown precinct, Colonel Mbulelo Pika told the recent Community Policing Forum (CPF) AGM there had been a significant drop in crime in Makhanda. This included a drop in “the most problematic crime in Makhanda, aggravated robbery”, Pika said. This was achieved with the help of local security companies like Hi-Tec and Smhart Security. However, Pika noted an increasing incidence of online fraud, where people are scammed on social media. He urged the public to be vigilant. Another issue raised was undocumented foreigners in Makhanda. Over the past few weeks, undocumented foreigners…
By Nothando Yolanda Tshuma Fourth-year Rhodes School of Journalism and Media Studies (SJMS) television students recently showcased three intriguing documentaries at the Amazwi Museum. Masiyembo: The role of media in African culture. Directed by Zintle Plaatjie, Masiyembo (which translates to “going back to the roots”) was shot in the Eastern Cape (Port Alfred and Kwanomadolo). The documentary follows a traditional Xhosa healer (Gogo Nonkwenkwezi) who uses the power of the Internet to spread traditional African spiritual customs that most people might not know of. All her teachings embody ukubuyela embo because she uses her acquired knowledge to teach and uplift…
By Nothando Yolanda Tshuma and Lincoln Morton The Rhodes University Student Representative Council (SRC) kicked off Leadership Week with a bang on 5 August 2024 with an event featuring Miss United Nations 2019, Vinolia Mabele, South African politician Bongani Baloyi, leader of the Xiluva political party and a keynote address by Julius Malema, founder and leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). Eden Grove Red was packed with students eager to meet Malema. The audience included not only Rhodes University students but also SRC members from various institutions across the Eastern Cape. With the evening’s theme of “Good Governance and…
By Nothando Yolanda Tshuma The third phase of the Social Employment Fund (SEF) kicked off on 1 July 2024, again employing thousands of young Makhandans in waste collection and recycling, food security and nutrition, educational support and entrepreneurial development. The National Arts Festival (NAF) is again managing the bulk of the local SEF workers – 1,600 of them. According to NAF director Monica Newton, these workers are also producing building blocks and interlocking pavers made from recycled plastics and glass, which the NAF hopes will be instrumental in a range of improvement and beautification projects this year. Since June 2022,…
By Nothando Yolanda Tshuma An innovative reading programme at DD Siwisa Primary in Makhanda’s Joza Township pairs Grade 7 and Grade 3 learners with each other. This creates a dynamic and interactive reading partnership where the older learners read to the younger ones. The Buddy Extensive Reading Programme was initiated in 2014 by Dr Anna Nkomo, who is currently a lecturer at the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa within the Foundation Phase division. “81% of Grade 4 learners cannot read for meaning in any language in South Africa,” said Nkomo. What needs to change? For Nkomo, the key is that…