By Polo Qeja The air today was thinner than yesterday. Cooler. Wilder. Strong winds weren’t a familiar element in this kind of town. Never have been… until today. “Strange.” Indeed. Green bottles were littered with sparse intent on the greying pavement. Garbage bags were yet to be disposed; however, marked by the indented holes, they were far from ready for disposal. In the far east of the street lay—what I assumed were—old tripod sticks and clothes scattered on a random lawn like a fashion fad. It seemed that youngsters were roaming in this neighbourhood. Probably aspiring female influencers. The train of…
Author: Philanathi Mapisa
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By Mxolisi Ntshiba Land has been a central question in the struggle against settler colonialism and apartheid, not only in our country but throughout the world. Initially, the South African struggle against colonialism was fundamentally about the struggle for the return of land to dispossessed Africans, and later became the struggle for civil and political freedoms and rights. Our forebears understood the struggle to be about land, as Frantz Fanon wrote in The Wretched (prefer Damned) of the Earth, that “for a colonised people, the most essential value, because it is the most meaningful, is first and foremost the land”.…
By Lufuno Masindi The 2025 Makhanda Teacher Awards Gala highlight was the presentation of awards to excellent educators. Excellent Emerging ECD Centre: All for Christ Pre-SchoolFounded in 2016 by Koomson, this centre overcame post-Covid challenges to grow from five children in 2022 to 45 today. Inspired by the 2024 Education Summit, it achieved Gold-level registration, showcasing perseverance and community-driven success. Excellent Novice Teacher: Hope Prince (Good Shepherd Primary)Since 2022, Hope Prince has dazzled with her inclusive, creative pedagogy. Managing 45 learners in a calm, music-infused environment, she excels in language teaching, building parent partnerships, and fostering joy in learning –…
Digital Uprising: The Flower of Mimboland by Francis Nyamnjoh BOOK REVIEW By Thandeka Bukula Francis Nyamnjoh’s Digital Uprising: The Flower of Mimboland is at once a novel and a vehicle for theory. As with much of his work, fiction becomes a stage where he elaborates concepts central to his scholarship, including incompleteness, conviviality, and cannibalism. The novel, while playful and allegorical, mirrors the postcolonial condition of many African societies, exposing both the violence of power and the possibilities of imagination. Nyamnjoh is a professor of anthropology at the University of Cape Town. He was a keynote speaker at the recent Anthropology…
By Mo Senne In a remarkable display of entrepreneurial savvy, Rhodes University Journalism and Media Studies student Asenathi Ngqobe funded her flourishing livestock farm using the profits she earned from her popular Makhanda-based braiding salon, Braids by SESE. While also excelling academically in journalism and drama, Ngqobe has built a thriving business, proving that a modern leader can bridge two seemingly disparate worlds. Braids by SESE operates from a salon with a warm and inviting atmosphere, vibrant pink walls and a lush green feature wall as a visual symbol of growth and creativity. Nqobe’s business model was born out of…
By Mo Senne “If you have the means, resources, and capacity to change the world, then you must. It is your gift to society.” – Phindile Sithole. In a world grappling with the twin challenges of youth unemployment and food insecurity, a new generation of leaders is emerging with innovative solutions. One such leader is Phindile Sithole, a PhD student at the Environmental Learning Research Centre (ELRC) at Rhodes University. Her work is at the forefront of a groundbreaking initiative, demonstrating how a childhood passion for growing food (inspired by her grandmother) can be cultivated into a powerful, youth-led movement…
By Garikai Chaunza In an effort to instill a sense of belonging among the postdoctoral community, Rhodes University’s Research and Innovation portfolio has invited postdoctoral fellows to look for independent funding projects and research opportunities, and bring them to the university for approval and collaboration. This invitation was made by the university’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships, Dr Nomakwezi “Kwezi” Mzilikazi, at the inaugural 2025 Postdoctoral Research Forum Networking Meeting held recently. The Postdoc Forum was created to ensure that fellows at Rhodes University feel part of a strong academic community, while also giving them space to…
By Thembelihle Ngcai An economy that sidelines disabled women is an economy choosing to limit its own future. When I speak about disability, I know my words often pass through the filter of those hesitant about being wrong — people cautious about “saying the wrong thing.” That’s fine. I am not here to trap anyone; I am here to challenge us all to see differently. Much of my work is, in truth, an ode to disabled leaders who have lit my path in South Africa — leaders whose legacy is felt in every corner of this country. Nelson Mandela himself…
Photos and caption by: Mihlali Somdaka and Abongile Gaya The Dassie Dash was a fun relay run full of healthy competition amongst local businesses of Makhanda, as well as the Zoology Department from Rhodes University. It was held in Graeme College last Friday, and people came together to enjoy their lovely Friday by offering moral support to the runners. The running competition was a means of raising funds to repair the Mountain Drive Road and support initiatives such as Meals for Miles. It also gave businesses the opportunity to network with other businesses. Teams came together and dressed in the…
For more than 108 years, Child Welfare has offered hope and safety to vulnerable children and families. But this essential organisation is facing the very real threat of closure. The Eastern Cape is one of the poorest provinces in South Africa and Makhanda is not exempt from the socioeconomic challenges that plague the region. There is high unemployment, deep poverty and systemic inequality. In such a context, organisations like Child Welfare are not just helpful, they are vital. They provide social work services, child protection, foster care support, early intervention and family preservation programmes to hundreds of children and families…