By CAITLYN HILLIARD-LOMAS Xolani is a community beaming with friendly faces but also inhabited by hundreds of hungry dogs. Almost every house in the area is home to a dog or two. The ever-increasing population of canines is caused by the sad reality that people in this community cannot afford to sterilize their pets. In March this year, the Makana Vet Clinic and its owner, Amy Jackson-Moss, started sterilizing the dogs in this community for free. In a recent Facebook post, Dr Amy stated, “Sterilization is, in my opinion, the most effective method of population control.” However, despite this resolution, the…
Author: Rod Amner
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Almost 65% of those vaccinated in the Eastern Cape- including our district – are women. This is an unusual pattern. In countries where vaccine uptake is recorded by sex, there is a slight trend towards men being more likely to get vaccinated than women. So, why are South African men more reluctant to get vaccinated for COVID-19? LOYISO DYONGMAN investigates. Mohamed Docrat, head of the Department of Health in the Makana Municipality, says men’s reluctance to get jabbed is not new. “Men, in general, do not seek medical help. Whether it’s an annual check-up for chronic disease or getting tested for HIV…
At the start of 2021, the RU Community Engagement office’s Vulindlela project delivered SD cards to 520 Grade 12 students in local no-fee paying schools – all made possible by donations by Makhandans. Each tiny card was chockablock with 32 gigabytes of personalized learner support materials, aligned with each learner’s curriculum requirements. By slotting the card into any smartphone, learners could instantly access study guides, videos, past exam questions, and even some ‘reading for pleasure’ materials. In this series of diary entries, one of the Vulindlela volunteers, DYLAN COETZEE, takes the reader on a journey through the delivery process. The…
By CHRIS TOTOBELA Makhanda’s very own champion Mzoxolo ‘Black Tiger’ Ndwayana will be in the ring on 18 September after a long layoff. Ndwayana last fought in December when he suffered a fourth-round TKO defeat against old rival Thulani Mbenge in their SA welterweight title fight. The Black Tiger is currently the WBF international welterweight champion. He will be trading leather with Katemba Kuvesa from DRC in their WBO international welterweight bout at the Metropolis Parkview in Pretoria. This will be an under card to the Cruiserweight clash between SA’s Tommy Gun Oosthuizen and DRC’s Yousouf Mwanza. Ndwayana looked very sharp…
By CHRIS TOTOBELA Jacaranda Aces were crowned local 2020/21 Premier League champions on Saturday. Makana LFA, represented by Akhona Heshu and Afika Adam, handed over the trophy, medals and R3000 to excited Jacaranda players and officials on Saturday. Aces were very consistent this season and played a very entertaining but disciplined brand of football. Aces coach Asanda Koliti could not hide his excitement: “I am very happy with the way we have played this season. We made things easy from the beginning by collecting as many points as possible while scoring many goals in the process. In the last two…
By CHRIS TOTOBELA On Saturday, the Makana Boxing Organisation held trials for U17 boxers. Masibambane and Mfuzo Boxing clubs took part in the trials while Masakheke Boxing club pulled out. There were some very exciting bouts, but the one that stood out was Chumani Kondile of Mfuzo BC against Mangaliso Simani of Masibambane BC. Both boxers started like a house on fire, exchanging explosive blows with Kondile catching Simani with an uppercut several times while Simani responded with hard body blows. Both boxers used the ring well and got the crowd on their feet with their skills and accurate punching.…
By LUVO MNYOBE Rhodes University and the Makhanda Circle of Unity hosted a youth chat about the COVID-19 vaccine and vaccine myths last week. The event was live-streamed on several Facebook pages and broadcasted on Rhodes Music Radio and Radio Grahamstown. This chat featured a diverse group of young people, including outgoing SRC Community Engagement representative Lukhanyiso Cezula and pupils from various high schools in Makhanda. Sakhe Ntlabezo, Programme Manager of the Makhanda Circle of Unity, said it was important for young people to talk about the vaccine through what has certainly been a challenging time for all of us.…
By CHRIS TOTOBELA Makhanda’s greatest football queen Nwabisa ‘Lhasie’ Tyelbooi, has finally hung up her glittering boots. Nwabisa joined African Connection Women FC in 1997 as a 16-year-old and immediately made her mark. She quickly became one of the most feared strikers alongside Thembakazi ‘Blueline’ Cunge and Qhayisa ‘Lovers’ Kepe. She proved to be a lethal striker as she finished as a top goal scorer for Amakonokono for more than three seasons. Her dedication and discipline on and off the field were rewarded when she was given the captaincy. She led the team to many memorable victories, including four consecutive…
By NYX MCLEAN Anxiously I paced. I can normally show up for my usual check-up at my GP, sit down and lose time in a book or marking an essay. But this week, I could not do that; I was at my GP because I had potentially been in contact with someone with COVID-19 – after weeks and months of dodging the invisible glitter-like virus. I was not coping, pacing up and down outside the practice, wondering if it was my turn. I have a grumpy set of lungs that hospitalised me in November 2019, just before COVID-19 made itself…
By ANELE MJEKULA Work on a much-needed makeover of the 53-kilometre R67 route from Makhanda to Port Alfred will get under way next week. This was announced by Eastern Cape Transport MEC Weziwe Tikana on Thursday, 9 September, during a meeting with councillors and stakeholders at the Makana Municipality Council Chambers. The R167-million project is expected to get underway from next week and is due to be completed in 16 months, at the beginning of 2023. The MEC introduced the Consultant, Gilgal Development Consulting Engineers, and the Contactor, Tau Pele Construction. Makana Municipality Executive Mayor Cllr Mzukisi Mpahlwaand the Acting…