By Staff Reporter This graduation season, 2,063 students received their qualifications from Rhodes University. Among them, 107 came through targeted access pathways supported by GADRA Education, the Rhodes University Bridging Programme, and the 9/10ths mentoring initiative. That is 5.2% of this year’s graduating class—one in every nineteen students—who began their academic journey not through conventional routes but through community-rooted partnerships that are changing what access to higher education looks like in Makhanda. GADRA Education, a local non-profit organisation, has operated in Makhanda for decades. It focuses on public education advocacy, academic support, and systemic reform. Its flagship programme, the GADRA…
Author: Rod Amner
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The ongoing crisis at Hendrik Kanise Combined School in Alicedale presents a stark paradox. On one hand, its dilapidated buildings, described by desperate parents as a “cemetery”, are deemed unsafe and flagged for collapse. On the other, we witness the sheer resilience and dedication of its students and staff, who achieved an outstanding 96% matric pass rate in 2024 – a remarkable feat for any school, let alone a no-fee institution battling such deplorable conditions. For nearly two weeks, the school gates have remained locked, not by choice but by necessity. Parents, fearing for their children’s safety, are resolute: no…
By Lufuno Masindi In a country battling a literacy crisis, Makhanda is witnessing an exceptional spike in literacy rates. According to the latest citywide Makhanda Reading Comprehension Study by GADRA Education and the Rhodes University Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education, 45% of Grade 4s in our city can read for meaning, more than double the national average of 19.19% found in the Progress in Reading and Literacy Study (PIRLS) in 2021. GADRA Education primary education programme manager Kelly Long said the February study measured the comprehension skills and reading fluency of 1097 children in all 23 schools in…
By Siyosile Fikizolo, Thandiwe Johnson and Sayuri Persotham Prof Sam Naidu’s long and undimmed commitment to Makhanda reading clubs has been recognised with a prestigious Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Community Engagement Award. For many years, Naidu facilitated the Community Engagement Reading Clubs Orientation (CERCO) course for Rhodes students who volunteer to run reading clubs with local learners. Her academic interests, focused on South African crime fiction, African literature and transnational literature, are seamlessly integrated into her community initiatives, promoting a dynamic learning environment that encourages learners from local schools to engage with literature. Her students and colleagues have heaped praise on her work.…
By Busuku Ntombikhaya Makhanda’s annual Nite Race, run in Wednesday’s heat, brought together runners and community members for an event filled with fun and pineapples. Graeme College hosted the Nite Race at Somerset Field to raise funds for its hockey programme. The event, sponsored by local organisations and individuals, including Makana Brick, brought together members of the Makhanda community and students from various schools, including Graeme College, DSG, and St Andrew’s College. Despite the hot weather, participants stayed determined and finished strong. One of them was Nomaxabiso Yantolo, who has been joining the race since 2019. She looks forward to…
By Mmathabo Maebela Colonisation did more than divide and conquer in Africa – it waged a psychological and linguistic war. One that contributed to the burden of what Thandeka Gqubule-Mbeki, the event facilitator, referred to as the “nervous condition of black people”. The phrase references Tsitsi Dangarengba’s 1998 novel and a legacy of dissonance and scars, which language continues to reflect. Last week’s event, hosted by Rhodes University’s African Languages and Literature and Politics and International Studies departments, bolstered ongoing attempts to reclaim African languages. Students and scholars, faces beaming with enthusiasm, gathered at Eden Grove Blue to celebrate and…
By Nomfundo Mbatha, Malebo Pheme & Karabo Matalajoe In a world where hair is more than just strands of keratin, Hairitage emerges as a compelling exhibition that dives deep into hair’s personal, cultural, and social significance. Curated by Mivuyo Dalasile and captured through the lens of photographer Lithemba Nziweni, Hairitage is more than just an art showcase—it’s a conversation, a movement, and a profound reflection on identity. “Hairitage began as a series of internal thoughts before they became conversations,” explains Nziweni. “People naturally gravitate towards discussions about hair—how it influences behaviour, personality, and how people perceive us. Those first conversations…
By Zoliswa Mdawini The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) was created to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds financially and help them afford access to higher education. However, ongoing administrative failures are making it harder for students to focus on their studies, with many facing severe financial and mental health struggles. Delayed application statuses, sudden defunding of students, and late monthly allowance payments have left students anxious, stressed, and uncertain about their future. During a Daily Maverick webinar last week, Professor Lesley Powell from UCT highlighted the serious consequences of such delays. Students depend on these funds for rent, food,…
By Chalotte Mokonyane and Dideka Njemla While Rhodes students joined the water march last week called by Archbishop Nkosinathi Ngesi on behalf of Makhanda residents, students were also preoccupied with their problems on the campus, which focused on the water supply but also included issues like lack of accommodation and the very high costs associated with studying. During the meetings held last week – and the academic shutdown, which involved a morning which became a day and then another day – the SRC found itself challenged for its representation of students by a former SRC president and the leaders of…
By Karabo Matalajoe In a world where women’s potential for leadership is often overlooked, Pam Yako stands as a torch of change. Born in Queenstown and raised in Makhanda, Yako has spent decades as an activist for gender equality and fighting against social and economic injustice. At the early age of 13, she began advocating for her community and then was a student protester during her school years at Nombulelo High School, and she was SRC President at Rhodes University. Yako says: “I believe in a society where there is equality between men and women primarily, but also there shouldn’t…