By PHILIP MACHANICK, Makana Citizens Front (MCF) MCF frequently hears: “You are our last hope.” But we only deserve residents’ commitment and support if we earn that through our sweat. Words are easy; it’s actions that count. In five short months, Makana Citizens Front PR councillors, elected in November 2021, Lungile Mxube, Philip Machanick, Jane Bradshaw, Kungeka Mashiane and Jonathan Walton have made an impact. Before we were sworn into Council, we objected to a tender for a much-needed shopping mall in Joza where the compulsory briefing was advertised with only two working days’ notice. We were concerned that the…
Author: Rod Amner
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By NONHLANHLA NGCOBO, ANEL DU PLESSIS, and OLIVER FUO The South African informal economy accounts for 17% of employment. Street trading is the largest. Street traders are scattered around the many corners of the country’s towns and cities. They sell a vast range of products. Despite their significant role in economic and social development, street traders continue to be harassed by municipal officials. They face sustained forceful evictions, continued confiscation of their goods, and the soliciting of bribes by police officials. These actions indicate the repressive relationship between the street traders and local government in South Africa. The justification is often that street trading is unruly,…
A huge shout-out to Nita’s Makhanda Events WhatsApp group for these listings. THURSDAY 12 MAY Grahamstown Bridge Club@ Grahamstown Bowling Club, Cnr. African Street & Cawood Street13:15 for 13:30R10 non-members/ R5 – membersSheila Hicks: 0834423322 Ladies’ Night DJs RS & Kasta@ Mi Casa, 131 High StreetFree entry FRIDAY 13 MAY Politics & International Studies Weekly Lunchtime SeminarA Genealogy of Segregated Post-Apartheid GovernmentalityDr Christopher AllsobrookChair: Dr Bongani Nyoka@ Politics Department, Rhodes University13:00 – 14:00Free The Victoria Girls’ High School Music DepartmentTerm 2 Gala ConcertFormal concert to showcase Trinity syllabus – voice, various instruments, and ensembles (choir, marimba band & orchestra)@ VGHS Hall17:00Free entryScholars to attend…
By CHRIS TOTOBELA Football fans braved the freezing wet weather on Saturday to witness the first leg of the battle for honours and promotion. XI Attackers played host to City Pirates, reviving their long rivalry. The game was supposed to start at 3 pm but got underway 45 minutes later as there was no sign of match officials. Both teams enjoyed a prolonged warm-up session until one match official showed up. It was a disgrace as fans sat in the cold, knowing if the game would go on or not. Finally, the game got underway, and both teams quickly forgot…
The Mayoral Imbizo is an ongoing mayoral outreach programme to bring local government closer to citizens. The municipality interacts with communities regarding upcoming service delivery projects in their areas and progress on existing ones. 17 May: Wards 2 and 9 (‘D’ and Eluxolweni), 5.30 pm, Noluthando Hall 18 May: Ward 3 (Phumlani, Mnandi and Ext. 10), 5.30 pm, Ebaleni Extension 10 19 May: Wards 6 and 9 (Extension 5) and 11 (Ethembeni), 5.30 pm, Indoor Sports Centre 24 May: Ward 14, 10 am, Alicedale Town Hall 24 May: Ward 13, 5.30 pm, Vukani Tent 25 May: Ward 5, 5.30 pm,…
Dear Editor Prior to the first free election in 1994, the Black Sash spent a great deal of time doing voter education both in town and on far-flung farms in the rural areas. The programme aimed to help first-time voters understand what that act meant. In subsequent elections, trust and democratic rule have been maintained. One asks now, in view of the scurrilous way five city council members have been ousted, if these cornerstones of democracy have broken down? Is Makana, with its erstwhile record of civic trust and action, betraying us all? Yours sincerely,Rosemary Smith Rosemary van Wyk Smith…
By STAFF REPORTER The SA Post Office (Sapo) has announced it will no longer pay the R350 social relief of distress (SRD) grant through its branches. Sapo spokesperson Johan Kruger said the move would help alleviate long queues at its branches. He said a new round of applications for the R350 SRD grant is open and includes options for beneficiaries to choose where to collect their grants. The application app includes an option for beneficiaries to receive their grants from Pick n Pay, Boxer, Shoprite, Checkers or USave. “If you have already reapplied for your SRD grant, you can still…
Dear editor Against the whirring sounds of old weed eaters guzzling the overgrown grass around the Joza Youth Hub, I asked Supervisor Nyoka, from the Parks and Maintenance Department, about his work. Mr Nyoka himself had been sent to the Hub by the new Makana Parks supervisor, Wandile Duruwe. Being quite used to having phone calls and emails to the municipality ignored, we were delighted to get such a timely and positive response from both these men. The Joza Youth Hub, a voluntary non-profit organisation, occupies a section of the Makana Municipality’s Housing Department and, against very many odds, runs…
By LOYISO DYONGMAN The Makhanda High Court has ordered the MEC for Education in the Eastern Cape and the Superintendent-General to appear in court after failing to provide premises for a special needs school. In 2010, the court ruled that they must implement a plan to provide premises for the Amasango Career School, which provides for children with special needs. Currently, the school operates out of six prefab classrooms provided by the provincial education department on the edge of the abandoned railway line. In a ruling on 26 April, Judge Olav Ronaasen said they had failed to carry out the 2010…
By STAFF REPORTER Police are searching for two men who robbed a jewellery store on High Street in Makhanda on Friday.SAPS spokesperson Warrant Officer Majola Nkohli said the men “stormed” into the store and threatened two employees with firearms. He said they were ushered into a storeroom before the suspects fled with several cell phones, laptops, and an undisclosed amount of cash. The same story was robbed a week earlier, 28 April. After the first robbery, information led the police to a house in Joza on the same day where the stolen items were recovered, Nkohli said. “Police also seized…