Author: Rod Amner

By CHARLIE SHACKLETON, ANDREW FAULL, GREGORY BREETZKE, IAN EDELSTEIN and ZANDER VENTER South Africa’s population is urbanising at a rapid pace. The sheer rate of change poses challenges to planning sustainable and liveable cities. Part of what makes cities work is having green spaces, such as parks, sports fields, nature trails and street trees. These provide many social, ecological and economic benefits. Research from multiple countries such as Australia, China, Finland, India, the US and South Africa has shown this. Aside from looking good and providing recreation, urban green spaces improve air quality and physical and mental health and regulate stormwater flows. They counteract…

The Rhodes School of Journalism and Media Studies (JMS) wrapped up its 50th-anniversary celebrations and awards last week. JMS awarded the final 24 of its 50 most illustrious graduates over three celebrations hosted at The Wanderers Club in Johannesburg. The three functions comprised a legacy luncheon and two dinners on Friday and Saturday nights. Other alumni were previously awarded during the Rhodes University April graduation in Cape Town and Durban, with overseas alumni awarded virtually. Rhodes University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sizwe Mabizela, said: “As we celebrate our alumni who have served the profession of journalism with great distinction, we must appreciate…

By ANDREW MARTIN The recently-formed Makhanda Chess Club fought hard for third place in the seven-team A section of a chess tournament held in Jeffrey’s Bay on 19 November. The tournament attracted teams from Jeffrey’s Bay, Gqeberha, Uitenhage, and Makhanda. The playing floor at the chess tournament in Jeffrey’s Bay. Photo: supplied Youth Chess Academy finished first, with the Jeffrey’s Bay A side placing second. The Makhanda team – including Andrew Martin, Jabulani Ndaba, Jeremiah Sewelo and Cuan Kruger – won four matches, drew one and lost one. Martin collected most of the points for the team, with 4.5 points…

By STAFF REPORTER At least 50 stakeholders heeded the call to come together at Makana Municipality Council Chambers to participate in the inaugural Safety and Security Indaba on Monday, 28 November, in anticipation of this year’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Femicide campaign. The Indaba touched on fighting GBV, the allocation of vehicles for police, the decline of trust in the police in the community, the role of community crime-fighting groups, and the rise of vigilantism. This session, led by the Sarah Baartman Department of Community Safety, was attended by the National Prosecuting Authority, station commanders…

By the RHODES UNIVERSITY LAW CLINIC Domestic violence is defined in the Domestic Violence Act of 1998 as physical, verbal, emotional, psychological or economic abuse, intimidation, harassment, stalking, damage to property, entry into the complainant’s residence without consent (when they do not live together), or any other controlling abusive behaviour towards the complainant, where such conduct harms, or may cause imminent harm to the safety and well-being of the complainant. South Africa has one of the world’s highest incidences of domestic violence. Every day women are murdered, physically and sexually abused, threatened and humiliated by their partners. It is not…

By CHESLEY DANIELS The St Mary’s Development and Care Centre (DCC) celebrated its 40th Anniversary at a joyful and well-attended event with children, staff, parents, and partners on Monday. It was also a perfect occasion to honour the life of the late Thelma Henderson, the founder member and fundraiser-in-chief of the DCC. The celebrations kick off with the St Mary’s Primary Marimba Band, followed by an emotional and comprehensive keynote address by Margie Keeton, Thelma Henderson’s daughter. Keeton detailed the DCC’s history and her mom’s role in establishing it. She said the immediate task for Thelma and the other founders…

At their Valedictory Service in October, St Andrew’s College matrics pledged their shoes to other learners who have none, knowing that they walked in somebody else’s shoes until today. Following tradition, the Matrics placed their shoes outside the exam hall after their final exam. Photo: St Andrew’s College Facebook page Shoes are a big deal. These pictures were taken of local school girls in early November.

By CHRIS TOTOBELA It was a weekend of mixed fortunes for our local sides in the Sarah Baartman SAB regional league. Jacaranda Aces nearly squandered a two-goal lead but managed to scrap through the game with a 3-2 win. Aces were still guilty of allowing the opposition to dictate terms and dominate the game and also needed to strengthen their shaky defence. They also need to find a lethal centre forward to be their point of reference when attacking. Aces’ goals came via the boot of Sixolise ‘Sugar’ Koliti, who scored a brace and Ntsikelelo ‘Mabunda’ Mabhuda. Bathurst City FC…

By ROD AMNER The legendary Fabian Juries Community Fun Day will kick off at the Oval Sports Ground at 8.45 am on Saturday, 26 November, featuring ’10s’ rugby and netball teams from nine community areas in the city. Excited team representatives accepted rugby and netball kit from a sponsor Gold Rush’s manager Xola Goba at a joyful ceremony on Thursday night. The tournament is hosted by the Grahamstown Brumbies Rugby Club, part of the South Eastern Districts Rugby sub-Union (SEDRU). The event, first held in 2013, is designed to bring Makhanda’s communities closer together, encourage youth to play sports in…

Access Music Project’s (AMP) end-of-year concert at Amazwi on Saturday, 19 November, was a marvel. AMP thanked the AMP learners for all their hard work this year. “A huge thanks to the following institutions and individuals for making the concert and logistics happen: Amazwi (South African Museum of Literature), Elijah Moleseng Madiba, Yandisa Fihlane Ntleki, Jobst Bodenstein (for the beautiful photos we are posting here), Richard Gush, Anelisa Calu, and Sisipho Mangete. “Last but not least, thank you to our AMP staff and teachers – for everything they did on the day and for preparing learners for the concert!” Scenes…