Author: Rod Amner

Makhanda Wild Hikers will connect you with nature – come through on a visit to Manley Flats Community trail hike. Date: Saturday, 29th January 2022 Time: 7:30- 2pm Transport: R50 Hike Fee: R30 For more Information contact Mazzi on 081 24 94 979

By ROD AMNER Makhanda public schools learners faced empty, stationery-less desks on their first day of school on Wednesday morning, thanks to budgetary and procurement chaos at the Eastern Cape department of education. Grahamstown Primary School head of department and acting principal Lucien Bartis said he was “very concerned” about the impact of the shortages. Teaching and learning materials were also missing at George Dickerson Primary and Archie Mbolekwa Primary when Grocott’s visited them. The Eastern Cape department of education has had to beg the provincial treasury for an additional R255-million after running out of funds. At a Tuesday press…

By STAFF REPORTER St Andrew’s College (SAC) has congratulated its 81-strong Matric Class of 2021 on a stellar set of Independent Examinations Board (IEB) National Senior Certificate (NSC) results across all subjects. Against the backdrop of two years of learning disrupted by the Coronavirus pandemic, accentuated by lockdowns, online learning, and the disappointments of cancelled sporting and cultural activities, SAC Headmaster Alan Thompson said the boys had lived up to the school motto – Nec Aspera Terrent (Difficulties do not dismay us). “This ideal of fearless acceptance of challenge sums up what the school aims to instil in its pupils…

By STAFF REPORTER The Matric Class of 2021 has not had only one but two years of navigating their education amid a pandemic. The two fundamental years of their school career have been marred with lockdowns, online learning, and other challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. However, Kingswood College Matric Class of 2021 garnered 91 distinctions despite the setbacks. Tracy van Molendorff, Kingswood Senior School Head, said, “We are very proud of the class of 2021. They have navigated a year with disruption and online learning and have shown true resilience and determination. We commend those who achieved distinctions and…

By STAFF REPORTER One of Makhanda’s most venerable landmarks, The Cock House, is up for auction. It was opened by the husband-and-wife team, Peter and Belinda Tudge, in June 1991. After Peter died in 2003, Belinda continued to run the business until November 2005, when The Cock House was bought by businessman Richard Anker-Simmons. Broll Auctions and Sales will take the property to auction on February 16 at the Wanderers Club in Johannesburg. Broll senior broker Andre Potgieter said the property would be sold fully furnished and as a going concern should the purchase elect to continue running the business.…

By STAFF REPORTER It’s South African (SAN) Beer Day on Saturday, 5 February, and Makhanda’s only craft beer brewery, Featherstone Brewery and Entrepid Brewing, will be saying cheers to this national beer appreciation day with a new Xhosa-inspired craft beer, iBhiya. In partnership with Makana Tourism, Featherstone Brewery and Entrepid Brewing will host a craft beer crawl featuring stops at four restaurants and pubs. You can expect complimentary craft beer tastings with Featherstone owner William Yell sharing just what makes this local brewery such a gem. Yell said iBhiya is an African umqombothi/sorghum wheat beer using 20% Authentic African umqombothi sour mash added to…

By STAFF REPORTER The Department of Basic Education (DBE) will allow the 2021 matric results to be published on media platforms, following a Gauteng High Court ruling on Tuesday, 18 January. Earlier this month, the DBE announced that media outlets would no longer be allowed to publish matric results, citing concerns over the Protection of Personal Information (POPI) Act. The department said it would observe the ruling by making available the results “to stakeholders who request access”. In addition to accessing results from media platforms, the department also urged candidates to register on the website to view the results when…

The lawns at Archie Mbolekwa SP School have been freshly cut as the school gears up for an influx of learners on Wednesday, 19 January. Principal Lindiso Funani says the impact of the Covid-19 lockdowns and rotational school attendance on teaching and learning has been profound. But, he is hopeful that conditions will improve in the new school year. Grocott’s will bring you coverage of the first day of school tomorrow.

This open letter to the ministers of basic education, health, and co-operative & traditional affairs is co-written by Equal Education, the Equal Education Law Centre, the Learning Trust, Legal Resources Centre, the National Association of Social Change Entities in Education and academics. Dear ministers Angie Motshekga, Joe Phaahla and Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, As schools reopen for 2022, we write to you as a collective of concerned civil society organisations. Over the past two years, learners have been harmed by the amount of time they have been forced to spend at home instead of in the classroom. This continued time away from…

By STAFF REPORTER The Sophumelela Youth Development Programme (SYDP) requests sanitary towels and cosmetics donations for learners at local schools. The organisation also plans to dress six learners (two per school) in full school uniform. Donations received last year were shared with learners from Khutliso Daniels, Nathaniel Nyaluza, and TEM Mrwetyana Secondary School, with some learners, even males, also requesting donations for parents and siblings. Donations enabled SYDP to ensure 21 female learners had access to sanitary towels throughout the year. SYDP is also currently educating male learners at the three schools about menstruation and creating a conducive study environment…