By Sisipho Pinyana Two weeks ago, Mfuzo Boxing Camp held its second annual awards ceremony at Noluthando Hall. Grocott’s Mail community sports writer, Chris Totobela, was one of the award recipients for his outstanding work promoting sports in disadvantaged communities. Awards ceremony organiser, Mawawa Mfuzo, says the awards encourage and motivate the athletes from the work they do during the year. He adds that their work is not easy, but those involved in sports sacrifice to ensure the boxers succeed. About receiving the award, Totobela says, “I’m very happy that I am contributing to the development of sport in our…
Author: Sisipho Pinyana
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By Sisipho Pinyana Nombulelo Secondary School grade 11 learner Alutha Botha won a bronze medal when he entered the Eskom Expo for Environmental Science held in July this year at Rhodes University. The Science Expo encouraged learners to identify problems, analyse information about the issue and show their findings. In his project, Alutha explored habitat use by juvenile fishes using remote underwater videos. Alutha says he had so many questions about fish and their habitat, but one particular question stood out for him and wanted to answer: “Why are there so many fish on one side than on this side?”…
In a three-day event during September, Amazwi celebrated Dr Sindisiwe Magona, one of South Africa‘s most treasured storytellers and writers. Dr Magona writes in many genres, including fiction, drama, poetry, children’s books, autobiography and biography. The exhibition will be on display until September 2024. It will include a digital collection of that celebration, as the conference included photos used as part of her birthday celebration the previous month. The exhibition aims to honour and celebrate Magona while she is still alive. Magona writes in both English and her Home language, IsiXhosa; though challenging, she continues writing plays and novels for…
By Sisipho Pinyana Loyisa Manga is making waves with his Ubuntu Extra Virgin Olive Oil with a Makhandan connection. Born in Kariega (then Uitenhage), Manga spent his holidays in Makhanda on his father’s farm, not knowing that one day he would be an agricultural entrepreneur himself. In 2017, tired and exhausted from work at an insurance company, Manga decided he wanted to start his own business, but wanted to do something that he loved and desired. Agriculture and agribusiness already ran in the family. But olive oil was not his first option. “I first wanted to sell wine or gin…
By Sisipho Pinyana 14-year-old *[1] Siyolise Baxana *[2] is part of the Grahamstown Rhythmic Gymnastics *[3] team that will represent the province in the 2023 Gym Games Competition that will be held in Johannesburg towards the end of September. Siyolise must raise funds for the competition expenses to travel with the team. “This won’t be the first I am going to gymnastics. Last year, I [went] to Pretoria but could not go far, but this year, I am hoping to be in the top 10 [become] a champion,” she said. The Victoria Girls’ School learner started getting involved in numerous…
By Sisipho Pinyana Driven by pandemic unemployment and with two children to feed, Malwande Bebeza founded”Granny’s Gingerbeer” in 2021. Drawing on his Mthatha and Johannesburg upbringing, Bebeza was inspired by his mother’s love of making ginger beer for their family. He is exceptionally passionate about entrepreneurship and ready to take the industry by storm. His product is not mainstream; he used to sell ginger beer in Coke bottles. Now, he designs hisbottles and labels while keeping the homemade essence. Receiving aid from his local community has helped Bebeza’s business skyrocket in Makhanda and beyond. “I was walking and was recognized…
Sisipho Pinyana and Linda Pona The Department of Sports, Recreation and Arts and Culture (DSRAC) MEC Nonceba Kontsiwe hosted a stakeholder engagement meeting at Amazwi Museum on Friday, 21 April 2023. Present at the meeting were critical stakeholders in the sports, recreation, and arts and culture sector in the Sarah Baartman District. Also, present at the meeting were representatives from the municipality. The purpose of the meeting was to share information and highlight and address the challenges faced by various stakeholders within the Sarah Baartman District. Kontsiwe kicked off the event by highlighting the purpose of the meeting and DSRAC’s…
By Sisipho Pinyana I am Sisipho Pinyana, an 18 year old woman, born in Port Elizabeth, now known as Gqeberha. In 2011, I started school at Redhouse Primary School and then went to Morningside High School where I obtained my Matric certificate in 2022. I come from a family of four children where I am the only daughter amongst three boys. I am the third child of the four. Growing up being surrounded by boys has helped me in many ways. They taught me to be strong and always strive for what I believe in, and to never feel neglected…