Author: Sive Faith Ginya

By SIVE FAITH GINYA The tight-knit community of Riebeek East was alive with excitement on Thursday, 21 April, as the first of two benches built with eco-bricks was unveiled. The bench, made by 20 school children from Riebeeck East Combined school, was covered in a bright mosaic. Hands On Project manager Yolande Delport, alongside Tracy Herselman, the project coordinator, facilitator and artistic designer, said the aim was to create something beautiful, functional and with an environmental impact. An eco-bench under construction. Photo: Atang Matiea The benches are made of plastic bottles filled with plastic, called eco-bricks, and chicken wire to…

By SIVE FAITH GINYA and OVAYO MILISA NOVUKELA Mary Waters High School learner Lisakhanya Sentile told National Assembly speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula is concerned about the acute shortage of teaching staff at her school on the second day of the Back-to-School Outreach Programme held at the Settler’s Monument on Tuesday, 12 April. She was one of about 100 learners from nine Makana schools who shared their concerns with several high-ranking parliamentary and government leaders. Sentile asked, “What are the learners are going to do at school when there is a shortage of teachers.” Grades 8 and 9 are particularly badly affected.…

By SIVE FAITH GINYA Joza-born artist Efese Betela recently completed his mural of the former South African President Nelson Mandela wearing a mask at Legends Cash Store in Cloncore Street. Betela was one of 100 artists chosen to participate in the Presidential Employment Programme supervised by the Amazwi National Literature Museum. The artists chose between three themes: Covid-19, gender-based violence (GBV), and national symbols. He evidently decided to kill two birds with one stone. Betela said this idea came as a spark while walking past the Legends store. “I thought to myself, ‘How about I follow the store’s name and…

By SIVE FAITH GINYA Lionel Blaauw, Makhanda’s top long-distance runner, is thrilled to be participating in Cape Town’s most prestigious running event, the Two Oceans Ultra Marathon 2022, on 17 April. Blaauw said that running is a gift God gave him to survive. It relieves him from stress, keeps him busy, and prevents him from living in a shell feeling sorry for himself. “When running, I forget about my past and the fact that I don’t have money”, he said. Lionel Blaauw. Photo: Siyamthanda Pongco Blaauw spent about ten years as a beggar, living in the streets from 15-25 years…

By SIVE FAITH GINYA and MBASAKAZI MAKUBALO The many Makhandans who brave the long queues outside the Post Office in Hill Street for the special R350-a-month COVID-19 grant say they are grateful for the assistance, but it falls well short of what they need to survive. In February, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a three-month extension of what is affectionately known as the ‘Sassa R350’ grant for unemployed adults who do not receive any social grant or unemployment insurance. This came as the COVID-19 pandemic continued to devastate the economy, entrenching extraordinarily high unemployment and poverty. A single mother of an…