A team of Rhodes University scientists has started producing hand sanitiser, to urgently address the shortage in the province. Handwashing and, in the absence of a reliable water supply hand sanitiser, is an important way to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) and the team set up a production laboratory to help address the current nationwide shortage. Meanwhile, the University’s Housekeeping division made protective masks for workers at the frontline of managing the crisis. Led by Professor Rod Walker, a registered pharmacist with the South African Pharmacy Council, the production of sanitiser began on Friday, 20 March 2020…
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As the 21 day national lock down comes into effect today, and we retreat into our homes in an attempt to fight the novel coronavirus Kingswood College has urged the community to take up the “Reduce and Reuse 21 Day Challenge” with them. “This extended time in your homes will give you the opportunity to evaluate what you need, and that which you do not need. It will provide you with the time to do that long overdue “spring clean” or to reorganise or sort through your cupboards and take stock of what may be taking up unneeded space in…
Dear Editor DA MP, Kevin Mileham (“Strengthen the DA to save Makana”) misinterprets the judgment which ordered the dissolution of the Makana Local Council. He says that “The judge ordered the Provincial Executive to dissolve Council. She did not order that it was dissolved… The PEC has not made such a decision.” He is incorrect. To quote the Order, the Provincial Executive was ordered “to forthwith dissolve the Municipal Council of Makana Municipality”. In other words, in terms of the Order the PEC is obliged to comply with the Order which was of immediate effect. His only decision was whether or…
Kingswood College welcomed Nene Molefi, as the speaker at the 14th annual Neil Aggett Memorial Lecture on Thursday 12 March 2020. The annual event celebrates the life of Dr Neil Aggett and honours his legacy. With the re-opening of the inquiry into his death, the celebration of his life is now more pertinent than ever. Molefi is the CEO of Mandate Molefi HR Consultants. Over the past 18 years she has gained a reputation, both locally and internationally, as a thought leader in Diversity and Inclusion, Values-Driven Leadership and Transformation. She is a regular presenter at conferences around the world and…
The Rotary Club of Grahamstown recently announced that a Rotary global grant to upgrade sanitation at Ntsika Secondary School has been approved. Targeting one of Rotary’s six areas of focus, water and sanitation, the project will connect the school’s sewage system (at present flowing into a wetland area next to the school) to the mains sewer, totally upgrade the learners’ (currently numbering 803) and staff ablution blocks and provide essential plumbing in a kitchen/scullery area. The project was championed initially by the late Bill Mills and later taken up by Rotarian Gavin Keeton and the team on the club’s Service…
By SIYAMTHANDA DYANTYIE The ANC has been in control of the municipality since the dawn of democracy. However, the fact of the matter is that the living conditions of people of Makana are deteriorating under the watch of the ANC. Makana is the home of the arts festival in this province of the Eastern Cape, but the conditions of the city are of substandard to say the least. The town is dirty, with sewage running in the streets and no clean water. The unemployment rate is alarming. People of Makana remain landless and on the periphery of economic activities. The…
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) will pay social grants to older persons and persons with disabilities from 30 and 31 March 2020. Other beneficiaries will be able to access their grants from 01 April 2020. The social security agency’s decision to pay grants earlier is in response to the State of National Disaster as announced by President Ramaphosa on 15 March 2020. SASSA engaged with the relevant stakeholders, including the retail and banking sector and the consumer goods council, to determine a feasible approach to pay social grants earlier in order to avoid congestion at retail stores and…
President Cyril Ramaphosa will later today update the nation on possible further measures to contain and manage the Coronavirus pandemic, Covid-19, in South Africa. The President’s programme for today, Sunday 22 March 2020, is dedicated to key engagements around the national state of disaster occasioned by the outbreak of the coronavirus, beginning with a consultation with business leaders at the Union Buildings, a statement from the Presidency says. The engagement with business forms part of a series of meetings the President has held with various stakeholder constituencies – including communities of faith and the nation’s political leadership – in the…
Plans to restructure local rugby competitions are currently under discussion in the wake of the recent measures introduced to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, SA Rugby announced on Wednesday. These plans could see South African franchises and other provincial teams return to a new, locally-based derby competition in view of the current suspension of Vodacom Super Rugby and the Guinness PRO 14. SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux confirmed the national rugby body is in ongoing discussions with stakeholders about a number of competition models that could be implemented. “SA Rugby is currently evaluating all our competition structures, with a view…
Scifest Africa has been postponed to 9 to 15 September 2020. In a statement, the organisers said, “In light of the national and global situation regarding the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the pressing need to take all necessary precautionary measures to reduce the potential risk of exposure to the virus, the boards of the Grahamstown Foundation NPC and the National Arts Festival NPC have jointly taken a decision to postpone their festival.” The 24th edition of Scifest Africa was to have run on 15-21 April 2020. Organisers said the decision to postpone it was made in the context of…