By ROGER ROWSWELL In 2019 Grahamstown only received 56.9% of the annual long term average (LTA), 723.2mm and 59.1% of the annual long term median (LT Med), 695.7mm rainfall. So far rainfall has been significantly better in 2020 than in 2019. January 2020 received 129.3mm compared to 40.1mm in 2019, February 2020 172.7mm against 18.0mm in 2019. It is not often that both January and February exceed 100mm in the same year, as far as can be established it has only happened 4 times in the past; 1909, 1934, 1974 ( Old Gaol records) and 2006 (Darling St records). This…
Author: Staff Reporter
Read More
Residents and business owners, as well as farmers in the Makhanda area are invited to elect new representatives to the Grahamstown Community Police Forum at a meeting at the Grahamstown Police Station this Wednesday afternoon. “The CPF structure will work with SAPS on policing needs and safety and security issues within all the communities,” said Station Commander Colonel Mbulelo Pika. “The focus of this elections will be on the communities within the Grahamstown Station area. These include farmers and the communities of Hlalani, Vukani, Fingo Village, Scotts Farm, Vergenoeg, Hooggenoeg, Ghost Town, Sunnyside, Oatlands North, Hill 60, Cradock Heights, CBD, Central…
“From the Mayor’s desk” on 21 February 2020 (Working in Makhanda for a cleaner environment) cannot be left unanswered. In particular, there is one stated fact which is completely untrue. According to the Mayor’s statement an unnamed and unreferenced “environmental scientist” who assessed the waste streams of Makana claims that Makhanda generates more waste than any small town of its size in the country. This statement immediately struck me as unlikely. Why would this be? Do we eat more than most people? Do we buy more consumer goods? I could not see any reason why this could be true. As…
TRIBUTE Griffiths Sokuyeka Everyone who ever wandered into the Monument building while Griffiths Sokuyeka was on duty will remember him – for his ever-present smile, his contagious happiness, and his kindness across the board. He passed away on Wednesday 26 February 2020 after a short battle with cancer, bravely borne. The National Arts Festival and the Grahamstown Foundation send condolences to Griffith’s family, especially to his sisters Nombulelo Nondzube and Nomazwi Khalipha, his daughter, Ntomboxolo Bhodla, and grandchild, Lincuthu Bhodla. His funeral service will be held on Saturday 7 March 2020 at 9:30am at the Methodist Shaw Memorial Church in…
SUNDAY 8 MARCH AT 6pm and MONDAY 9 MARCH AT 7pm Guy Butler Theatre at the Monument Masicule is a celebration of Makhanda’s local choirs and voices that is now in its seventh year. Once again, it’s set to prove why it is one of the city’s cultural highlights. Having sold out completely in 2019, organisers anticipate packed houses at this SUnday and Monday’s editions of this goose-bump inducing concert. Continuing the tradition of inviting one of South Africa’s top artists to guest with the choirs, this year’s featured artist will be multi award winning Eastern Cape Jazz sensation, Nomfundo Xaluva.…
Upwards of 450 runners, joggers and walkers are expected to take to Makhanda’s streets on the evening of Thursday 5 March for the 2020 edition of the highly-popular Makana Brick 8km Nite Race that starts and finishes on Graeme College’s Somerset field. Last year’s race saw 520 local residents taking part. The event starts at 5.30pm and registration is from 4.30pm. Once again the starter will be well-known local raconteur, battle re-enactment specialist and tour leader, Basil Mills. To send the field of all ages on their way he will fire his huge swivel gun that will send booming sound-waves…
By CHRIS TOTOBELA Our very own South African Welterweight champion Mzoxolo “Black Tiger ” Ndwayana is hard at training keeping himself fit. Bokoloshe as he is widely known in the township is keeping fit despite the cancellation of his scheduled bouts due to Covid – 19 pandemic. The first one was going to take place on 28 March with the big one scheduled for 24 April in Johannesburg, where he was going to defend his South African crown. Speaking to Grocott’s Mail Ndwayana expressed his disappointment and said “I have worked very hard at training for these bouts and was…
The Eastern Cape government should hold failed councils to account, not side with them against residents, the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) said in a statement 3 March 2020. The organisation was commenting on the Eastern Cape government’s application for leave to appeal today and tomorrow in the Bhisho High Court, in Bhisho. “OUTA is in full support of the Unemployed People’s Movement (UPM) which will this week fight against an attempt by the Eastern Cape government to overturn the high court judgment that ordered the Makana Local Municipality be placed under administration,” the organisation said. Tim Tyrrell, OUTA’s Manager for…
A former Makana traffic official is among three Eastern Cape traffic officers sentenced to a combined twenty years imprisonment for corruption, Mzuvukile Nelson Nkontso (53), worked as a traffic officer in Makhanda until about three years ago. He was tried and sentenced alongside Phathekile Dinginto (47) and Noluvuko Kondile Vuba (32). The sentencing of the trio followed a thorough probe by the Serious Corruption Investigation (SCI) which was initiated in December 2016, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (HAWKS) said in a media release. This was upon receipt of information that Peddie traffic officers were demanding and accepting gratification in the performance…
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) informs social grants population on the annual increase of grants amounts as pronounced by the Honourable Finance Minister, Mr Titus Tito Mboweni’s in his Budget Speech of the year 2020/2021, coming into effect from 1 April 2020. R80 increase on old age, disability, care dependency grants from R1780 to R1860; R80 increase on old persons grant over 75 years & war vetetans from R1800 to R1880; R40 increase on foster child grant from R1000 to R1040; R20 increase on child support grant and grant-in-aid from R430 to R440 in 1 April and further…