Every morning on my way to the office, I pass this imposing figure. Elevated on a granite plinth in front of the Main Building of the University of the Free State’s Bloemfontein Campus, cast in bronze, more than twice the size of a normal person, the statue of President Marthinus Theunis Steyn is by all accounts an impressive work of art. Why such a contentious figure? Unlike Cecil John Rhodes, who has become the embodiment of colonialism in South Africa, history paints the last president of the independent Orange Free State a little more amicably: MT Steyn was an outspoken anti-imperialist, a pacifist who tried until the…
Author: Staff Reporter
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The National Assembly this week agreed to the Division of Revenue Amendment Bill, which will adjust the equitable share among the three spheres of government. The Bill, which Finance Minister Tito Mboweni tabled when he presented his maiden Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) last month, also changes the specific purpose allocations to provinces and changes allocations-in-kind to provinces and municipalities for designated special programmes. The Bill is made necessary because of the proposed national adjustment budget for the 2018/19 financial year. This affects the division of revenue between the national, provincial and local spheres of government. “The Select…
Approximately 70% of the Olifantsvlakte fire had been contained with some areas having active or smouldering flare-ups, Working on Fire said in a media release this morning. Coldstream, a community between Storm’s River and the Bloukrans Bridge in the Tsitsikamma area, is the closest community to the fire. “Last night’s objective was to work on the left flank of this fire and make sure that its contained and safe as the aerial support worked on the area yesterday,” Communications Officer Nthabiseng Mokone said. Fire breaks were done along the left flank and monitoring would continue. To date no fatalities or serious injuries had…
Nishalin Pillay and Dave Starke will launch their new album Duente at a special Festive Season edition of Acoustic Cafe on Tuesday 27 November. Dave Starke is a Durban-based guitarist and singer. He performs a selection of popular music from the 1950s to the present day including hits by Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Elvis, Leonard Cohen, Cat Stevens, Jack Johnson, Johnny Cash, Rodriguez and many more… Having grown up in Cape Town, Dave studied music at school and later went on to graduate with a degree in Drama and Classical studies from the University of Cape Town.…
By AMANDA NESI On 2 November 2018, parents of Tantyi Primary graduated from an eight-week programme called Wordworks Home School Partnership Programme (HSPP). The graduation took place during assembly to encourage learners that hard work pays off, and so that they witness their own parents reaping those benefits. The Programme is aimed at instilling ways of supporting informal learning at home. It equips and up-skills parents living in under resourced or previously disadvantaged communities to become effective partners in early literacy development. The eight-week short course took place at Tantyi Primary every Tuesday. Parents were very determined because they want to…
The annual Remembrance Day Parade in Church Square on Sunday 11 November 2018 had particular significance as one of four events in Makhanda (Grahamstown) to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War 1. The Kingswood College and St Andrew’s College bands were on parade, as well as serving members of 6SAI Battalion, Fir st City Regiment and the South African Police Service. The moving highlight of the parade was a wreath laying Ceremony to honour the fallen. Senior and decorated officers of 6SAI, war veterans organisation the MOTHS, school principals with senior pupils and Makana Executive Mayor Nomhle…
The annual Remembrance Day Parade will be held in Church Square at 10.30am on Sunday 11 November 2018. This year’s parade will have particular significance as one of four events this weekend in Makhanda (Grahamstown) to mark the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day, the end of World War 1. Better Times – Saturday 10 November at 7pm The first commemorative event is a performance by Saeculum Aureum (previously known as University Madrigal Singers) of a programme called ‘Better Times: Music for the Centenary of Armistice Day’ at 7pm on Saturday 10 November. The venue is St Bartholomew’s Church (12A Bartholomew Street). Admission is…
In one of the Eastern Cape’s biggest dagga busts ever, six people were arrested and 46 bags of dagga worth R2 million were confiscated at Seven Fountains outside Makhanda (Grahamstown) yesterday Wednesday 7 November. Police spokesperson Captain Mali Govender said a joint operation with members of the Port Elizabeth Flying Squad , Uitenhage K9, SAPS Seven Fountains and Grahamstown Highway Patrol had resulted in the arrest of the six suspects aged between 35 and 60. “At approximately 7am K9 team Warrant Officer Jacques Adlem and Sergeant Melisa Adlem acted on information of narcotics being transported,” Govender said. “They located a…
Shelley Frayne and Alan Thompson, the heads of DSG and St Andrew’s College respectively are delighted to announce that St Andrew’s College Rhodes Scholar-elect for 2019 is Leila Strelitz. Leila, a Grahamstown resident, graduated from the University of Cape Town with a Bachelor of Arts, triple majoring in History, Sociology and English Language and Literature – her degree was conferred with distinctions in all three Majors. She is currently completing a BA (Hons) degree in Sociology, with a special interest in Urban Sociology. She intends to read for an MSc in Sociology at Oxford. The field of Urban Sociology engages…
The use of second-hand tyres, where the buyer has no knowledge of the tyre’s age or repair history – together with the illegal and highly dangerous practice of ‘re-grooving’ tyres to create greater tread depth – are a significant cause for concern within South Africa’s informal tyre sector. Sumitomo Rubber South Africa (SRSA), manufacturer of the Dunlop, Sumitomo and Falken tyre brands, has taken up the mantle as continental custodian and steward of Part Worn Africa, a new pan-African consumer, tyre and road safety advocacy initiative. CEO Riaz Haffejee said, “The use of second-hand tyres, where the buyer has no…