Back again this Friday 26 October, 6pm to 8.30pm, is Reddits Poetry at Café D’Vine in New Street. Open floor poetry, spoken word and occasional music – “Come and join us at the most welcoming poetry event in the Eastern Cape (if not the entire world!),” says organiser Harry Owen.
Author: Staff Reporter
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Responses to the Spanish flu epidemic of 1918 reflected racial prejudices of the time, writes Lindinxiwa Mahlasela. In 2018 South Africa celebrated the centenaries of two icons of the struggle for a society that protects the rights of individuals, promotes racial tolerance, upholds cultural diversity and encourages human solidarity. One of these, President Mandela, led the country towards these ideals when he presided over the drafting of a Constitution since acclaimed the best in the world. He was born in the former Bantustan Transkei on 18 July 1918. This was a time of the Great War, 1914-1918. Growing up in a…
Three weeks after the Minister of Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa, announced his final decision on the renaming of Grahamstown, the Keep Grahamstown Grahamstown campaign, which submitted the most comprehensive objection on behalf of thousands of objectors collectively and individually, had not yet received a response to its objection. In a statement this week, Joint Co-ordinators Sigudla Ndumo and Jock McConnachie said Section 10 of Act 118 of 1998 required that the Minister must consider objections submitted within 30 days publication of the Notice announcing the proposed name change as gazetted on 29 June 2018 and must accept or reject the objections with reasons. “To date the…
The 2018 National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams got off to a good start as candidates wrote the English Paper 1 on Tuesday. A total of 757 894 learners sat for their English Home Language, English First Additional Language and English Second Additional Language examinations. According to Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga, no major incidents were reported. “By midday, no major incidents were reported and all examination centres declared a smooth running of the first major examination.” The Minister marked the start of the exams by paying a surprise visit to Reiger Park Secondary School in Gauteng, where she addressed Grade…
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize says several municipal officials have been suspended and in some instances, charged with fraud in relation to investments made in VBS Mutual Bank. Mkhize appeared before the Portfolio Committee on Cogta in Parliament on Tuesday to brief them on municipalities that invested in VBS Bank. Mkhize listed about 14 municipalities that invested an estimated R1.5 billion with the mutual bank, despite not being allowed to do so by the Municipal Financial Management Act. Those that invested in the bank include Madibeng Local Municipality in the North West, which invested a…
Municipal managers who receive disclaimer audit outcomes, could soon have their contracts terminated for the adverse findings, says Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Deputy Minister, Andries Nel. Nel on Tuesday announced that Cogta is piloting the insertion of a clause into the contracts of municipal managers for them to be removed in case of disclaimers. “Even though there is an ongoing long-term improvement in municipal audit outcomes, 27 municipalities received repeat disclaimers,” he said. Nel made the announcement at a conference titled ‘State Capture and its Aftermath – Building Responsiveness through State Reform’, hosted by the Public Affairs Research…
The employment of qualified, competent and incorruptible officials is key to transparency and better governance processes in municipalities, says Finance Minister Tito Mboweni, tabling his tabled his first Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) in Parliament. Mboweni also said education, health, social development and community development would receive over 60% of non-interest expenditure. Mboweni said all South Africans share the pain of poorly performing municipalities, which results in bad roads and unmaintained infrastructure, among others. He said government is “acutely” aware that some municipalities are facing capacity constraints. “Municipalities owe more than R23 billion to service providers, mainly Eskom, and water service…
Both Rhodes cricket teams bounced back from defeats on Saturday 20 October to record fantastic wins on the Sunday 21 October as they went into their mid-season break on a high note. The Rhodes Firsts travelled to Southwell on Saturday and, despite a magnificent century from Simon Webster, were unable to chase down the 240 posted by Southwell. The Shrews meanwhile hosted Cuylerville at Prospect Field, where they managed to salvage a total of 141 all out in the first innings. Jason Wehmeyer top scored with 41, while Jack Tilbury and Aiden du Toit chipped in 23 runs apiece. Cuylerville lost a…
The Grocott’s Mail Christmas Cheer Fund is dedicated to Child Welfare which will put the money to good use at Ikhaya Losizo Cluster Foster Home in Joza. The centre is home to around 20 vulnerable and orphaned children, and provides daytime care for around another 60. Funds raised through the Christmas Cheer Fund will be used to by uniforms and other school necessities for the children in the new school year. Any surplus will go towards a fence to prevent residents dumping rubbish in the adjacent thoroughfare. A highlight of the fundraising drive – and of the festive season buildup in…
TRIBUTE Lindsay Abrahams Mrs Lindsay Abrahams (nee Murray) matriculated from St Mary’s Diocesan School for Girls in Pretoria. She trained as a teacher specialising in Mathematics and Music. She commenced her teaching career at Waterkloof Primary followed by Tamboerskloof Primary. During this time she completed a BA Law degree at the University of Pretoria. After Mrs Abrahams married she took time off to devote to her children, Philip and Kathryn. She moved to Grahamstown to be closer to her family and it was then that she started teaching at Victoria Primary, in 1992. Over the years she taught a number…