By USISIPHO BATYI and ZISANDA SOLWANDLE Some learner support organisations have cautiously rebooted their operations. The Awarenet Open Lab at the Joza Youth Hub is open to small numbers of Grade 8-11 learners from Ntsika, Khutliso Daniels, TEM Mrwetyana and Nombulelo high schools. Awarenet director, Kjetil Torp, said a maximum of six learners were accommodated per online learning session – with just three learners in each of the two computer labs. “We are running a sanitized system and observe the 1.5-metre social distancing rule.”. “We normally receive up to 100 learners a day in the Open Lab – but the…
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By WENDY NZAMA Dozens of Makhanda mothers remain without their monthly child maintenance payments as the Covid-19 lockdown exacerbates a glitch in the system at the courts. Grocott’s Mail reported at the beginning of May on the plight of women who usually receive maintenance payments for their children through the Magistrate’s Court in Makhanda. When we spoke to them again this week, some had gone for as long as four months without receiving much needed payments to support their children. The money is deducted from the salaries of parents employed by various government departments and is paid through the court.…
Damage to vehicles from Makhanda’s potholed roads has driven many residents to take service delivery into their own hands. One such resident is Thembinkosi Mancam, who has resorted to fixing the road, by filling potholes in J Street. About a week ago, Mancam recruited five people to assist him in this project. He started by buying 15 bags of cement and with donated crusher-dust for the mix, he managed to get going. So successful was the project that it caught the eyes of councillor Rami Xonxa, chairperson of the infrastructure portfolio at the Makana Local Municipality. Xonxa bought lunch for…
By SINAZO ALUGILE NOVUKELA With taverns closed for the past six weeks, Makhanda seems to have been a safer place when it comes to gender-based violence. But local activists fear they’re not getting the full picture. Soon after the national lockdown to slow the spread of Covid-19 was declared, three weeks into the nation-wide lockdown, Minister of Police Bheki Cele declared in the News that the streets were safer, with crime drastically reduced. Behind closed doors, however, violence increased, reported City Press and News24, with gender-based violence (GBV) helplines and support centres flooded. Local crime statistics are difficult to obtain,…
By Nasi Hako Local lawyers have warned of severe backlogs in the legal system caused by the COVID-19 lockdown. “Justice delayed is justice denied” said one local advocate, quoting the well-known legal maxim. According to the Bill of Rights, every accused person has the right to a fair and speedy trial that begins and ends without unreasonable delay. Lawyers have been debating whether or not the lockdown delays could be seen as ‘unreasonable’ given that the directives were issued under the National Disaster Act. A medical malpractice lawyer said that while the slowdown of the legal system arguably contradicted the…
By LILY ROBERTS From people who put up posters, to maintenance, cleaning and security services, informal and formal traders, and street buskers, the Festival is an annual winter bonanza for Makhanda. This year it will be different, writes Lillian Roberts. The National Arts Festival has done one of the only things possible in light of the Covid-19 pandemic and in a show of extraordinary resilience is preparing to stage a virtual edition. This re-imagining of the iconic event now in its 46th year means artists and traders can benefit from access to an online marketplace and audience. But no foot…
“Mark the liberation movement’s progress and to symbolise the determination of the people of Africa to free themselves from foreign domination and exploitation.” This is what the first Conference of Independent African States on 15 April 1958 resolved when it decided to observe annually an African Liberation/Freedom day. Both the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and the African Union (AU), reiterated and cemented this position. On 25 May, the world commemorated Africa Day and this month is also known as Africa Month. There was little fanfare about Africa Day in 2020, as across the world, countries battle Covid-19 and have…
By NASI HAKO Two Makhanda residents are making life-saving equipment for health and essential services workers in the frontline of battle against the Covid-19 pandemic. They’re doing it out of their own pocket, with nothing but a talent for innovation, a wish to help, and a small array of 3D printers. In normal times, Christian Carver manages the African Musical Instrument factory. Earl Prinsloo is Associate Professor of the Rhodes University Biotechnology Innovation Centre (RUBIC). As the pandemic began to spread, it became clear that a province-wide shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) was putting health and other essential services…
By Tusani Mnyandu “Many things may not work that well in Makhanda, but Masicule! is one of those things that works very well.” This is how a colleague described the music show that takes place in Makanda annually. Yele, Yele, Masicule!, is the song that set the scene for what was to be a night of jubilation. The Guy Butler Theatre at the Monument came alive: foot-tapping, hand-clapping, and finger-clicking complemented the voices so magically. A positive cloud hovered over the venue birthing positive vibes only. I indeed at that point felt that everything was well – I got to…
By TUSANI MNYANDU Mutual respect among coalition partners will be crucial to clinching and keeping Nelson Mandela Bay, says the provincial leader of the DA in the Eastern Cape Nqaba Bhanga. Bhanga, who has resigned from the provincial legislature to be sworn in as a councillor in NMB and will stand as candidate for Mayor in the Metro. Alongside the party’s shadow Minister for and Minerals Resources and Energy, Kevin Mileham, he addressed supporters in the Recreation Hall in Albany Road on Monday. The public meeting followed the provincial policy conference earlier in the day, also in Makhanda. This, in…