Author: Sue Maclennan

It was World Teachers’ Day on 5 October and Kuyasa celebrated their staff this week in a ceremony at the school. Presided over by Reverend Lithemba Busakwe, the Department of Education’s area manager, Sizwe Betela, was guest of honour and guest speaker was former Archie Mbolekwa Primary School Principal Zola Mothlabane. The ceremony was held outside, in warm weather, with social distancing in place for children and teachers. In her welcome, Principal Nombeko Mvula spoke about leadership in the context of schools. Photo: Sue Maclennan

Police guard the entrance to the City Hall as eNkanini resident Asanda Bobo addresses fellow protesters outside on Thursday 8 October. Left of him is Makana Mayor Mzukisi Mpahlwa. The group demanded that the Mayor come out and tell them when they will receive electricity in the informal settlement. Today (Friday) leaders will travel to Port Elizabeth to ask the Department of Human Settlements to expedite the installation of infrastructure there.  Photo: Sue Maclennan

Members of the Makhanda Legends group, Sky Albany and Archbishop Nkosinathi Ngesi, on Thursday 8 October handed over a petition to the Office of the Speaker at Makana Municipality. A week ago the group, in alliance with the South African Council of Churches anti-corruption campaign, held a silent protest outside the City Hall. Among the concerns they expressed was the unresolved issue of outgoing Corporate services Director Nomthandazo Mazwayi’s allegedly irregular salary hike. Mazwayi resigned and this week starts a new job as municipal manager at Sakhisizwe Municipality. This week, Albany and Ngesi, who is the Archbishop of the Ethiopian Episcopal…

Director recommended to be suspended pending investigation resigns, reappointed to head another EC municipality Two months ago, a report tabled to Council recommended that Makana Municipality’s Corporate Services Director Nomthandazo Mazwayi  be put on compulsory leave pending the investigation of misconduct allegations. Soon after, she resigned. By the end of this week, Grocott’s Mail understands, she will take up the post of Municipal Manager at Sakhisizwe Municipality. Public service watchdog PSAM has questioned why Council failed to support the recommendation for Mazwayi’s suspension, and why her resignation was accepted. One of the misconduct allegations regards Mazwayi’s  salary being increased by…

“We cannot fold our arms anymore as if there is nothing that is happening.” These were the words of five protesters who on Thursday held a silent vigil against corruption outside the City Hall in Makhanda. The South African Council of Churches launched its anti-corruption campaign against the looting of Covid-19 funds last month and the vigil was in association with this. “We cannot fold our arms anymore as if there is nothing that is happening,” Reverend Nkosinathi Ngesi told Grocott’s Mail. “It affects us; it affects the economy of the town.” Alongside Ngesi, who is the Bishop of the…

Once a beacon of excellence that attracted top clinical professionals, the departure of several senior specialists may jeopardise Fort England Hospital’s status as South Africa’s maximum security forensic assessment facility, its crucial role as a forensic clinical training facility and its capacity to provide quality care for forensic patients. By the end of August, four senior psychiatrists had left Fort England Hospital, including the head of psychiatry, and Grocott’s Mail understands the departure of other key staff is imminent. Some local mental health professionals blame the exodus on the “toxic” grip of disruptive unionised labour in the institution. Trade Union…

Grocott’s Mail asked the National Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) about the threatening and destructive behaviour of unions at Fort England Hospital, as described in Judge Van Niekerk’s ruling in the Labour Court matter of former CEO Roger Walsh. Some local mental health professionals have attributed an exodus of senior clinical staff from the institution to a “toxic” environment associated with the “thuggish” behaviour described by Van Niekerk. “It’s inherent in the operation of a union that it’s seen as disruptive,” said Nehawu’s regional secretary Mlungisi Ncapayi. He said workers were frustrated and overloaded. The staff shortage is not…

A continuing decline in the administration of Makana Municipality and the “irreparable consequences” for its citizens were the basis for the UPM’s Section 18 application in a virtual court sitting on Friday 18 September. Section 18 of the Superior Courts Act enforces a court ruling even though an appeal may be pending. The respondents were the Eastern Cape Province and Makana Municipality. In January 2020 the Unemployed People’s Movement succeeded in their application to have the Premier dissolve Makana Municipal Council and appoint an administrator in terms of section 139(5)(b) of the Constitution until local government elections at held and…

A Sunnyside resident was left bruised and afraid after she was gored by a stray cow recently. She is the second person attacked by the rogue bovine and her family has asked the municipality to remove it from the streets before it strikes again. Through her pastor, Strauss de Jager, Emmie Kuhn, 71, shared with Grocott’s Mail the letter she and her family wrote to the municipal manager earlier this month. Kuhn, who lives in Sunnyside, was taking her daily walk around 10am on 31 August “to get some fresh air and exercise, minding my own business”. She was walking…

Makana Fire Services alongside teams from the Diocesan School for Girls, St Andrew’s College and local residents brought a veld fire on the western commonage under control by late Thursday afternoon 24 September. By early evening burning stumps were clearly visible on the slope between the old brickworks (“Tunnels”) and the B&B at the east end of Strowan Road in the Industrial Area. Dr William Fowlds of Ikhala Vet praised platoon commander, Fire Fighter  Nombulelo Mkele and her team, with DSG’s assistant estate manage Steve Emslie and Mr Wilkinson for “sterling” work, alongside Hill 60 residents. Makana Fire Chief WIlliam Welkom at…