Author: Sue Maclennan

Late last Thursday night (30 March 2017), South Africa’s embattled President, Jacob Zuma announced the reshuffling of his Cabinet and emphasised that it would “improve efficiency and effectiveness”. If only this reasoning was true, especially within key Cabinet positions affected by his decision. On the contrary, the retention of ministers who have displayed incompetence and an inability to adequately fulfil their constitutional mandate should raise serious questions around the veracity of the President’s reasoning in this regard. Unfortunately the President has increasingly illustrated that he has a disregard for sound governance and the maintenance of accountable and ethical leadership within…

The Open Day at the Joza Youth Hub on Saturday, April 1, 2017, was a mighty success. Many people contributed to this special occasion but this little message is for those local businesses who responded most warmly and generously to our call for contributions: BUCO Country Fresh Mugg & Bean Penny Pinchers Rat & Parrot Suzi-Q Van Schaik Book Stores Thank you for your support!

A fire fighter takes a break and shocked employees stand outside after a fire ripped through Ackermans store at The Shoprite centre in Grahamstown around 12.45pm Friday 3 November, as SAPS Grahamstown and Makana Local Municipality fire services mop up. Staff and SAPS confirmed no one was hurt no one was hurt. Shop manager Cathy Lodewyk said a staff member who went to fetch a customer’s laybye item from the back of the shop had noticed smoke coming from the area of the office and alerted colleagues. “We got the customers out of the shop and made sure everyone was safe,”…

President Jacob Zuma says will make an announcement on the appointment of a National Police Commissioner after internal processes have been concluded. The President said this when he appeared before the National Assembly to field oral questions on Thursday. He was responding to a question by Freedom Front Plus leader Pieter Groenewald. “We are conducting internal processes that will culminate in making the appointment,” Zuma said. “The 24th October 2017, the Minister of Police released the crime statistics for the financial year 2016/ 17. The statistics show an increase [in certain areas] and a decrease in others. We commend the Minister of…

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister Des van Rooyen has urged traditional leaders to use economic opportunities offered by tourism in their areas. Speaking at the Tourism Transformation Summit convened by the Tourism Minister Tokozile Xasa on Tuesday, Van Rooyen said without the support or buy-in from Traditional Leaders on traditional land, tourism development will never succeed. “Traditional Leaders are the custodian of communal land with land ownership being a critical component for economic transformation. This asset provides communities with a strategic advantage for economic development, in particular tourism development,” said Van Rooyen. The summit was held under the…

Councillors and senior officials rushed through an infrastructure portfolio committee meeting on Thursday 9 November to get to the site of the crisis that had seen most of Joza go without water since Wednesday night. Meanwhile, residents queued with buckets at the roadsides to wait for water to be delivered in tankers. Makana’s head of electrical engineering Mzomhle Radu and Water and Sanitation Manager Ntombi Tshicilela in Thursday meeting in the Council Chamber told councillors of days of attempting to keep at least one pump running at the James Kleynhans Water Treatment Works north of Grahamstown. The pump station supplies…

From access to global trade to its ability to feed a rapidly growing population, agriculture in South Africa faces a crisis unless it undertakes safe and sustainable environmental practices. Dr Sean Moore, of Citrus Research International, was one of three keynote speakers at the launch of the Centre for Biological Control based in Rhodes University’s Department of Zoology and Entomology. He cited UNICEF figures that show Africa’s population, around 1.2 billion in 2014, will double to 2.4 billion by 2050. More than half of South Africans are at risk of experiencing hunger, according to Oxfam – but the challenge for…

Rhodes University 1904-2016, An Intellectual, Political and Cultural History by Paul Maylam  Institute for Social and Economic Research, Rhodes University (2017) R220/ R295 Rhodes University plays a crucial role in Grahamstown – first because of its sheer size and therefore its physical, social and economic impact on the town. And then, in more recent years it’s had a growing impact through partnerships with Grahamstown schools to support local educators and helping solve the problems of the town, and the country. Grocott’s Mail reported on the early local stirrings of #RhodesMustFall, and then the two rounds of #FeesMustFall, louder than ever…

A Judge yesterday put on terms three men facing rhino-poaching charges for alleged theft of horn valued at R11.1 million. During a short appearance in the High Court in Grahamstown on Monday 6 November 2017 Jabulani Ndlovu (40), Forget Ndlovu (37) and Sikhumbuzo Ndlovu (38) were granted a postponement to 11 December. With 51 state witnesses on standby and the accused out on bail, this will be the seventh time the case has come before a Judge since the State sought to proceed with the trial in April this year. Yesterday was the sixth postponement. Jabulani Ndlovu (40), Forget Ndlovu…

If you walk along High Street from the angel to the arch, chances are you’ll be picked up by up security cameras three times. Grocott’s Mail recently got the inside view of Hi-Tec Security’s busy control room, where around 100 cameras in Grahamstown, Bedford and Port Alfred’s Rosehill Mall are monitored 24/7. Camera technician Billy Butters gave Grocott’s Mail the run-down on the high-tech monitoring that the company does. A security camera can cost anything from R3 500 to R12 000 for thermal models that are activated by body heat. “All of them have infra-red night vision,” Butters said. With…