Author: Sue Maclennan

Storytellers of any age are invited to storytelling auditions and performances at the National English Literary Museum tomorrow, Wednesday 27 September from 10am to 2pm. Hosted by Nal’ibali and NELM, the event aims to promote reading for leisure and to revitalise the culture of oral storytelling. Nal’ibali Eastern Cape Literacy Mentor Madoda Ndlakuse, who is co-ordinating the event, said it was also an opportunity for anyone who would love to be part of 2017 ‘s National Story Bosso to record their story – whether retelling a story, telling a traditional folktale (intsomi) or reciting a narrative poem.  “All ages can attend this…

Politicians, city officials and experts met this week to map a way to manage water in the Makana area. The meeting at Noluthando Hall on Wednesday saw the Upper Kowie Water, Sanitation and Catchment Management Forum in partnership with Makana Municipality and the Department of Water and Sanitation put their heads together towards an integrated water plan that addresses both water and sanitation services, as well as water resources. “Health and access for farmers are just some of the broad range of concerns of communities that use an area’s water resources,” said workshop facilitator Matt Weaver. Weaver is a researcher…

SPCA manager Mark Thomas says he’s relieved that Makana Municipality have confirmed their willingness and ability to do animal burials at its landfill site. Members of the public support the happy face of the SPCA – rescuing and rehabilitating animals and matching them with permanent homes. But it’s also the SPCA that gets called in to deal with grim situations – like when a donkey gets hit by a car in Beaufort Street and dies, or when a truck full of livestock overturns on a public road. Thomas says having a way to dispose of dead animals had become a…

Sun International last week confirmed that it had entered into discussions with the SA Commercial and Catering Allied Union (SACCAWU) over the proposed closure of its Fish River Sun resort near Port Alfred. Sun International Chief Operating Officer Thabo Mosololi said the resort had over the past few  years recorded escalating costs and declining revenues in a depressed economic environment, with little prospect of financial recovery. The option to sell the resort had been complicated by an outstanding land claim, making this option unviable. Mosololi said it had considered several cost-saving and revenue improvement alternatives which had either been implemented…

Former Cabinet Minister Trevor Manuel believes citizens have set the bar too low for public representatives and firmly believes that South Africa’s Constitution is the key to getting the country out of the mess it’s in. Manuel was the guest speaker at Kingswood College’s Neil Aggett Memorial Lecture – an annual event to commemorate the former pupil who died in detention in 1982 after a decade of anti-apartheid activism as a young adult. The lecture, and an award also presented annually, celebrate the practice of service above self, and aim to foster a culture of social responsibility among pupils in…

Port Elizabeth and East London will be two of four centres in the Eastern Cape where trade union federation Cosatu will focus their national strike against state capture and corruption on Wednesday 27 September. In a media release dated 21 September signed by provincial secretary Xolani Malamlela, the organisation announced workers would gather from 8am in Port Elizabeth’s Nangoza Jebe Hall, Queenstown’s Indoor Sports Centre, Mthatha’s Freedom Square and East London’s North End Stadium, to march to government buildings, where they would hand over memoranda of demands. Their demands include and end to state capture by big business; an immediate…

Fire fighters and traffic officials were quick to respond when a fire broke out in Pick n Pay’s used packaging storage room in African Street, Grahamstown around 7pm last night Wednesday 20 September. Manager Jon Campbell told Grocott’s Mail no one was injured in the incident. “The fire department and the traffic police responded very quickly,” Campbell said. “It might have been a lot worse otherwise.” Officials had left the scene by 9pm. Police spokesperson Captain Mali Govender said no case was opened and confirmed that no one was injured. Update 22 September 2017 includes police response.

Tantyi Primary held their annual reading day at the school on Friday 15 September. Organised by Grade 1 teacher Luleka Vabaza, children from Grade R to Grade 6 took part, reading and performing poetry in isiXhosa and English, with the Grade 6 pupils doing storytelling – Intsomi yesiXhosa – and performing short plays. Vabaza said the annual festival, in September, was part of a project to encourage children to read, write and speak both English and isiXhosa. Grade 6 pupils Asive Heathcote and Sibulele Molly had an audience of parents, grandparents and neighbours exclaiming, gasping and laughing as they told…