By ZIMKITA LINYANA and LIYAHLUMA TWANI Last weekend, the world awoke to the devastating news of 21 children who had died in Enyobeni Tavern in Scenery Park, a disadvantaged part of East London. EC Safety and Liaison spokesperson Unathi Bhinqose said the children between 13 and 17 years old indulged in a night of ‘groove’ to celebrate the end-of-term ‘pens down’. Underage drinking was in the mix. Forensic experts are working around the clock to determine the cause of the fatalities. The SAPS has expressed concerns about rumours circulating on the cause of death. “We urge people to refrain from…
Author: Zimkita Linyana
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By BANOYOLO SICWEBU “What is a story? A story has a beginning, middle and end. A story takes you into a different world and paints a picture. A good story contains a moral lesson, loveable characters; characters the audience can relate to and resonate with.” This sentiment set the stage for the recently-performed lyrical production (Not) A Place of War, created by Rhodes University drama alumna Thembela Madliki in collaboration with her cast. This opening line glued the audience to their seats in anticipation of the promise of a ‘good story’. The immense impact of war on a country, its citizens,…
By ZIMKITA LINYANA Makana Municipality has scored a stinking 9% in the 2022 Green Drop report benchmark test – down from 62% in 2013 when the last report was released. Peter Sturrock (MSc Civil Engineering: Water Treatment) said wastewater treatment in Makhanda is “really bad”. For one thing, many sewage pipes and maintenance holes are leaking and overflowing and that “sewerage ends up in the streams as you can see near Cash Build, Matthew Street and towards Fort England hospital.” The Green Drop report is an incentive-based regulation spearheaded by the Department of Water and Sanitation that monitors wastewater networks…
By ZIMKITA LINYANA The Scotts Farm area (including Wylde and Trotter streets and Ghost Town) has had to endure seven weeks without running water. The root cause was a leak in the pipeline under a building on Wylde Street. It needed rerouting as the houses built on the street had been extended over the piping system and yarded off due to inadequate town planning. The rerouting process took less than a week and yet has only this week been repaired, restoring the water to taps. Scotts Farm residents expressed their displeasure with the Ward 4 Service Delivery WhatsApp group. One…
By ZIMKITA LINYANA Makana Executive Mayor Yandiswa Vara handed over the keys for a R2.8-million Mercedes-Benz Arocs skip loader to delighted Department of Community Services (DCS) members last Friday. The national Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE) donated the gleaming vehicle in response to a distress call from Makana’s DCS director Kelello Makgoka. The vehicle will be put to immediate use by helping to eradicate about 130 illegal dumpsites in Makana. The municipality failed to meet the Legal Resources Centre’s (LRC) 18 February deadline to fully comply with the Makhanda High Court order of September 2021 to eradicate these…
By ZIMKITA LINYANA Despite countless attempts, we have not yet received word from the Makana Municipality about plans to repair the maintenance hole on Fitzroy street. The hole is a potential hazard to motorists, humans, and even cattle and donkeys who roam the town’s streets. Photo: Zimkita Linyana
By ZIMKITA LINYANA Makana is amongst the three worst-performing municipalities in the Eastern Cape for water quality according to the Department of Water and Sanitation’s Blue Drop risk rating benchmark. With a score of 95%, Makhanda is in the critical category. Image: 2022 Blue Drop Progress Report The Makana Municipality is comprised of three drinking water supply systems: Alicedale (which scored 47.8%, in the low-risk category), Riebeek East (48.7%, also low-risk), and Makhanda (95%, which ‘critical’). Image: 2022 Blue Drop Progress Report Makana would be marked red on this map were it not for the relatively safe water supplies in…
By ZIMKITA LINYANA This Sunday, the streets of the quaint town of Bathurst were abuzz with the return of the annual book fair after two years of Covid-induced hibernation. Locals were out enjoying music, food, and goodies at the Village Green and on the streets. Thrift stalls, bookstalls, and food stalls colourfully lined the streets. The Pig & Whistle was packed to capacity. The lounge area was the main venue for book-related talks by various bibliophiles. Book fair attendees waiting on fast food orders while browsing through books on sale on Kowie Street Photo: Atang Matiea Books, food, wine were…
This Saturday, 30 April, World Veterinary Day shines a spotlight on vets and their work. While there is a significant shortage of vets globally, including in South Africa, Makhanda is one of the exceptions as it boasts a substantial number of passionate vets and veterinary clinics. ZIMKITA LINYANA introduces us to some of them. Makhanda’s vets work at various private practices – iKhala Vet, Makana Vet, Cole Vet, Grahamstown Vet – and we also have a dedicated state vet. Wildlife vet William Fowlds with Ikhala veterinary clinic staff Candice Momberg, Annie Mears and Lisa Graham after sentencing in the Ndlovu…
By ZIMKITA LINYANA Local veterinary clinics have confirmed a case of rabies in a dog. From a suburban area, the dog was young and unvaccinated and visited a farm recently where the animal was likely exposed. Dr Annie Mears of the Grahamstown Veterinary Clinic said a state vet had confirmed the case. Mears said residents should remain vigilant, but there was no need to panic as there were no signs that the town was experiencing an outbreak. Sporadic cases are commonly seen on farmlands, she added. The best available measure to prevent rabies is vaccination. Rabies vaccinations are available for…