Author: Mzwamadoda Makalima

On Tuesday 5 February, Samuel Ntsiko former learners donated school uniforms to pupils in need. Khayalethu Sami, who is now working as a Publishing Assistant, led a motivational talk during the assembly, where they encouraged pupils not to be troubled by their background or the school they attended, and that the sky is the limit. Mrs Baliso, an Investigating Officer in the Family Violence and Child Protection and Sexual Offence unit, shared some insight about her line of duty. She also advised pupils on what to do when they are abused physically or emotionally, and to even report to teachers…

Ngu: Dumisa Mpupha The imbongi welcomes the new Makhanda Mayor, Honorable Mayor Mzukisi Mphahlwa. Mabandl’akowethu nivile Mabandl’akowethu sesivile ke kambe Ukuvuleka komhlaba wavelis’iizityalo Kwaphum’iingxangxazi kwaphum’amanzi Eyiyizela elilizela Kwagcoba kwano sebeleni Aah! Zanethamsanqa! Aah!Zanentlahla! Wabu-u-uy’umfo kaMpahlwa uRhadebe UNdlebentlezombini uNyawozimnyama nango qhwayana Yabuya indod’engabekwa chaphaza Gxebe kweso sihlalo samalungisa Aah! Zanethamsanqa! Aah! Zanentlahla Sino Sodolophu eMakhanda Ngunyana womthonyama Bubuso esibaziyo nesibuqhelileyo Uhleli esihlalweni sabanyulwa okwesibini emgceni Xa sibala siqala ngaye sithi “Ngu Sodolophu” Aah! Zanethamsanqa! Aah! Zanentlahla Mabandla ase Makhanda Nditsho kuni zizwe nezizwana zakwaNtu Kwakuni zintlanga ezaziwa ngokuba zeza se luhlangeni Vumani nam ndithi nina bamhlophe kunye nani nimnombo waba Khoyi(Khoi…

On Tuesday 15 January our Facebook Page reached 10 000 Likes, and from 10 January to date, our page posts have reached an audience of 36 483 users across Facebook. Over the past week 18 932 users engaged with our posts (Liking, Commenting and Sharing), keeping us active on our page and making sure our readers get the most up to date news as possible. We have our ears on the ground and our journalists are always out and about making sure to bring you the news as it unfolds. Facebook rates us as 90% responsive to messages and comments. Even…

By RUTH WOUDSTRA As many of us return to our desks in the new year, it is an ideal time to engage in healthy stretching habits to maintain a sense of that holiday relaxation. Stress tends to cause your muscles to contract, causing tension and a feeling of unease. Loosening these tight muscles not only increase blood flow, but release endorphins and can create a feeling of tranquility during your work day. How do you naturally stretch when you are sitting at your desk? Think about the areas of your body that need attention after a long stint at the…

GROCOTT’S MAIL REPORTERS On a whistlestop tour on the first day of school last week, Grocott’s Mail found most Makhanda (Grahamstown) Primary Schools up and running. The Department of Education delivered stationery packs to the schools last year, giving learners a head start. With the exception of one or two schools, when Grocott’s Mails visited, school transport was working, teachers were in their classrooms and, at the no-fee schools, school meals were being served. Every school had more applications than it could accept – most because of their infrastructure limitations – simply not enough space to meet the huge demand…

Grocott’s Mail visited Usiphile Gazi (18), the Department of Education’s Sarah Baartman District top achiever from a Historically Disadvantaged Institution.  We spoke to the Ntsika Senior Secondary School matriculant about how she prepared for her success and her future plans. Usiphile performed well in Life Sciences, Physical Science, Geography and isiXhosa in her matric exams. “I was focused from the first day of school,” she said. She created her own summaries after reading from a textbook and used these to prepare for her final exams. “I am proud of myself and I am grateful that I passed Imatric with flying…

Ebubeleni Music Festival is fast in its growth since its inception seven years ago. One quickly remembers the event from rainy Adcock Stadium in 2014 to dusty Scribante Racetrack in 2016 to the refreshing Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in 2017 and now again in 2018. Revellers can look forward to a fun-filled exciting weekend experience with music and comedy. OVER fifty artists billed for the 2018 edition with top-of-the-charts along with exciting emerging performing acts will light up the 7th annual Ebubeleni Festival with spirited performances from Friday 28 December to Sunday 30 December in Nelson Mandela Bay. This year…

Jasmin astounds by making first kill in record time and takes significant strides towards her eventual release into the wild The conservation team at Kuzuko Lodge, managed by Legacy Hotels and Resorts, recently reported that the captive bred cheetah Jasmin, which was donated to Kuzuko by the NPO Ashia Cheetah Conservation, was recently released into a larger holding camp and officially made her own kill. The significance of this is a critical piece of a carefully constructed conservation puzzle that brings her closer to being released into the wild. Jasmin, who arrived at Kuzuko Lodge on 29 August 2018, was initially…

Police have appealed to the public for information that could lead to the arrest of suspects in the robbery of a gun shop in Port Alfred on 18 October 2018. Police spokesperson Captain Mali Govender said the police were seeking two men who robbed the store around 11am on Thursday. She said a man had entered the store, posing as a customer wanting to  buy an item of clothing. Leaving the item on the counter, he walked outside, returning with a second man who showed the shop assistant a firearm and demanded the keys to the safe. The men put…

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) says it has been inundated with calls from beneficiaries after unmarked cash vans visited their villages, claiming they were sent by the Agency. “These impostors allegedly ask beneficiaries to swipe their cards as many as three times in some cases in an effort to maximise bank charges,” SASSA said in a media statement Monday 8 October. “SASSA wishes to inform the public that its cash payments at various paypoints done through the South African Post Office (SAPO) only started today (Monday 8 October 2018) and that they should ignore anybody posing as SASSA,…