Last Thursday was a significant day for the Grahamstown Methodist Women’s Manyano, who on the day marched against gender based violence and child abuse. The annual women’s march saw members gather with songs and signage at the intersection of Jacod Zuma Drive and Albert Street; and progressed towards the Shaw Methodist Church where Dr Vuyisa Matshaya addressed the congregation. Matshaya spoke about the mental disorder, dementia, its causes, symptoms and enlightened the women on what to do when dealing with people who have dementia. He qualified as a medical doctor at the age of 21 and furthered his studies in…
Author: Bonke Liwani
Mazwi Dingana is the proud founder of Khulani Skill Transfer Development Project for unemployed youth. They are a Joza based organisation that gives local youth the skills set to make burglar gates and roadworthy standard trailers for hire and for sale. Dingana grew up on a farm on the outskirts of Grahamstown, and after many changes in career path over the years, drew closer to the skills he had learnt on the farm. Fortunately, in that same period, he received an offer from a business asking for someone to weld trailers with supplied material. Without any hiccups, and to his…
Yonela Faba AKA Yosh Mdantsane born, Bisho raised and Grahamstown based rapper. Studies at Rhodes University. Started as a young boy writing poetry in Grade 8 while doing chores, and picked up on the ‘Spaza (Kasi hip hop) Music Movement’ that initially came as a challenge to him. There was a slight boom of vernacular rappers and he struggled to find a space for his craft as he was just starting – and rapping in English. Fast forward: Yosh joined a few rap groups and stood with them in competitions and had regular spots on Tru FM. Later in 2010 he decided…
An artist competition was held at the Makana City Hall on 16 August, and the winners of the R10 000 cash prize were Via Kasi Movers, a pantsula group that dominated the stage and deserved the win. This was the day after a music development workshop took place in the same venue for the benefit of Grahamstown’s musicians. The artist competition was open to all performing artists, who came in their numbers and different sounds, to claim the cash prizes. The celebrity judges were Elvis Mali, Radio Mcuba and Bulelani Koyo from uMhlobo Wenene FM. Another special guest was Mafa…
The heroic actions of the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency’s men and women field rangers who risk their lives to protect and conserve natural resources do not go unnoticed. They were acknowledged, celebrated and rewarded. Field Rangers Day paid tribute to the current and past generations of rangers from all districts of the Eastern Cape, at Thomas Baines Nature Reserve on Friday 18 August 18. The ECPTA’S Chief Executive Officer Vuyani Dayimani, and MEC (Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism) Sakhumzi Somyo were in attendance to personally show support and give a message of hope to the staff members…
The 2017 theme for Casual Day, on Friday 1 September 2017, is ‘Celebrate Diversity’ and it is centered around inclusion and equity for persons with disabilities. Supporters are encouraged to represent who they are – for example, by wearing traditional clothing, their favourite team kit or rocking a personal fashion sense! And of course to complete your look, you should wear your casual day sticker, which costs R10 and is available in five colours: Casual Day is an annual nationwide fundraiser for organisations working in the disability sector (Epilepsy SA, The Mental Health Federation, the Association for Persons with Physical…
Local artists and three of every Grahamstown school’s best performers have been invited to show off their talent and compete for some great incentives at Makana Municipality City Hall on Wednesday 16 August, along with a free music development workshop held at the City Hall on Tuesday 15 August. The event, organised by Tell Your Friends, features media personality Mafa Bavuma (uMhlobo Wenene fm) in support of colleagues Elvis Mali (born in Grahamstown), Bulelani Koyo and Radio Mcuba who are the competion judges. The competition is open to all ages, and offers cash prizes to winning performers (1st place wins…
The serendipity of any good deed can lead to great things. Helen Averbuch’s young son Jack handed over his bicycle to Iminathi, a boy his age, which lit a spark in the avid bicycle enthusiast Averbuch’s mind. This was the birth of the ReCycle Project, that aims to mobilise less fortunate communities with bicycles received from ordinary people. The people of Manley Flats and Sikhululekile farming community usually have to walk around 15km every morning to get to work. The irony was the fact that they created and maintain the Manley Flats Community Trails where people enjoy cycling trails, along…
A host of businesses and various higher education institutions heeded the call from Grahamstown’s Department of Education, to collaborate and have an information session for the benefit of six goverment schools in attendance, as part of their joint Careers Exhibition Day at the new Indoor Sports Centre in Extension 6. Reverend Bangushe opened with a prayer and encouragement, saying, “You need to ask God for the energy, courage, strength, and wisdom you will need to carry you through your studies.” The information session came at the perfect time for at least 500 learners in attendance from grades 9 to 12.…
Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma spent her Nelson Mandela Day speaking to students and the public at Barrat Lecture theatre, on invitation by Rhodes University’ Department of Political and International Studies. This was prior to her visit to the Themba TB Clinic in the Fingo . Many of Grahamstown’s Municipal officials were in attendance as well, to learn about the African Union’s visionary Agenda 2063. The Agenda aims to put the African continent on a more competitive level internationally, by means of reaching goals within 10 years of the 50 year framework. A prosperous, peaceful and integrated continent is nothing close to…