Author: Grocott's Mail Contributors

Name: Euphorbia triangularis Desf. Family: Euphorbiaceae (Spurge family) Common names: Engl. Chandelier Tree, River Euphorbia, Tree Euphorbia Afr. Driehoek-melkbos, Naboom, Noorsdoring, Rivier-naboom, Xho. Umhlontlo Description A spiny, succulent, candelabra-shaped tree up to 18 m in tall. Trunk: cylindrical with traces of four angles, sometimes developing two or more stem-like branches, each bearing a rounded crown of upward-curving branchlets 1,5-2,5m long. Branchlets: usually 3-angled, constricted, forming segments with parallel sides, 7-5-30cm long, yellowish green; margin sinuate, with or without tubercles. Spines: slender, inconspicuous, brown to grey, diverging; spine shields separate, or forming a continuous horny ridge along the margin. Inflorescence: greenish…

I just want to thank the kind salesman at Clicks who carried my microwave oven to my home. I do not own a car and explained my dilemma. He then offered to carry it after consulting with the manager. This was true service, going the extra mile. Well done, Clicks, and keep it up. More businesses should take a leaf out of your book. Senior Citizen (June Venn)

1590: John White returns to the Colony of Roanoke (in today’s North Carolina, USA) to find the settlement deserted and the entire population vanished. The mystery prevails to this day. 1793: the Great Meteor of 1793 is seen across the United Kingdom. 1945: Sukarno becomes the first President of Indonesia, following the country’s declaration of independence from the Netherlands the previous day. 1963: James Meredith becomes the first African-American to graduate from the University of Mississippi, an important milestone for the USA’s Civil Rights Movement. 1977: Steve Biko is arrested in a police roadblock in King William’s Town, Eastern Cape.…

By Nathan Ferreira Stress is a normal part of life; people often experience stress when they face crises or when they have to make major life decisions. For most people stress comes and goes. This is, however, not the case for people with anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders are “a group of mental disorders characterised by significant feelings of anxiety and fear. Anxiety is a worry about future events and fear is a reaction to current events.” Anxiety disorders include: Generalised Anxiety Disorder (chronic and exaggerated anxiety and fear about everyday things, such as job responsibilities or household chores), Panic Disorder…

FIXING OUR DEMOCRACY: 5 DAYS… 5 WAYS Join the debate – also read: At the Crossroads – but democratic tools remain strong – Wesley Seale Democracy: it’s the right thing to do – Chris Mbekela Activism the backbone: Here’s how to do it well – Lindelwa Nxele  Make your councillor count: a partnership of equals – Lungile Penxa  The glass half full: the means are in your hands – Anne Loeffler  … and comment on our Facebook page. by WESLEY SEALE South Africa is at a fork in the road. As far as its socio-economic outlook is concerned, the…

by TREVOR DAVIES The many challenges faced by Makana Municipality are public knowledge. A debt of about R150 million, a large portion of which comprises outstanding debt owed to the Municipality by citizens and businesses. Eskom and Amatola Water are some of the Municipality’s biggest creditors. While the municipal area is currently experiencing a devastating drought the City’s internal water reticulation infrastructure needs massive restoration. At a recent meeting between the Concerned Citizens Committee to Save Makana of which the GBF is a member, the Office of the Premier agreed to the appointment of a turnaround specialist who would be…

Economic sustainability is about building linkages, keeping the money local and revitalising the economy, writes Eastern Cape Premier Phumulo Masualle. All citizens should be treated equally. There should be a balance between rural and urban communities, a choice whether to live in urban or rural Eastern Cape, and basic services should be available to all our citizens. Unfortunately there have been many common challenges facing rural areas. For many years there has been inadequate support and a prolonged pattern of declining town centres and increasing regional gaps in quality of life. Looking after the economic health of our rural areas…

By RON WEISSENBERG July 2017 – a pivotal month in Grahamstown. In the face of hosting a slightly subdued, yet very successful National Arts Festival, the Municipality admitted bankruptcy amid urgent moves to invoke specific Constitutional administration for the local authority. A Transformation Summit was held and potholes were filled, courtesy of emergency funding from the provincial government. Some commentators sadly compared these initiatives to re-arranging the deckchairs on the Titanic. Sad too was hearing of the liquidation of Stuttafords. Founded in 1858 as a South African  counterpart  to Harrods, Stuttafords became the embodiment of departmental store elegance and style,…

Grahamstown has many beautiful and historic buildings among which are the Anglican Church, the Town Hall, the Methodist Church, with their quaint architecture [that were] built in a bygone era. It would seem that they are timeless. The clocks perched high on the steeples, particularly the Anglican Church and the Town Hall are both centrally situated; not to mention  the ones at the Observatory Museum and the High Court. My apologies if I missed out any. Unfortunately these clocks have not moved on with the times. Time has stood still. What time now? Ted Naidu, Frequent Visitor

By TORQUIL PATERSON The auditorium at the National English Literary Museum now provides the premier venue for the concerts of the Grahamstown Music Society. It is the right size, It is comfortable and the acoustics are wonderful. The piano, relocated from the St Andrew’s College Drill Hall, sounded beautiful after being tuned that afternoon. The society is truly grateful to both NELM and SAC. Last Thursday the audience appreciated a concert chosen and delivered to perfection by the duo of Eleonora Spina and Michele Benignetti. The genre of four hands on one keyboard was most popular in the middle to…