Author: Grocott's Mail Contributors

Darwin’s Hunch: Science, Race and the Search for Human Origins By Christa Kuljian Reviewed by Steven Lang This book is essential reading for anyone who thinks it is important to understand the political and scientific context of palaeoanthropology in South Africa. It is an extensive and thoroughly researched work that methodically contextualises groundbreaking (literally) discoveries within the political setting of their time. It is a book about the mavericks, egos and unsung heroes of palaeoanthropology in South Africa. It’s also about how callous colonial and apartheid mindsets allowed otherwise courageous scientists to ride roughshod over the dignity of indigenous South…

“I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” Ephesians 4:1 The first three chapters of Paul’s letter to the Christians at Ephesus are full of weighty doctrine, describing the unfolding of God’s glorious plan of salvation, and explaining what God has done for us in Christ. However, in the second half of the letter Paul shifts the focus to practical Christian living, and this is why Chapter 4 begins by urging us to “live a life worthy of your calling.” In other words, we are being encouraged to live a life that is consistent…

By Dr Angela Gaylard, Regional Ecologist for SANParks’s Frontier Region Most visitors to the Addo Elephant National Park (AENP) go there to see the jumbos – the park was originally proclaimed to protect these magnificent animals and has done so well at this that it is now arguably the best place in Africa to view elephants. On hot days, in particular, visitors can watch at close range while elephants visit waterholes in large herds, bathing and wallowing with youngsters in tow. The incredible success of the Park’s elephant conservation is a double-edged sword, however. While the elephant population has flourished,…

STAFF REPORTER Six days, 140 events, 336 groups, 70 partners and the spirit of Ubuntu made up this year’s Trading Live campaign by the people of Makana, from 24 to 28 July, 2017. The annual initiative of the Rhodes University’s Community Engagement directorate under the leadership of Di Hornby garnered unwavering support and commitment from Rhodes staff, students, state and independent schools, business, civil society, non-profit and community based organisations in Grahamstown. All the partners involved shared their skills and assets for the benefit of each member in a unique reciprocal approach as part of the Nelson Mandela’s 67 minutes…

By MARK THOMAS Welcome to the latest instalment of Life at the SPCA. It has been a very busy month with the SPCA Centre having to cope with many challenges. As I type this report we are entering our second consecutive week of having no water. This has been despite contacting the municipality on a daily basis. Local organisations have come to our aid delivering water to keep us going, but once again we find ourselves running out. We have also received notification of impending cut off of electricity and water due to our outstanding municipal bill and a legal…

POETIC LICENCE By Harry Owen The sad truth is that, before I first came here ten years ago, I knew almost nothing about South African poets. That changed very quickly, however. One of the first books I was given (in May 2007) was called Dog Latin by someone I had never heard of at the time but whom I would later come to know as both fellow poet and friend – Norman Morrissey. A year later, in June 2008 at the launch of his new collection, Triptych, at the old Reddits Books & Coffee in New Street, he signed my…

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 or WHATSAPP 076 733 1770. by LUNGILE PENXA Ward Councillors are citizens’ politically elected representatives. Councillors are the link between the public…

Members of the public are invited to the Rhodes University Science Faculty’s Open Day on Saturday 5 August which, along with a programme for schoolchildren, forms part of the Grahamstown’s celebrations of National Science Week, from 5 to 13 August 2017. Around 400 Grade 9 learners will be joining the Scifac team for a fun, informative day that’s sure to get them excited about Science and Mathematics and encourage them to continue with those subjects through to Grade 12. The learners will get a glimpse into different disciplines and career opportunities in the sciences during a day of fun and fantastic activities on Saturday 5 August. Vice Chancellor…

Over recent months Grahamstown Residents’ Association has reported on the declining state of Makana’s finances. This has become the default reason given for non-delivery of the services Makana has a statutory duty to provide. Whilst the financial crisis is routinely spoken about in meetings, the escalating problems with cash flow and mounting debt have not attracted the necessary urgency of action. All the road painting, pothole patching and street light fixing that suddenly took place before Festival cost the municipality about R1.6 million, granted for this purpose by Province. The rest of the year these teams of workers are mostly…

By STEVEN LANG Maropeng boasts one of the most spectacular exhibitions of human ancestors in the world. The recently discovered Homo naledi fossils are undoubtedly the showpieces of this extraordinary museum, but there is plenty more for science tourists to see. President Thabo Mbeki officially opened Maropeng as the official Visitors’ Centre of the Cradle of Mankind World Heritage Site, in December 2005. In May this year, the Homo naledi exhibition with the original bones of two almost complete skeletons opened to the public. Two amateur cave explorers, Rick Hunter and Steven Tucker, made the original discovery in some of…