Author: Kathryn Cleary

Nearly six months after initial media reports of alleged human rights violations at Tower Hospital in Fort Beaufort, Health Ombudsman Malegapuru Makgoba released his 60-plus page investigative report. Former Tower psychiatrist Dr Kiran Sukeri blew the whistle in February this year in response to witnessing alleged poor patient care and mismanagement by hospital officials. Makgoba hauled both the media and Sukeri over the coals, discrediting Sukeri in particular. In contrast Health MEC Helen Sauls-August, in a statement issued the same day, saluted whistleblowers for their “central role” in exposing the hospital’s issues. Sukeri’s claims were investigated by public bodies including…

Kathryn Cleary is a journalist at Grocott’s Mail, as well as an avid long-distance runner. Here is how she is preparing for the GBS Mutual Bank Mountain Drive half marathon. It’s the day before the big race, maybe even your first half-marathon. It’s ok to feel nervous and demotivated, it happens to all of us. Lucky for you, today is full of food, rest and relaxation. Because you will be running 21.1km, you need to make sure your body is fuelled up for a successful race. That means carbs, carbs and more carbs. You will want to increase your calorie intake…

As the country continues to mourn the loss of Rhodes University student Khensani Maseko, Grocott’s Mail has made it a priority to provide ongoing coverage of issues related to gender-based violence. The coverage will include news stories, as well as resources for the greater Grahamstown (Makhanda) community. According to research by Media Monitoring Africa (MMA), out of all stories analysed in South African media in 2017, only 6% were about gender-based violence. The Herald had the most reporting on the topic in the country, more so than Huffington Post and News24. Grocott’s Mail wants to hear your stories, your news,…

On Saturday 4 August, Grocott’s Mail hosted its first ever community photo walk at the Joza Youth Hub. Local high school pupils, community members, and NGO staff joined the Grocott’s team for a photography workshop and walk through the community. The event was in partnership with The Stand newspaper in Syracuse, New York. In March of this year we announced an exciting partnership with The Stand, as part of the ‘Your Town, Our Town’ media exchange project. The project works to connect two distant communities by sharing stories and photographs. The Stand hosted their annual photo walk on 28 July…

On Monday morning 6 August, Rhodes University students and staff gathered in their numbers outside the Drama Department, otherwise known as Purple Square. This followed a call the previous night by the university’s Student Representative Council (SRC) for an academic shutdown following the tragic death of student Khensani Maseko. Maseko reportedly committed suicide in her Johannesburg home on Friday, 3 August. Maseko’s death has been linked to an incident in May this year when Maseko was allegedly raped by her boyfriend. Her most recent social media post before her passing read “NO ONE DESERVES TO BE RAPED”, with a photograph…

Rhodes University Botanist, Prof. Roy Lubke, has his say about the selling of cut flowers in Grahamstown (Makhanda). Though there is no quick-fix to this environmental issue, Lubke offers solutions and insight to the community. This is a perennial topic that gets raised every few years. Will it ever be solved? No, not as long as we have the poor people in the town and the proteas and other flowers remain as beautiful and are as cheaply available to the general public. The Problem? This is the conservationists concern; The King Protea and many other species of fynbos plants produce…

In light of community uproar over the illegal picking and selling of Grahamstown (Makhanda) wildflowers, Grocott’s Mail spoke to Makana’s Environmental Manager, Ndumiso Nongwe. As unemployment and crime remain a priority concern for the municipality, conservation and environmental education take a back seat. “Since I came here in 2008 it’s one of those things I’ve been talking about, saying I have not spent a lot of time on conservation,” said Nongwe. “What [the flower-sellers are] doing is illegal,” he said. “But maybe as municipal officials we have turned a blind eye. To us, when we are looking at that situation…

Rhodes community mourns student in march and a day of dialogue On the morning of Tuesday 7 August, dark clouds loomed over Grahamstown (Makhanda) as Rhodes University students and staff gathered in tearful memory of student Khensani Maseko. Maseko tragically took her own life on Friday 3 August. It has been reported that she suffered depression after allegedly being raped by her boyfriend in May this year. Yesterday, 6 August, Grocott’s Mail reported that students and staff, led by the Student Representative Council (SRC) called for an academic shutdown of the university in light of Maseko’s passing. Vice Chancellor Dr…

A local couple remains traumatised after a harrowing break-in at their home in Sunnyside mid-July. This follows a noticeable increase in crime throughout Grahamstown (Makhanda) and surrounding areas. Police and security officials suspect the increase could be drug related. Early morning 19 July, the couple awoke to an intruder breaking through their front door. “There was someone on the outside of the door, breaking through one of the panels,” they told Grocott’s Mail. The intruder had already broken through the metal security gate using an object – such as a crowbar. “It was quite scary, he had a sort of…

What you need to know about #RIPKhensani and #RUShutdown18 TW: discussion of rape, sexual assault On Monday morning 6 August, Rhodes University students and staff gathered in their numbers outside the Drama Department, otherwise known as Purple Square. This followed a call the previous night by the university’s Student Representative Council (SRC) for an academic shutdown following the tragic death of student Khensani Maseko. Maseko reportedly committed suicide in her Johannesburg home on Friday, 3 August. Maseko’s death has been linked to an incident in May this year when Maseko was allegedly raped by her boyfriend. Her most recent social…