Author: Rod Amner

By JONATHAN WALTON Jonathan Walton “This document is full of omissions. There are no reference numbers for the projects. Some of the budgets shown have been spent, others are future expenditures. Columns for expenditure in years ahead are blank. Most of the spreadsheet is empty. The only things shown are major infrastructure grants from external sources. Makana should plan to spend 5% of its own budget on capital projects (roughly R17 to R20 million per annum). There should be a budget allocated to ‘Good Governance’, especially after three successive AG disclaimers. Future plans for increased public participation and engagement have…

By the NATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL TEAM We’ve added three exciting new shows to the 2022 programme! Amanda Black, Ringo Madlingozi and Bongeziwe Mabandla will each perform live in Makhanda for one night only during the Festival, and bookings are now open at www.nationalartsfestival.co.za.These incredible artists are part of a series of musical highlights spread across the Festival’s two weekends, with plenty of jazz, music, theatre, dance, comedy, visual art, performance art and more throughout the eleven days. Remember that, due to COVID-19 regulations, our venues are only at 50% capacity, so book your tickets early. Gnomes at work in Milner Road for Standard Bank Young Artist Gavin…

By JOY HINYIKIWILE Starting in June, the Rotary Club of Grahamstown will oversee water, sanitation and kitchen upgrades worth R6-million at seven local schools thanks to its concerted collaboration with the global Rotary Club Foundation. Julia Heemstra, who lives in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, but grew up in Makhanda, has been instrumental in brokering partnerships between local and international Rotary clubs, culminating in a number of school infrastructure project over the past few years. Her father, Phillip, was an ichthyologist at Rhodes University and she spent her formative years at Stepping Stones Preschool, Oatlands Primary, Victoria Girls Primary School before migrating…

By CHESLEY DANIELS Host Templeton High 1st XV recorded a hard-fought 10-7 win against Alexandria High in their School’s Friendly Rugby encounter played in Bedford on Saturday. Scores were level 7-7 at halftime, clearly highlighting the titanic battle between the two talented and skilful sides. In perfect weather conditions for rugby and with a large local crowd in full support, the clash lived up to expectations by delivering entertaining and running rugby from both sides. The game was played at a high pace and great intensity – a brutal affair with constant physicality throughout. It was a game of two…

By EVAN ROBINSON-JOHNSON, reporter for Jackson Hole News & Guide A high school car wash fundraiser in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, USA, to support the stipend of a Ntsika Secondary School math and science teacher earned R39 000 ($2,440) in cash on Friday 6 May, with more donations expected through an online Venmo link. The funds directly support Fundisile Mgoqi, a volunteer maths and science teacher at Ntsika Senior Secondary School, who currently receives a stipend from the school. Jackson teens met with Ntsika students on Zoom before planning the fundraiser to learn more about life in the township. They also competed…

The Abakhuseli Skills for Life Project provides an empowering and dignified space for community members who assist and protect motorists – otherwise known as car guards – to express themselves, develop skills, and build autonomy and self-development. Abakhuseli members want to be differentiated from the criminals and pretenders on the street and be recognised for their dedication to their occupation, themselves, and this community. SAM BABAYA reports from the joyous launch of this uniquely Makhandan empowerment project on the weekend. Uncontrollable smiles erupted on the faces of Abakhuseli Skills for Life members on Saturday, 14 May, during the launch of…

By GARTH SAMPSON, South African Weather Service A steep upper-air trough system will develop into a cut-off low-pressure system over the north-western interior of the country by Friday, 20 May. Widespread rainfall can be expected over the southern and central parts of the country from Thursday onwards, with light snowfalls likely over the mountainous, high-lying areas of the Western and Eastern Cape, spreading to the Lesotho Drakensberg regions by the weekend, where heavier falls are anticipated. 24-hour rainfall accumulations of 25 to 35 mm can also be expected over the drought-stricken parts of the Eastern Cape, including Makhanda. A cold…

By CHRIS TOTOBELA On Saturday afternoon, football lovers returned to JD Dlepu stadium in numbers to witness the second leg of the Makana LFA Premier league championship play-offs between X1 Attackers and City Pirates. The game started a few minutes later than the scheduled kick-off time. Thembalethu Vaaltyn opened the scoring for Attackers with a well-taken header, and Livile Kleyi equalised later in the game from the penalty spot. The referee eventually stopped the game while both teams were locked at 3-3 on penalties due to the encroaching darkness. The game had to be replayed on Sunday. The kickoff started…

By THE ABAKHUSELI TEAMAbakhuseli Skills for Life Project is a Makhanda-based initiative developed with local car guards, working towards empowerment, integration and dignity for each member. This is a grassroots project born out of the hard lockdown of March 2020. Overnight, Makhanda’s car guards’ work disappeared when they were ordered to stay out of town. During this time, the Makhanda Circle of Unity distributed regular grocery parcels and Skills for Life pamphlets to these community members. In November 2020, these members met as a group, and the first Abakhuseli meeting was held. At the meeting, the group chose the name…