By CHESLEY DANIELS Rosebuds 1st XV registered their second win in the EPRU Sedru Regional League Competition with a clinical 30-15 bonus-point win over Ndlambe Tigers at the Alicedale Sports Ground on Saturday. The home side had already taken a firm 13-5 lead at the break. The encounter was played in cold and wet weather conditions, but heated, confrontational and entertaining rugby was the order of the day. Rosebuds’ spirits and confidence were high after registering their first win the previous weekend. Tigers were up for the challenge, and their bigger and mobile forwards took the game to the home…
Author: Rod Amner
By CHRIS TOTOBELA Makhanda’s only hope for regional glory ended abruptly as Maru fell short of claiming victory. Maru drew the first game against home side United Brothers two goals apiece. It was a matter of so near yet too far when they threw away a three-goal lead only to share the spoils with Camdeboo 4-4. The victory in their last game against Wits was just a formality because the home side, United Brothers, had already clinched the title. Maru’s head coach Andile Bobotyana saw the light at the end of the tunnel: “These games are always not easy, and…
By ROD AMNER and OVAYO MILISA NOVUKELA The Grahamstown Business Forum (GBF) and the Makana Residents Association (MRA) have threatened to take the Makana Municipality back to court over its ballooning Eskom current account debt, which stood at R29.2-million in March. GBF chairperson Richard Gaybba said he was astonished to read a report from the last Makana Council meeting in March, announcing that the municipality had paid off the last of the arrears it owed to Eskom. Gaybba said it was “disingenuous” to claim that the last of that Eskom arrears had been paid off this year because, by March,…
By LIKHAPHA THAATHAA and ROD AMNER Makana Traffic Department clerks are back at their stations after a rescue agreement was struck with the Makana Council to retain their services, according to Makana Traffic chief Coenraad Hanekom. The department was closed recently because several cashiers who had been ‘temporarily loaned’ to them by the Makana Municipality were redeployed. Hanekom said he sent 14 reminders to the Makana human resources department over five months to advertise and fill the posts. The clerical posts have now been advertised. The closing date for applications is 20 May 2022. However, after they are hired, the…
By PHILIP MACHANICK, Makana Citizens Front (MCF) MCF frequently hears: “You are our last hope.” But we only deserve residents’ commitment and support if we earn that through our sweat. Words are easy; it’s actions that count. In five short months, Makana Citizens Front PR councillors, elected in November 2021, Lungile Mxube, Philip Machanick, Jane Bradshaw, Kungeka Mashiane and Jonathan Walton have made an impact. Before we were sworn into Council, we objected to a tender for a much-needed shopping mall in Joza where the compulsory briefing was advertised with only two working days’ notice. We were concerned that the…
By NONHLANHLA NGCOBO, ANEL DU PLESSIS, and OLIVER FUO The South African informal economy accounts for 17% of employment. Street trading is the largest. Street traders are scattered around the many corners of the country’s towns and cities. They sell a vast range of products. Despite their significant role in economic and social development, street traders continue to be harassed by municipal officials. They face sustained forceful evictions, continued confiscation of their goods, and the soliciting of bribes by police officials. These actions indicate the repressive relationship between the street traders and local government in South Africa. The justification is often that street trading is unruly,…
A huge shout-out to Nita’s Makhanda Events WhatsApp group for these listings. THURSDAY 12 MAY Grahamstown Bridge Club@ Grahamstown Bowling Club, Cnr. African Street & Cawood Street13:15 for 13:30R10 non-members/ R5 – membersSheila Hicks: 0834423322 Ladies’ Night DJs RS & Kasta@ Mi Casa, 131 High StreetFree entry FRIDAY 13 MAY Politics & International Studies Weekly Lunchtime SeminarA Genealogy of Segregated Post-Apartheid GovernmentalityDr Christopher AllsobrookChair: Dr Bongani Nyoka@ Politics Department, Rhodes University13:00 – 14:00Free The Victoria Girls’ High School Music DepartmentTerm 2 Gala ConcertFormal concert to showcase Trinity syllabus – voice, various instruments, and ensembles (choir, marimba band & orchestra)@ VGHS Hall17:00Free entryScholars to attend…
By CHRIS TOTOBELA Football fans braved the freezing wet weather on Saturday to witness the first leg of the battle for honours and promotion. XI Attackers played host to City Pirates, reviving their long rivalry. The game was supposed to start at 3 pm but got underway 45 minutes later as there was no sign of match officials. Both teams enjoyed a prolonged warm-up session until one match official showed up. It was a disgrace as fans sat in the cold, knowing if the game would go on or not. Finally, the game got underway, and both teams quickly forgot…
The Mayoral Imbizo is an ongoing mayoral outreach programme to bring local government closer to citizens. The municipality interacts with communities regarding upcoming service delivery projects in their areas and progress on existing ones. 17 May: Wards 2 and 9 (‘D’ and Eluxolweni), 5.30 pm, Noluthando Hall 18 May: Ward 3 (Phumlani, Mnandi and Ext. 10), 5.30 pm, Ebaleni Extension 10 19 May: Wards 6 and 9 (Extension 5) and 11 (Ethembeni), 5.30 pm, Indoor Sports Centre 24 May: Ward 14, 10 am, Alicedale Town Hall 24 May: Ward 13, 5.30 pm, Vukani Tent 25 May: Ward 5, 5.30 pm,…
Dear Editor Prior to the first free election in 1994, the Black Sash spent a great deal of time doing voter education both in town and on far-flung farms in the rural areas. The programme aimed to help first-time voters understand what that act meant. In subsequent elections, trust and democratic rule have been maintained. One asks now, in view of the scurrilous way five city council members have been ousted, if these cornerstones of democracy have broken down? Is Makana, with its erstwhile record of civic trust and action, betraying us all? Yours sincerely,Rosemary Smith Rosemary van Wyk Smith…