By ZIMKITA LINYANA Two intriguing books by local authors about transnational writing were launched at the Amazwi South African Literary Museum this week. Both authors – Dr Andrea Thorpe and Dr Sean James Bosman – are former members of the Intersecting Diasporas Group (IDG), a research group housed in the Department of Literary Studies in English at Rhodes University. Speaking at the double-launch, the leader of the IDG group Prof Sam Naidu expressed her pride in the works of the two authors. She said Thorpe had been an excellent fit for the IDG group when she joined as a postdoctoral…
Author: Rod Amner
For the week 3-9 March 2022, Paul Maylam reported a 19.3 mm at Cathcart Street. “Not bad, but much more needed as we head towards the dry season,” Paul commented. Jim Cambray recorded a little less – 14.4mm – in Park Road. “The garden is still drying out – nice thunderstorms would be welcome,” he said. Temperatures ranged from 14-29C. Some decent rainfall is being predicted for the night of Sunday 15 March and through the day on Monday, 14 March. Meanwhile, above-average rainfall is predicted for March – rainfall could be 40% above ‘normal’. However, the long-range outlook for…
By ZIMKITA LINYANA A group of diverse outdoor enthusiasts is hiking through Makhanda’s many open trails on weekends in search of adventure, freedom, peace of mind and healing. Makhanda Wild Hikers Crew founder Melumzi Matiwane is a Makhanda native. He had a successful career as a freelance guide for local game reserves before the Covid-19 hard lockdown kicked in. At the peak of the lockdown in September 2020, when the world was shut down, many people were stuck at home and couldn’t do much for leisure. He also couldn’t continue with his professional duties as a guide. Melumzi saw this…
By STAFF REPORTER Elysoun Ross and Belinda Tudge of the Grahamstown Film Club donated R5 000 to the Amazwi South African Museum of Literature last Wednesday, 2 March. The donation was in recognition of the social club’s use of the museum’s theatre, following the relaxation of Covid-19 protocols. Films are shown to members on the first Friday of each month, in line with the rule of a maximum audience of 50 per cent of the theatre’s capacity. This money would be put towards the museum’s Education and Public Programmes as with previous donations. Happily, this donation coincided with the…
Renowned political cartoonist Jonathan Shapiro – Zapiro – will deliver Kingswood College’s 2022 Neil Aggett Memorial Lecture. The theme of this talk is “Standing up against injustice”, and the title of Zapiro’s talk is “Makhanda Forever”. Every year Kingswood College hosts a memorial lecture in honour of Neil Aggett, a former pupil who paid the ultimate price during the anti-apartheid struggle for liberation. The lecture is a tribute to all those brave men and women who laid down their lives fighting for human rights and social justice. Neil Aggett. Source: Wikipedia Neil Aggett Memorial Lecture – Zapiro Date and Time: 2.30 pm, Tuesday 15 March 2021 Venue: Kingswood College…
By the PUBLIC SERVICE ACCOUNTABILITY MONITOR, Rhodes University As Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana tableD his 2022 Budget for parliamentary and public scrutiny, South Africa’s public finance, health, and social welfare sectors face many harsh realities. In addition to the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, corruption and malfeasance in the public sector have decimated public resources, posing a direct threat to the commitments enshrined in South Africa’s Bill of Rights. Regarding allocations to critical social programmes, R 44 billion was earmarked for the Special COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grant extension by 12 months to March 2023. This is…
Dear Rescuers River conditions seem no worse – or better – than they have always been … possibly a LITTLE better thanks to the intermittent rain. But, we’ll be back in action this Saturday, focusing on cleaning rubbish off the banks rather than out of the water. Where? Wylde Street – which is just behind Evans Street and parallel to it. Meet in Evans Street to collect gloves, buckets, etc., then walk upstream, and the first little street you come to will be Wylde Street. We’ve got some boots, courtesy of Carrara – and some gloves, but if you’ve got…
By SAM BABAYA I recently sat with a local car guard on the cracked concrete of New Street’s pavement. I was entirely in awe of his hope and determination to work for minimal tips instead of succumbing to the temptation of illegal sources of income. Masixole, 23, prefers keeping his hands busy doing odd jobs like washing cars. His dream is to start his own car wash one day. Other car guards share his entrepreneurial aspirations. He is a young man with almost no material assets. His biggest daily struggle is feeding himself, his girlfriend, and their baby. He walks…
By CHRIS TOTOBELA Jacaranda Aces played host to Young Pirates from Port Alfred in their SAB regional league game at a packed JD Dlepu stadium on Saturday. The game lived up to the crowd’s expectations as both teams displayed good and entertaining football. The home side created several chances in the first half compared to their opponents but failed to convert any of them. After the break, both teams started where they left off but still failed to use the chances they created. Aces’ goalkeeper was called on to do some work on numerous occasions by Pirates but was equal…
By CHRIS TOTOBELA On Saturday, football fans came in droves to witness a mouth-watering Makana LFA Premier League encounter between former SAB regional league side City Pirates, which has now been relegated to the local football scene, and U18 tournament champions Young Eagles. The game started at a blistering pace but ended in acrimony and had to be abandoned. Pirates had the better of the early exchanges and took full advantage of their dominance. Pirates took an early two-nil lead after two well-taken goals. Eagles pulled one back via the penalty spot. City Pirates in white against Young Eagles in…