Author: Rod Amner

By CHESLEY DANIELS Trying Stars winger Lucian Milborrow scored four scintillating tries to help his side record a dominant 60-22 win over Lily White in their EPRU Grand Challenge Group C encounter at the Wentzel Park Sports Ground in Alexandria on Saturday afternoon. The home side took a narrow 20-15 lead at the break. The all-important bonus-point win strengthens Stars’ second place position on the overall log, and they are now five points behind log leaders Park. Stars are also now eight points clear of third place Despatch. The visiting Makhanda side arrived five minutes before the scheduled kick-off time…

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By CHESLEY DANIELS It’s a dream come true for Makhanda-born rugby player Denilo Jordaan. But it will cost him a whopping R40 000. The 15-year-old was recently selected for the VKB Invitational Rugby Side to tour Ireland from 7-16 December. His inclusion was based on his incredible performance in the U16 VKB Rugby Week in Free State in late June. Jordaan represented EP U16 at the tournament and was one of the standout players for EP. The multi-talented and skillful scrumhalf already made his mark in their first fixture against Leopards, where he earned the Man of the Match Award.…

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By NDUMISO KHUMALO, attorney at the Rhodes University Law Clinic Most consumers enter into credit agreements with little knowledge of the true cost of credit. A credit agreement must not require payment by the consumer of any money or other consideration, except the principal debt and additional costs permissible in law. The National Credit Act, in section 101, prescribes those permitted costs in addition to the principal debt. The initiation fee The initiation fee is a fee that the credit provider charges the consumer for entering into a credit agreement. The consumer is only liable to pay initiation fee if…

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By ROD AMNER and LINDA MKAZA What is accountability and how do we get it? Responses from community members to these perplexing questions at the launch of Makhanda’s three-year Action for Accountability project at the Extension 9 Community Hall on Wednesday included: “As a leader, you should take charge and responsibility for anything that falls under your leadership.””If the municipality hasn’t delivered a service, they need to report to the people and explain why that service hasn’t been delivered.””I would like to know how you can help us make the necessary steps to ensure that our councillors are held accountable…

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By ROD AMNER Grocott’s Mail’s eight student reporters are taking a well-earned rest this week in the wake of a long semester topped off by their sterling contributions to a successful relaunch of Cue Daily during the National Arts Festival (NAF). Consequently, this week’s edition is smaller than usual. But, readers can expect a full-throttle return next week, including the launch of a new feature, Humans of Makana (HOM). HOM is a series of short portraits exploring the lives, beliefs, attitudes and experiences of the diverse, resilient and talented people whose myriad contributions weave the intricate fabric of our district.…

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By ROD AMNER Jim Cambray recorded 7.6mm of the wet stuff at Park Road for 30 June to 6 July – including rainfall and several heavy dews. Paul Maylam received 6.1 mm in Cathcart Street for the same period. Temperatures ranged from 9-24 degrees Celcius. For June 2022, the Cambrays measured 29.9mm, below the long-term average of 35.5mm but above the median of 26.6mm. Just over 22mm of the month’s total fell over the week of 23-29 June. Historically the lowest total for June in Makhanda was 0mm in 1996, and the highest was 173mm in 2011, “again showing the variability in our…

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THEATRE: Isidlamlilo (The Fire Eater)Review by STEVE KRETZMANN God! We are a broken country. After so much violence, so much hope. Truth and reconciliation; such a swaying, rickety, patched bridge that well over half of us have fallen through its cracks into the chasm of poverty and its attendant daily and inter-generational traumas. Yes, statistics show that 60% of South Africans live below the poverty line. We can sit and debate that line, whether it is high enough or low enough, but the facts are in front of our eyes. Stand at Makhanda’s Drostdy Arch and lift them; see the…

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By MAGNIFICENT MNDEBELE, GroundUp Over 100 organisations and over 300 people met at Ekurhuleni weekend to discuss the erosion of constitutional rights. “The Constitution … is under direct threat due to the … nefarious activities of corrupt forces in our society that are opposed to democratic rule, the rule of law and constitutionalism,” reads the conference declaration.  “We need new and innovative ways of thinking about politics, mobilising and organising to re-ignite people’s power,” it says. “Our point of departure should be based on clear constitutional principles, economic inclusion, values of solidarity, social and climate justice, ethical behaviour, respect, collaboration, and transparency,…

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By LUCAS NOWICKI Twelve years after a court ordered it, the Eastern Cape Department of Education has submitted an implementation plan to build temporary school premises by August 2023 and permanent school premises by 2027 for Makhanda’s Amasango Career School. The school was founded in 1996 and caters for socially marginalised and impoverished children, many of whom are orphans or “street children”. It was registered as a special needs school with the Department of Education in 2003. The plan submitted to the Makhanda High Court has a preliminary budget of R220 million. It includes an administration block, 20 classrooms, four…

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By STAFF REPORTER For winter, Makhanda’s Kelston Isuzu is collecting warm clothing and blankets for the Home of Joy, which looks after homeless children ranging from newborn babies to students. Sales manager Duifie Nieuwoudt appealed to residents to donate clothes and blankets to the Winter Warmers initiative by dropping them off at their premises in Hill Street. From there, the items will be distributed to the Home of Joy, Nieuwoudt said. The Makhanda haven is run by Nomalungelo Margaret Ngcangca, fondly known as ‘Mama Margaret’. She provides food and shelter for 33 people at her home in Joza and relies…

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