By CHESLEY DANIELS This past weekend, we witnessed some explosive and highly entertaining cricket in the Grahamstown Cricket Board (GCB) T20 Competition. Fixtures took place at various venues for both the 1st and 2nd league teams. GCB 1ST – SHAW PARK Host Cuylerville, Southwell and Willows Cricket Clubs competed against each other in a round-robin format, where the two top teams advanced to the semi-finals. Willows were the standout team on the day and beat both teams comprehensively. Cuylerville beat Southwell in a had-to-win game to book a place with Willows in the semis. Southwell lost both their games and…
Author: Rod Amner
By STAFF REPORTER The Sarah Baartman District Municipality (SBDM) Council elected Cllr Deon De Vos as the new Executive Mayor of the district during a Special Council meeting held today at the SBDM Council Chambers. This was the first meeting of the Council since the shock passing of the late Executive Mayor, Cllr Mzimkhulu Njadayi in November last year. During his acceptance speech, De Vos reiterated the late Executive Mayor’s priorities and pledged to continue with the same plans, which were aimed at improving the lives of the district’s communities. De Vos was elected with 16 votes against Cllr Karen…
By STAFF REPORTER How can students experience the world in the middle of a pandemic? With limited travel abilities over the past two years, Ken Harper, professor and director of the Newhouse Center for Global Engagement at Syracuse University, USA, and a team of teachers in Makhanda and Syracuse, hatched a plan to bring their students together: giant video portals. “When students enter the portal, it’s as if they are standing directly across from another person, but that person is halfway around the world,” said Harper. Two 82-inch screens have been erected at the Joza Youth Hub and the Rhodes…
Jim Cambray reported just 4mm of rainfall at Park Road for 13-19 January. Paul Maylam recorded 4.2mm in Cathcart St. Temperatures ranged from 16.5 to 34C. Average rainfall is expected for Makhanda for February-March-April, according to AfriWX:
By STAFF REPORTER St Andrew’s College (SAC) headmaster Alan Thompson has stepped down after a Review Board of Enquiry found the school’s former water polo coach David Mackenzie had “groomed boys” under his watch. Aidan Smith, SAC’s second master, will immediately assume the position of interim headmaster. In a 90-page report, published on the school website, the board’s enquiry into allegations of sexual misconduct, bullying, and substance abuse at the school found the evidence presented had “demonstrated, quite unequivocally” that former water polo coach and Espin House deputy housemaster Mackenzie “was grooming boys”. In a statement also published on the school…
By CHESLEY DANIELS Harold Alan ‘Buck’ Jewell died peacefully on 13 January 2022 at his home in Alicedale, at the age of 63. He was surrounded and cared for by his beloved wife and children during his illness. On Saturday, 22 January 2022, his funeral will be held at the St Mark’s Methodist Church in Alicedale at 11 am. The Alicedale Community lost a pillar, leader, mentor, father and a true legend. When you hear or see the name Alicedale, his name quickly comes to mind – a household name in his small loving hometown. Buck earned the respect of…
By STAFF REPORTER The body of a 16-year-old boy who drowned in Grey Dam on Tuesday was recovered by police divers on Wednesday morning. This follows the drowning of a 26-year-old man in the dam on Boxing Day 2021. In the past 10 years, at least eight people – four of them children – have drowned in the dam. Several Makhandans reacted to the news with dismay on Facebook and offered heartfelt condolences to the boy’s family. Vuyisile Dondashe said he wished lifesavers or security should be installed at the dam “because our kids will not stop going to these…
Local small businesses who meet the criteria are invited to attend an information session on Saturday 22 January 2022 at Noluthando Hall in Joza from 10 am to 12 pm. Another session will be held at the Extension 6 Indoor Sports Center from 1 pm to 3 pm. All interested individuals and informal businesses are welcome to attend.
By SIVE MADALA GUMENGE A month after the local government elections of 01 November 2021, I expressed an opinion that municipalities should align with TVET Colleges with the intention being the use of credible skills for service delivery and economic development. My purpose was also to demonstrate what role municipalities should play in the communities they serve, in the spirit of Batho Pele. “Education is the key to success.” As clichéd as the phrase sounds, it has contributed to getting the ball rolling for Makhanda, a town in unarguable need of a successful turnaround. Therefore, it is beneficial to see…
By STAFF REPORTER Out of the cohort of 86 Diocesan School for Girls (DSG) matrics, 84 attained a Bachelor’s Degree (BD) pass, one obtained a Diploma pass, and one pupil will be writing Supplementary Examinations. Of all the subject symbols achieved, 35% were distinctions, and 36% were B-symbols. Three DSG Matrics were listed in the Top 1% of candidates per subject in five subjects: Sarah Floquet (Top 1% for English Home Language and Top 1% for Visual Arts) Jemma Boonzaier (Top 1% for History and Top 1% for Life Sciences) Indiphile Duda (Top 1% for isiXhosa First Additional Language) In…