Amazwi is holding its annual Heritage Carnival on 24 September. Traders are invited to sell their wares. Things they need to know include: * Set up from 8 am * Trade from 9 am to 2 pm * No fees * Traders must sign up to trade by contacting info@amazwi.museum or 046 622 7042. * If on Wednesday the 22nd the forecast is for rain on the 24th, then we will make a call as to whether to postpone and inform everyone on the 22nd. Performers are also welcome to share their talents in Amazwi’s open-air amphitheatre.
Author: Rod Amner
From the SPCA Sunday, 12 September, saw a rescue of another kind. This time, the SPCA bakkie had to be towed after breaking down in the township for the second time in two weeks! With 250 000 km on the clock, the SPCA vehicle is taking enormous strain. Not only does our SPCA respond to calls in Makhanda/Grahamstown, but also Riebeek-East, Salem, Seven Fountains, Fort Brown, Alicedale, as well as cruelty investigations in Adelaide, Somerset-East, Bedford and on occasion, Hofmeyer, too! We desperately need another reliable vehicle to enable our Society to respond to calls for assistance in the huge…
By LOYISO DYONGMAN A contingent of former learners of the Carlisle Bridge Primary School visited the school over the weekend to hand over school shoes and other items. Luyanda Matiwane has fond memories of his time at the school and felt it was time to “plough back”. “It is important not to forget where we come from. We know not everyone can afford to buy uniforms and other school materials,” he said. The Grade R-7 public primary school, located at the Carlisle Bridge Farm about 50 kilometres from Makhanda, caters to about 90 learners. “Nkosana Ludinga, Melikhaya Kepe and myself…
By CAITLYN HILLIARD-LOMAS Xolani is a community beaming with friendly faces but also inhabited by hundreds of hungry dogs. Almost every house in the area is home to a dog or two. The ever-increasing population of canines is caused by the sad reality that people in this community cannot afford to sterilize their pets. In March this year, the Makana Vet Clinic and its owner, Amy Jackson-Moss, started sterilizing the dogs in this community for free. In a recent Facebook post, Dr Amy stated, “Sterilization is, in my opinion, the most effective method of population control.” However, despite this resolution, the…
Almost 65% of those vaccinated in the Eastern Cape- including our district – are women. This is an unusual pattern. In countries where vaccine uptake is recorded by sex, there is a slight trend towards men being more likely to get vaccinated than women. So, why are South African men more reluctant to get vaccinated for COVID-19? LOYISO DYONGMAN investigates. Mohamed Docrat, head of the Department of Health in the Makana Municipality, says men’s reluctance to get jabbed is not new. “Men, in general, do not seek medical help. Whether it’s an annual check-up for chronic disease or getting tested for HIV…
At the start of 2021, the RU Community Engagement office’s Vulindlela project delivered SD cards to 520 Grade 12 students in local no-fee paying schools – all made possible by donations by Makhandans. Each tiny card was chockablock with 32 gigabytes of personalized learner support materials, aligned with each learner’s curriculum requirements. By slotting the card into any smartphone, learners could instantly access study guides, videos, past exam questions, and even some ‘reading for pleasure’ materials. In this series of diary entries, one of the Vulindlela volunteers, DYLAN COETZEE, takes the reader on a journey through the delivery process. The…
By CHRIS TOTOBELA Makhanda’s very own champion Mzoxolo ‘Black Tiger’ Ndwayana will be in the ring on 18 September after a long layoff. Ndwayana last fought in December when he suffered a fourth-round TKO defeat against old rival Thulani Mbenge in their SA welterweight title fight. The Black Tiger is currently the WBF international welterweight champion. He will be trading leather with Katemba Kuvesa from DRC in their WBO international welterweight bout at the Metropolis Parkview in Pretoria. This will be an under card to the Cruiserweight clash between SA’s Tommy Gun Oosthuizen and DRC’s Yousouf Mwanza. Ndwayana looked very sharp…
By CHRIS TOTOBELA Jacaranda Aces were crowned local 2020/21 Premier League champions on Saturday. Makana LFA, represented by Akhona Heshu and Afika Adam, handed over the trophy, medals and R3000 to excited Jacaranda players and officials on Saturday. Aces were very consistent this season and played a very entertaining but disciplined brand of football. Aces coach Asanda Koliti could not hide his excitement: “I am very happy with the way we have played this season. We made things easy from the beginning by collecting as many points as possible while scoring many goals in the process. In the last two…
By CHRIS TOTOBELA On Saturday, the Makana Boxing Organisation held trials for U17 boxers. Masibambane and Mfuzo Boxing clubs took part in the trials while Masakheke Boxing club pulled out. There were some very exciting bouts, but the one that stood out was Chumani Kondile of Mfuzo BC against Mangaliso Simani of Masibambane BC. Both boxers started like a house on fire, exchanging explosive blows with Kondile catching Simani with an uppercut several times while Simani responded with hard body blows. Both boxers used the ring well and got the crowd on their feet with their skills and accurate punching.…
By LUVO MNYOBE Rhodes University and the Makhanda Circle of Unity hosted a youth chat about the COVID-19 vaccine and vaccine myths last week. The event was live-streamed on several Facebook pages and broadcasted on Rhodes Music Radio and Radio Grahamstown. This chat featured a diverse group of young people, including outgoing SRC Community Engagement representative Lukhanyiso Cezula and pupils from various high schools in Makhanda. Sakhe Ntlabezo, Programme Manager of the Makhanda Circle of Unity, said it was important for young people to talk about the vaccine through what has certainly been a challenging time for all of us.…