Author: Sue Maclennan

An agreement signed by the Presidency that effectively removed recourse for South Africans to a regional Tribunal will be tackled in the Pretoria High Court this week. In the matter, the Centre for Applied Legal Studies, represented by the Legal Resources Centre, will argue that SA’s Presidency cannot bind South Africa to international treaties without first consulting the public. On 5 February, the High Court will hear argument in a matter brought by the Law Society of South Africa against the Presidency and the Ministers of Justice and Constitutional Development, and International Relations. The Centre, represented by the Legal Resources Centre, will…

Rhodes University is committed to play a significant role in revitalising public schooling in Grahamstown. The extent of its commitment is underlined by the fact its Vice-Chancellor, Dr Sizwe Mabizela, personally heads up an institutional programme aimed at coordinating all efforts in this regard. The country’s education problems are increasingly well-known. Last year for example, it was confirmed that four out of every five South African children in Grade 4 cannot read for meaning in any language. What makes Dr Mabizela’s initiative unique is that he recognises the Rhodes University student body as an educational resource. Specifically, he sees agency,…

PJ Olivier held their athletics day on Friday 26 January. Along with the action on the sports field, there was a lively spirit on the stads, as Die Bloues tried to outshout Die Rooies! Every event on the day began exactly on time – and the school’s excellent organisational skills is about to be shared with other schools in the Grahamstown District. “After discussion with the Department of Sport and Culture in Grahamstown our school have decided to help with the organising of the following athletics meetings at PJ Olivier,” Deputy Head Manie Cronje told Grocott’s Mail. ” At our…

The evidence of all but one of four men accused of the murder of Grahamstown man Thembelani Qwakanisa has been heard, as Judge Thembekile Malusi heard the case in the High Court in Grahamstown last week. In December 2017, Thembani Onceya represented by attorney Henry Charles of Legal Aid SA, Akhona Onceya (Viwe Mqeke from Mqeke Attorneys), Simamkele Theron Onceya (advocate Charles Stamper) and Mzwanele Degree Maki (advocate Jock McConnachie) all pleaded not guilty in the High Court in Grahamstown to murdering Qwakanisa, 29, whose body was found lying in Zion Dam in Extension 6 in tied in a carpet…

Today we give you the third edition of the new Grocott’s Mail newspaper FREE ON FRIDAYS and we’d love to know what you think of it! Inside is an A4 sheet with some questions on it. Return it completed by midday on 1 February 2018 to our labelled collection boxes at BUCO (46 Bathurst Street, Grahamstown or Albany Road, Port Alfred), Pick n Pay or SPAR (Grahamstown or Port Alfred branches) and stand a chance of winning some great prizes. (Terms and conditions apply). Details inside! Grocott’s Mail readers have been our strongest supporters and critics since the paper first…

“We cultivate a future that is in your own hands,” Mlibo Qoboshiyane told pupils at Ntsika Secondary School during their assembly Monday morning 22 January – just under a week into  the new school year. The MEC for Rural Development and Agrarian Reform led a high-powered delegation to the school which in five years has improved from a 29% pass rate to and 85% pass in Matric 2017, and a place in the top five schools in the Sarah Baartman District. The group which included several senior officials from various provincial departments was executing the 2018 School Readiness monitoring and…

Mvuyisi ‘Vicki’ Platyi believes he was lucky to escape with his life after rubbish blowing on to his windscreen on a windy day obscured his vision and he swerved, lost control of the vehicle and it overturned. His employers and the owners of the vehicle say the rubbish that blows from the dump is not only unhealthy for the environment and unsightly, but has proved dangerous, and that the municipality should act urgently to remedy the mess. The incident occurred as Platyi, who was returning from a delivery for Fusion Speciality Food Shop to a game lodge west of Grahamstown,…

When Jessica Jezi came home from her job at a local supermarket each day, she’d know exactly where to find her youngest son. “I would go straight to Aphelele’s room and that’s where I’d find him studying,” she said. The Eastern Cape Department of Education named Aphelele Jezi top HDI learner in the Sarah Baartman District for Matric 2017. He and his mom enjoyed VIP treatment at the MEC’s and Premier’s Awards Ceremony at the ICC in East London. “I’m so proud,” Jessica said. “Aphelele is so hard-working.” Aphelele’s school is Ntsika Secondary School in Joza, classified by the Department…

Nearly 40 incidents in six days ranging from drunk and disorderly to rape and murder kept police in the Grahamstown Cluster busy. This summary is compiled from police reports from Saturday 23 to Thursday 28 December.  Drunk and disorderly behaviour – Saturday 23, Sunday 24: 5 Reckless and negligent driving – Sunday 24: 1 Drunk and Driving – Sunday 24: 4 Motor vehicle accident – Monday 25: A vehicle travelling from Peddie to Grahamstown overturned in strong winds. Two of the four occupants were taken to hospital. Theft out of motor vehicle – Sunday 24: 1 House burglaries – Saturday 23: 2 Stock theft – Thursday…

Civil society organisations and the DA in the Makana Council have red-flagged Sarah Baartman Municipality’s failure to second its Municipal Manager Ted Pillay to Grahamstown. The Concerned Citizens to Save Makana Group says the municipality’s citizens have been misled and have announced a rally outside the city hall on Saturday morning. However the Sarah Baartman Mayor says there is nothing untoward in Pillay’s absence from Makana up to now. In a statement issued on Thursday, the CCSM said representing diverse sections of the community in Makana, they had come together since June 2017 to engage with various tiers of government…