Author: Sue Maclennan

By Sue Maclennan @SusanMaclennan2 “We want our love back,” ANC Deputy President Cyril Ramophosa told a warm and receptive audience at the Indoor Sports Centre in Joza yesterday. “Like a lover who has done something wrong, we must try to win South Africa back.” He was definitely on a mission to court his Grahamstown audience. “Makana must be properly resourced,” he told the 2000-odd supporters who filled the centre to capacity, with outdoor speakers broadcasting proceedings for those who couldn’t squeeze in. The municipality’s financial crisis is openly referred to in Council meetings and documents. Further hitting home on an…

Makana has declared a water disaster in the municipality. A resolution was passed in yesterday’s full Council meeting to declare a local state of disaster so that urgent action could be taken to secure the town’s water supply. A report from acting municipal manager Mandisi Planga says the total raw water storage left to supply the Grahamstown West area of the municipality is enough for 95 days. “It must be noted that this is if there is no further irrigation draw-offs or any credible rainfall in the catchment area of [Settlers] dam,” the report states. “It is for the…

Sue Maclennan @SusanMaclennan2 Four neighbours in Kota Street, Extension 9, spent the long weekend enduring the effects of a sewage spill. A large section of cultural activist Vuyo Booi’s Kota Street floor was flooded with sewage. When Grocott’s Mail visited the site last Friday, he said his neighbours had all had the same problem. Grocott’s Mail chatted to Vuyo’s back-fence neighbour Amelia Nikelo. Her toilet, which is an outside flush toilet, had spewed sewage, which was still all around the toilet and on the grass outside it. Grocott’s Mail also spoke to Vuyo’s next-door neighbour Mercy Bavuma. Like Vuyo…

Armed robbers left a trolley full of cash after a shootout at a Peddie store late Sunday night, following an explosion. Police spokesperson Captain Mali Govender said around 11pm on Sunday 30 April, two constables responded to a report of an explosion at a store in Peddie. “On arrival at the scene the members were confronted by armed suspects who fired several shots while moving towards an exit,” Govender said. “The members returned fire. During the shootout, the state vehicle was damaged and one bullet narrowly missed the foot of a member and hit his boot.” Govender said explosives and explosive devices had been used…

Sue Maclennan @SusanMaclennan2 The DA caucus in the Makana Council Wednesday 3 May laid a complaint with the Grahamstown branch of the South African Police Service, in terms of the Prevention of Corruption Act, handing over a copy of the Kabuso Report, which implicated individuals in office in the municipality from 2011 to 2015. Meanwhile the EFF in Wednesday’s Council meeting expressed dissatisfaction at the response to a motion they submitted to Council regarding the implementation of the Kabuso Report. Signed by councillors Brian Jackson and Brian Fargher, their statement said they were reporting offences committed during the term of…

By Mark Thomas Welcome to the Fifth Monthly installment of Life at the SPCA. It has been another busy month and has seen many animals come into our care. We have lots of lovely animals up for adoption and encourage anyone interested in adoption to look at our weekly column in the Grocott’s Mail and keep up to date with all the happenings at the SPCA centre and new additions of animals on our Facebook Page. This continued influx of animals demands a significant quantity of food. We’re constantly looking for food donations and are extremely grateful for any we receive. This…

A man and two women who allegedly specialise in retail thefts were arrested in Grahamstown this week in a joint operation by members of Crime Intelligence and visible policing, according to Grahamstown Police spokesperson, Captain Mali Govender. “Thefts have been a crime of concern and with the assistance of the community and networking with local businesses, members of the police gathered information on the trio and caught them on the act after they committed another theft from a local liquor store on Tuesday 25 April,” Govender said. Alcohol worth over R3 000 was seized and investigators were working with several complainants…

By Sue Maclennan and Chesley Daniels It’s business as usual for the Birch’s clothing factory in Grahamstown, despite a devastating fire on the eve of Rhodes University’s graduation. The company supplies hundreds of academic gowns for the six graduation ceremonies taking place at the Monument from tomorrow until Saturday. Meanwhile the family whose house on the adjacent property was gutted is picking up the pieces of their lives, as they struggle to get back on their feet. Like other staff, Director at T Birch & Company Nick Mowbray was shocked at the news of the fire and its devastating effects; however,…

(Left) the home of Jean Burgess and her three sons was gutted by a fire on Thursday 13 April which destroyed a wing of the Birch’s clothing factory next door. Photo: Steven Lang By Sue Maclennan and Chesley Daniels It’s business as usual for the Birch’s clothing factory in Grahamstown, despite a devastating fire on the eve of Rhodes University’s graduation. The company supplies hundreds of academic gowns for the six graduation ceremonies taking this week. Meanwhile the family whose house on the adjacent property was gutted, is picking up the pieces of their lives, as they struggle to…

Strange noises coming from a backpack in the car of a man caught speeding led an alert police officer to a two live animals and five dead ones being transported in the boot of a car passing through Port Alfred this morning. Police spokesperson Captain Mali Govender said this morning 8 April 2017 at 5am, Warrant Officer Tertius Neethling of the Port Alfred K9 unit noticed a red and white Toyota Corolla speeding into Port Alfred from Kenton on R72. When Neethling pulled the vehicle over on the Nico Malan bridge, the driver said he had been speeding because he was…