Author: Grocott's Mail Contributors

Grocott's Mail Contributors includes content submitted by members of the public, and public and private institutions and organisations - regular and occasional, expert and citizen, opinion and analysis.

Rhodes Business School Senior Lecturer, Professor Tshidi Mohapeloa has been unanimously elected by all 26 public universities as the Deputy Chairperson of the national Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) Communities of Practice (CoP) for Entrepreneurship Learning and Teaching. EDHE is a unit under Universities South Africa (USAf).  The third annual EDHE Kick-Off 2021 took place virtually in a three-day event from  24 to 26 March under the EDHE theme of the year, encouraging entrepreneurship against all odds. All 26 public universities were represented.  In her role as deputy chair, Professor Tshidi Mohapeloa will work closely with chairperson Dr Thea…

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An increasing number of South Africans have started to physically transfer some of their wealth offshore. Although investing offshore is not necessarily always a one-way bet, there are a number of good reasons as to why people should consider investing offshore. These include a wider range of investment opportunities abroad, the weakening of the rand and political instability.  The recent discourse around expropriation of land without compensation has resulted in a heightened level of unease regarding the security of investments in South Africa. One of the most important reasons for investing a portion of your wealth offshore should be to…

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By ANELE MJEKULA Makana Municipality conducted a sod-turning ceremony to mark the start of the upgrade of Ncame Street in Joza on Monday 12 April 2021.  Ncame is one of the busiest streets in Makhanda, which is why it was among the first roads to be refurbished. The popular road was even busier yesterday as Makana Municipality Mayor Councillor Mzukisi Mpahlwa and Engineering and Infrastructure Services Portfolio Chairperson Councillor Ramie Xonxa led the ceremony.  The road network all around Makana Municipality is in desperate need of repairs. The municipality is aware of this and plans are in the pipeline to…

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Aphelele Mtotywa is the Manager of the Makana Rape Survivor Support Group. Here she tells us about the organisation and how to access the assistance it offers. The Makana Rape Survivor Support Group is a Gender Based Violence (GBV) non-profit organisation that was established in 2002. It is responsible for the whole of Makana – Makhanda, Alicedale, Riebeeck East, Seven Fountains, Salem, Fort Brown and surrounding farms. We cater for both female and male victims of any GBV act. The organisation has eight caregivers who offer emotional and some psychological support to our survivors. Our aim is to prevent secondary…

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My name is Nomzolisi Mgudlandlu. I’m 30 years old and am studying at East Cape Midlands College doing Management Assistant N5. I live in Transit Camp in Makhanda. I aim to collect 200 sanitary pads by midday on Monday 19 April for learners in Makhanda primary schools. My first distribution will be at 10am on 20 April at NV Cewu Primary School. I’ve already received donations from close friends, some Makhanda residents and people around the Eastern Cape. I’ve also bought some myself. I am hoping that GMDirect readers will help out by donating because I want this campaign to…

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Gino Shelile is the brains and creativity behind the rebranding of SABC3 which on 5 April launched the rebranded S3. Here he shares some of his memories as a student in Rhodes University’s School of Journalism and Media Studies. I spent a lot of time filming things that were outside of the curriculum. I would hire equipment from [stores manager] Dees [Naidoo] when I had projects for [TV lecturers] Alette [Schoon] or Paddy [Donnelly] and then use the weekend with the gear to film my own productions. These were usually cheesy profile pieces on the SRC President candidates (e.g. Martin…

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From 5 April, viewers of SABC3 – now S3 – have experienced a fresh new look and feel. The person behind it, Rhodes University Journalism graduate Gino Shelile, shares his vision and explains the process behind rebranding the prime-time television channel.   In March, we were tasked with repositioning one of the SABC channels. Namely, SABC 3. This new look and channel positioning would launch on 5 April, 2021. The brief was to create a brand identity that would resonate with millennials that were curious, free-thinking and brave enough to pursue their dreams. The scope was quite wide, encompassing the LGBTQI+…

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The rainfall total for Park Road for the month of March 2021 was 49.8mm. How does this compare to other years? “Not that well at all,” says Jim Cambray. It is well below the average of 69.2mm and median at 70.3mm. Minimum for the month was 21.3mm in 2009 and maximum in 2000 at 180.2mm. “So for April we can hope for good rains – although overall in April we usually get less rain than in March.” Rainfall-wise, in Grant Street it was “another miserable month” with total rainfall at 39.4mm and mean at 61.7mm. Median in Grant Street at 51.25mm with a range of 19.7mm…

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This is the song for 2021. It connects with what happened in 2020, but ends up on the positive note of level one, honouring health workers and respecting our country’s president. Abasishiyayo sohlala sibakhumbula ngenene. Ntyiloooooo! Ndiya ntyiloza! Njenge ntaka yasendle ephila ngomabona ndenzile Kuba ezase makhaya zoyisakele Ntshontsho  lomdlambila liyatswina Neebhokhwe ziyazibuza Akusekho nemibeko kusinina Kuba iidonki zitya iinkcenkce Kuuuuubi kudlakadlaka kudlumbudlumbu! Emaxhantini bekunga sayiwa Amagqirha neemboni bebhekabheka Kuba iminyaka ise kude ukuba bafumane inkamnkam Kodwa bexhomekeke kiimvula tasi neminikelo Kalok’amanynge afun’usondelelwano nca bhostiki Nomoya kathixo ufun’ufuthelwano sigudlane Kungenjalo mhlol’awufumaneki ncakasana Koko nguvobe kancinciza nomcof’otefayo Kuqale ke umbhodamo…

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We have just gone through a series of so-called holy days. The days from Palm Sunday to Easter we call “Holy Week”, at the end of which is the dramatic Good Friday with the amazingly rich legacy of Jesus’ crucifixion and all that happened around it. Quiet Saturday is just quiet. And then comes the climactic Easter Sunday with the victorious and life changing resurrection of Jesus from the dead. These days are the hub of the gospel message of reconciliation, salvation and hope. It is good to reminded every year of the great deeds of God over these “holy…

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