Author: Grocott's Mail Contributors

NguCHRIS TOTOBELA Amakhwenkwana aselula asathe chu nemidlalo yawo nanjengoko iye yaqhuba nakulempela veki esisuka kuyo. Kuqale imidlalo yabo bangaphantsi kweminyaka elishumi elinesithathu. Kumdlalo obuvutha ngeyona ndlela, iCameroon ibambene ngenqaku elinye macala neAfrican spears logama iJoza Callies nayo ibambene ngenqaku neEluxolweni. Kwidabi lwabakhaya iSophia Stars ikhuphe onke amaqhinga namava ayo ngethuba ibuya sele isilela ngasemva ngenqaku, yabetha iBlack Stars ngamanqaku amane kwelinye. ICity Pirates ibethe iGolden Brothers ngamabini kwelinye, logama yona iSakhulutsha itywatyushe iGrahamstown United ngamanqaku amane eqandeni. Kwimidlalo yabangaphantsi kweminyaka elishumi elinesihlanu iEluxolweni ibhaxabule iJoza Callies ngamanqaku amane kwelinye, logama yona iGolden Brothers ibethe iCity Pirates ngamanqaku amabini kwelinye kumdlalo…

By CHRIS TOTOBELA Last Saturday afternoon, local fans were treated to another feast of football as JD Dlepu hosted a double header. In the first game Maru took on Makana Pillars in their SAB league game which attracted a lot of spectators who came in numbers to witness this local derby. Both teams did not disappoint as there were fireworks from the word go. Makana Pillars succumbed to the enormous pressure from Maru after taking an early lead and were thrashed by five goals to one. Maru looked much fitter and better conditioned compared to their opponents, who played in…

Last Saturday was a perfect cricket weekend for Graeme College, who performed well in a derby against Kingswood, after three impressive T20 matches on Friday against Alexander Road. Graeme played 13 matches, winning 10 and losing two. The under-14A game ended in a tie against Kingswood, even after a ‘super-over’. Kingswood won the toss for the first-team match in good conditions and didn’t hesitate to bat first. They got off to a very solid start, despite tight bowling spells from the Graeme openers. The Graeme change bowlers let the pressure slip momentarily, as Darius Govender (26) batted well. He combined…

In his State of the Nation Address, President Cyril Ramaphosa said, “As part of the stimulus package in agriculture, we have invested significantly in comprehensive farmer development support to ensure that restituted and communal land is productively utilised.” This promise came to fruition when the Premier of the Eastern Cape, Oscar Mabuyane visited Makana Municipality last week. The Premier visited Makana Municipality to do two things. First, he came to deliver the inaugural memorial lecture of Dr Rev Simon Gqubule hosted by the Rhodes University SRC. Second, he came to hand over title deeds, tractors and implements to farming communities.…

By FIONA DE VILLIERS Fantastic bargains at the White Elephant Stall, books to lose yourself in, a fine range of drought-resistant plants and a chance to catch up with friends over a cup of tea were some of the highlights of the Friends of the Library (FoL) annual fete in the Trinity Hall in Makhanda last weekend.  With an impressive banner on show outside Pick n Pay for the week running up to it, the public were eager to see what was on offer. The event on 28 September 2019, was the fifteenth fete the FoL has held to raise funds…

The Intsomi Reading Project was launched at Kingswood College recently, as part of the school’s community engagement programme. A lending library has been set up for 28 support staff members who have signed up for the project. The books currently available are a mixture of fiction and non-fiction, and are targeted at children aged 3-16 years of age. At the launch, Cathy Gush, co-ordinator of the project, said the project is expected to grow in membership and in scope. She encouraged parents to spend time reading with their children at home, and said they were now part of a bigger…

Dear Residents Last week the office of the Mayor convened an Intergovernmental Relations Forum meeting. This is a statutory forum established in terms of the Intergovernmental Relations Framework Act No. 13 of 2005. Intergovernmental relations (IGR) forums are important interactions of co-operation and interdependence of government units of all types and levels. Their  purpose is to co-ordinate priorities and budgets in order to maximise impact. It is also to ensure the execution of government policies through effective communication. The following departments attended and made presentations of their respective priorities: Themba TB Hospital South African Police Service South African Social Security…

Addo Elephant National Park (AENP) outside Port Elizabeth has a new inhabitant; one that, if spotted, will be immediately recognisable – with a shoulder height of 3.18m and tusks measuring an impressive 1.39m from the lip out. His weight is estimated at about six tonnes. The 35-year-old ‘Tembe’, introduced into the Park on Saturday, is the first of three bulls which will be brought in as a donation from Tembe Elephant Park in KwaZulu-Natal. Addo Park Manager, Nick de Goede, said, “Addo’s elephant numbers are currently in excess of 600 animals and it is vital that we continue to supplement…

By AMANDA MNGOMEZULU Parenting comes with many challenges, but these become greater when parents are separated or are in the process of getting divorced, and cannot agree on with whom and where the minor child will reside. With whom the child resides, however, affects the child more than the parents. It is therefore necessary for the court, as the upper guardian of the minor child, to decide which parental plan or arrangement is most suitable and promotes the best interests of the minor child in the circumstances. In making its decision the court is guided by, among other things, a…

By CHRIS TOTOBELA The Makana LFA pre-season tournament concluded on Saturday 28 September, with the Eleven Attackers and Sophia Stars facing off in the semi final. Attackers started strong while Sophia took long to get going and by halftime there was still no goal either way. Attackers took the lead midway through the second half with a well taken header, but a rush of blood into the head of one of their defensive midfielders led to Sophia’s equaliser via a spot kick. This came after a Sophia player was hacked from behind while he had his back on the goal,…