By KAMVELIHLE NETJIES The Black Power Station is a reflection of what the Fingo Festival seeks to highlight of the local arts scene, including stages for performers, artists, reading, dancing and more talents in a controlled space. It is an on-going festival, rather than a once-off event. It started out as an old power station that has not been used for long time. Working together with artists, and as a visual thinker and an artist himself, Xolile Madinda, who is also a curator of the Fingo Festival, brainstormed to use the space to bring in all elements of art into…
Author: Grocott's Mail Reporters
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By: CHRIS TOTOBELA After a spectacular start to the season, which saw them going a number of weeks without a dedeat, the Makana Pillars are the new Makana LFA champions for 2019. They played a very good and attacking brand of football which many of their opponents could not really cope with. The only two defeats the Pillars suffered this season were from their closest rivals, and fellow title contenders, Jacaranda Aces who pushed them all the way. Pillars will now move up to the SAB regional league where they will join other Makhanda based sides City Pirates and Maru.…
For a number of years, Xolile Madinda, former hip-hop artist, rapper and poet has curated a small festival to the locals of Makhanda (Grahamstown) who can’t access the National Arts Festival. The Fingo Festival is the locals’ festival and no one is charged for coming along. The five day festival focusses on youth talent, whose skills are sometimes buried by parents’ perspectives on art. Madinda said, “This year as a tenth annual celebration we will still doing what we used to be doing of equally giving upcoming artists a chance to perform on stage, and we don’t scale an artist…
By SUE MACLENNAN and KAMVELIHLE NETJIES Makana Mayor Mzukisi Mpahlwa wisely dealt immediately with the elephant in the room during the National Arts Festival’s official media briefing at the Monument, after the opening early on Thursday 27 June. The first to speak among a panel of representatives from the national and provincial departments of Sport and Recreation, along with Festival CEO Tony Lankester, he said, “I guarantee that there will be no interruption of water or electricity during this National Arts Festival.” Her assured journalists that the water supply to the city had been tested by accredited laboratories and proven…
Siyabonga Bashe (EFF’s representation Councilor) expresses how prepared they are as EFF for the upcoming election on the 8th May 2019. Bashe said, “As EFF we are well prepared for everything that will come on election day because we have put much effort to ensure that people get the reason for voting for us. But the challenge is with network in areas like Highlands, Sidbury, Farmerfield and other surrounding rural areas, which brings issues in communicating with residents.” Also hampering the EFF’s efforts to campaign in those areas is the condition of the roads. “Especially when it’s raining, it becomes…
By KAMVELIHLE NETJIES People came out in numbers to vote for political parties of their choice during the national and provincial elections. Again this year, the ANC (African National Congress) dominated in eight provinces. In the Western Cape, it came second after the DA (Democratic Alliance). The DA become became second in four provinces followed by EFF (Economic Freedom Fighters) which came second in three provinces and the IFP (Inkatha Freedom Party) in one province. Siyabonga Bashe, the EFF’s regional chairperson, said, “As EFF we are grateful and satisfied by the number of votes we have received. It shows that the…
NguCHRIS TOTOBELA Isaqhuba indebe yamanina yehlabathi, nangona awalapha ekhaya amagqiyazana sele ebuyele ekhaya. Iqela loMzantsi Afrika elaziwa njenga Banyana Banyana ibilelinye lamaqela amathathu amele izwekazi lalapha eAfrika kwindebe yehlabathi ebanjelwe eFrance kuquka neNigeria kwakunye neCameroon. Nangona uphume ngenja ixukuxa uMzantsi Afrika, uzame ngako konke okusemandleni awo kwaye bebethelekiswe noompondo zihlanjiwe abaquka iSpain, iChina kunye neGermany. Kumdlalo wokuqala iBanyana ihlangene neembila zithutha ngethuba ihluthwa intlaka emlonyeni liqela lase Spain ngamanqaku amathathu kwelinye emva kokuya ekhefini inkqenkqeza phambili ngenqaku elinye eqandeni. Kowesibini umdlalo iBanyana ikhuphe onke amandla yacinezela zisuka kwiChina, kodwa yafa namthanyana ngethuba ibethwa ngenqaku elinye eqandeni. Lonto ibashiye nomnqantsa kwaze…
BY KAMVELIHLE NETJIES After 4 weeks of planning for the event, from 08:00 until 15:00 on 15 June, stakeholders, learners and locals gathered at Fingo Square for a Youth Crime Prevention event. According to the program of the event, the fun walk to Fingo Square started outside the St Michael and St George Cathedral at 08:00. Both the Police and Traffic Departments were responsible for monitoring the cars driving along the High St, Bathurst and Beaufort St and the safety of the children. Before talks from Ward Councillors and other officials, and the activities as planned even took place, the…
By KATHRYN CLEARY AND SUE MACLENNAN Labour relations officers from the Department of Health met with representatives of the National Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) at Fort England Hospital on Thursday 20 June. This follows two days of picketing by Nehawu members outside the hospital’s main administration block demanding the removal of a senior manager and citing several grievances. Meanwhile, a confidential letter sent to the Department’s provincial office alleges intimidation of some staff by a group of current and former employees. The letter sent 18 June expresses critical concern for the well-being and safety of staff and patients…
BY KATHRYN CLEARY AND SUE MACLENNAN A high-level delegation from the Department of Health, along with national and provincial labour union representatives is set for talks at Fort England Hospital (FEH) tomorrow. This comes after a confidential letter sent to the Department’s provincial office alleges intimidation of some staff by certain union members. The letter sent yesterday, 18 June, expresses critical concern for the well-being and safety of staff and patients at the level 3 psychiatric facility. Along with allegations of race-based discrimination and harassment, the letter expresses the fear that staff will once again be forced out of the…