Author: Lindani Donyeli

Mabhuti Galantshana is the father of two children. He has an interest in the garden. He has been planting for more than three years. He grows spinach, butternut, potatoes, onions, and tomatoes. The main thing that keeps him planting he says, is that food is very expensive. The money that he used to spend on vegetables, he can now use for something else. Galantshana says he would be very happy if he could get a piece of land to plant his veggies. He uses bathwater to water his garden and an ash mixture to repel insects.

On Friday 23 February, the day of the opening of the Eastern Cape Legislature in Bisho, representatives from the Department of Arts and Culture and archivists from Port Elizabeth, King William’s Town, and the Sarah Baartman District gathered at 56 “B” Street in Grahamstown. The gathering was about to rewrite the history of what happened in KwaNdacama and question why the place has a name that means “I have given up”. It was a fact-finding mission into this history. There were about 30 people, most of whom were invited by community activist Sizwe Mda and Nomso Mda.The gathering was chaired by Manager…

Angry Grahamstown residents blocked roads with burning tyres today and emptied buckets of raw sewage on to the streets in a service-delivery protest. During the morning rush hour, burning tyres and sewage made the main taxi route through Fingo VIllage from M Street through N, J and I streets impassable. Protesters told Grocott’s Mail their toilet buckets had not been emptied by the municipality for more than five months. These are among the last remaining residents who are still using the bucket system. They also complained about rubbish which had not been picked up by the municipality. The residents began their…

The event originated from England; and is now ubiquitous in many parts of the world (with 130 in South Africa alone!) Here in Grahamstown, the fun run depends on volunteers who check off the times and monitor the route for an average of 110 participants every week. The Park Run is sponsored by Discovery Vitality, Mr. Price Sports and Dischem Pharmacy. You can become a volunteer if you show up at around 7am at the Botanical Gardens on Saturday.

Vuyelwa Nkohla is the first Grahamstown resident to win with Sunnyside Garden Centre this year. The garden supplies centre is giving away an R50 voucher every month to the Garden of the Month (as featured in Grocott’s Mail), and  Nkohla has just scooped the February honours. “Thank you Sunnyside Garden Centre,” said an overjoyed Nkohla, “and thanks to Grocott’s Mail because without them I could not have found the voucher.” Nkohla was chosen from gardeners whose patches have been featured in Grocott’s Mail. She used her voucher to buy seeds so she could produce again. Said Malcolm Sonthey, owner of Sunnyside Garden…

Two drivers who rammed into each other on 5 February, brought traffic to a standstill when they started shouting at each other. The accident involved a white Toyota Corolla sedan, which collided with a white Ford Bantam between the Cathedral and the Birch’s clothing store. When traffic police officers arrived on the scene, it was discovered that one of the drivers had only a learner’s and was driving alone, contrary to traffic regulations. The woman was charged with driving alone when she had just a learner’s licence. Traffic laws stipulate a person with a learner’s licence must have someone in…

Granny of three Buyelwa Bashe has been the lucky recipient of the largest of Good Samaritan  Irene de Moor, who saw a Grocott’s Mail article in which Bashe complained about not having a fence and how goats and cows and goats were destroying her graden. De Moore had extra fence and kindly agreed to pass it on, through Grocott’s Mail. She was also quite impressed by Gogo Bashe’s garden. In addition to the fence, De Moore also gave her seeds and worm tea, a natural fertiliser that is mixed with water. “She is a wonderful lady and a hard worker,”…

A Public Works Programme team was in Fingo Village recently, fixing the potholes in Albert Street and cleaning the road and the stormwater drains. The workers work for eight days in the month and earn aroundt 699 a month. Programme supervisor Alfred Ngindana said, “The dumpsites are full and they have not been cleaned. That leads to the dirtiness of the community because people throw and throw away and no one is cleaning up. The municipality should clean the dumpsites,” said Ngindana.

On Monday 22 January, SASSA staff were at BB Zondani Hall to hand out forms to grant beneficiaries, so they can receive their monthly payment through a bank of their choice. Various institutions including FNB and Capitec were there. Ward 10 Committee members were also present to assist. “It is convenient and grants can be accessed from anywhere in the country,” said a Sassa staff member, who cautioned that the Agency does not cover the charges associated with holding a personal bank account.

It seems like the Home Affairs experience is not that bad after all, according to Bridgette Swift. Swift, a teacher at St Andrew’s Prep told Grocott’s Mail this week that she was treated with respect, promptly and with efficiency when she visited the local HA offices on Bathurst Street. Swift said she visited the local Home Affairs four times in 2017 for her ID and passport renewal as well as applications for ID cards for her children and a passport renewal of her sister’s passport. “They are very polite and professional. You don’t wait for hours without getting any help,” Swift said, “The…