Author: Lindani Donyeli

Life begins and ends in the earth and that’s why we should respect it, says Noloyiso Mcekana. A teacher at Kuyasa Special School, her husband Khaya Mcekana, Archbishop of the Ethiopian Episcopal Church, passed away last year. Now she’s back in the family’s Makhanda home, where she uses every patch of earth she finds to grow food for herself and the needy. “Genesis in the Bible tells us to respect nature: Adam and Eve were put in the Garden of Eden to look after it,” Mcekana says. In her Garden of Eden, she has planted carrots, beetroot, cabbage, pumpkin, strawberries and potatoes. Because of the…

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Nothembile Mali has been planting vegetables for as long as she can remember. She loves gardening and she loves planting her vegetables that she eats. As a grandmother, Mali believes that freshly grown vegetables, that she has grown herself, are healthier for her family. She also says that she cannot afford to buy vegetables from the shops. She has planted Potatoes, cabbages, carrots and onions in her large vegetable garden. She is, however, in need of more seeds and seedlings in order to continue planting and growing her garden.

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Buyisile Geelbooi, Reverend from Gospel Ambassador Ministry is a true garden lover. Encouraged by his father, Geelboi has been planting on a piece of land at Andrew Moyakhe for 10 years. He gardens to help keep his family and community happy and healthy.  His motto is “one home one garden, every home should have a garden.” He also donates vegetables to the old age home on Raglan Road. Geelboi has planted spinach, beetroot, cabbages, potatoes, onions and tomatoes. He would appreciate a Jojo tank for water, as well as a watering can and rake.

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Since November 2018, the Albany Horticultural Society has been collecting seeds to provide to the members of the community that want to grow their gardens but cannot afford to buy the seeds. This initiative was inspired by the weekly “My Garden” column, in which community members with gardens are showcased. Grocott’s Mail were approached to gather members of the community who’s gardens had previously been featured in the “My Garden” column, so that the Horticultural Society could hand over the seeds that they had gathered. This was done to motivate them on Vukuzenzele. Heather Surridge, the Chairperson of the Albany Horticultural…

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On Saturday 2 February, the Holy Cross School held its annual Country Fair on the school grounds, situated on the beautiful Highlands Road. The fair saw various activities and stall being set up for the community to enjoy. The day started with a 5km fun run along the highlands road up to the old level crossing and back. Runners young and old, from different schools, as well as community members from all four corners of Makhanda (Grahamstown) were present. Even the chairperson of the Albany Saints and Sinners Multisport club, Jaco van Dyk, took part in the fun run. While the…

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On Monday 11 February, Grocott’s Mail visited different places in Makhanda (Grahamstown) investigating the concerns of water crisis. Ubunye Bethu Day Care Centre, in Vukani, has over 50 children in their care, and have been feeling the effects of the crisis. Noxolo Kelekete, the supervisor of the creche, said that they have been assisted by the leftover of water which they have saved, but it has not done much. She explained, “children go to the toilet very often, especially when there is no water.” “They have one single toilet for all the kids in the creche, Kelekete continued. “It is…

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The community in Vukani, Makhanda (Grahamstown) is struggling with the effects of the water crisis that has hit the Eastern Cape in recent months. Vukani had been without water since Thursday 7 February, until a water truck arrived on Saturday 9 February. This truck drew a large crowd, which queued up to receive the water. Thembakazi Seyisi, ward councillor for Ward 13, and Mzukisi Mali, Chairperson of the Ward 13 committee, were assisting the community to fill their buckets of water, in the middle of an open field in Vukani. On Sunday 12 February, Grocott’s Mail visited the people of…

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The Speaker in this week’s full council meeting congratulated councillor Ramie Xonxa, Chairperson of the Makana Local Initiation Forum, on an incident-free initiation season in the Municipality. Xonxa co-ordinates the intergovernmental forum of representatives from the departments of Health and Social Development and the South African Police Service, along with parents, ward councillors, ward committee members and the isikololuntu (traditional surgeons and nurses). It’s the Forum’s job to make sure that parents and boys are properly prepared and informed ahead of the two initiation seasons – the December and July school holidays. It’s also the task of the Forum to visit…

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Grocott’s Mail is working hand in hand with communities of Grahamstown, exposing their talent for what is called vukuzenzele. We travel to every corner of Makhanda (Grahamstown) to visit people who are passionate about their gardens. Each week we showcase one garden. At the end of the month Sunnyside Garden Centre chooses the garden of the month and gives seeds to the individual or group so they can continue planting. The winners for January are the Community Works Programme (CWP) in Raglan Road Day Care Centre Clinic, under Supervisor Nobathembu Peter. “We’re very happy about the seeds,” Peter said. “This…

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Nosandile Njadayi is a grandmother who loves planting. She spends most of her spare time in the garden and has been planting for more than 20 years. She does not want to buy everything and she is unemployed. She would appreciate if she can get more seeds to plant. She has planted spinach, cabbages, onions and carrots. – Words and photo by Lindani Donyeli

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