Author: Sue Maclennan

Local journalism

Two Port Alfred surfers didn’t think twice about taking on a great white shark when it attacked their friend and fellow surfer Dusty Phelan off East beach this week. Phelan is recovering in hospital after the Wednesday 10 July incident. Speaking to Grocott’s Mail the day after, Philip Britz said they’d gone to catch a wave on Wednesday morning. “It was nice conditions, myself and a bunch of friends. We’d been surfing for a while and everyone had caught a wave except me and Dusty – we were right at the back,” said Britz, who is a former competitive surfer.…

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Around 50 people attended a briefing and question session at PJ Olivier High School with BJB Project Services. This is the company facilitating the application process for Atlas Towers to erect a 25-metre cellphone tower in what is currently the garden of the Dutch Reformed Church in Sunnyside. Many residents are furious at the plan, citing aesthetic, health and environmental concerns, as well as the fear that properties in the vicinity will lose value. In addition, the plans fall within the city’s historic buildings conservation area. Residents asked about the consultation process, saying many of the people directly affected hadn’t…

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BREAKING (Friday 12 July at 1pm) Police last night arrested a 50-year-old man in connection with the death of a woman whose body was found in Victoria Street early Wednesday morning. Police spokesperson Captain Mali Govender this morning told Grocott’s Mail that while the cause of death had not yet been conclusively determined, the woman had sustained several stab wounds on her back. Grocott’s Mail understands that the man is believed to have been the victim’s partner. “We are now investigating a case of murder,” Govender said. “The male, in his 50s, will appear in the Grahamstown Magistrate’s Court early…

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Makana Mayor Mzukisi Mpahlwa Wednesday afternoon met with a top police delegation to discuss community concerns following the discovery of a woman’s body in Victoria Street early on Wednesday 10 July. Mpahlwa, acting commanders of Joza and Grahamstown stations Colonel Mbulelo Pika and Lieutenant-Colonel Monray Nel, and the head of Vispol in Grahamstown Colonel Martins Memani met in the Mayor’s office this afternoon. Also in attendance were councillors Luyanda Sakata (Ward 10) and Ramie Xonxa (Ward 2). “We urge the public not to speculate on the cause of death. A post-mortem on the body will be conducted and the outcome…

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An advocate will by tomorrow (Wednesday) start an investigation into grievances at Fort England Hospital and certain staff will be transferred away from the institution. This is the Department of Health’s response after protests that erupted three weeks ago resumed on Monday 8 July. Labour relations officers from the Eastern Cape Department of Health met with representatives of the National Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) at Fort England Hospital on Thursday 20 June. This followed 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.…

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Two hundred and seventy six cyclists greeted a snow-kissed 36km/h headwind at the start of the G2G Cycle Race early on Sunday 7 July. The mountain bike race starts at BUCO in the Industrial Area, crosses the N2 and takes cyclists via Waainek on to Mountain Drive for the climb up to Dassie Krans, past Mountain Drive Manor and via the Toposcope continuing eastwards down the hill. The wind remained a constant companion once the field turned the corner off Mountain Drive and on to Woest Hill and the Southwell road that leads to the sea. Men’s winner Jason Peach…

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The Dutch Reformed Church in Sunnyside, Makhanda (Grahamstown), says it will abide by the legal and municipal processes regarding a cellphone tower proposed to be erected on its property.  The 25-metre-high mast will initially cover an area of 64 square metres, roughly midway between the Dutch Reformed Church and St Bartholomew’s in Market Street; however, should the proposal be approved, the contract allows expansion of the site to 180 square metres. Residents and property owners in the area have expressed strong concern about the proposal, with health concerns regarding electromagnetic radiation high on the list. Others include a possible decline…

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Commitment, discipline and willingness to work hard are some of the qualities that last week took Makhanda (Grahamstown) karateka Thanduxolo Royi to a medal in the WUKF World Championships. Royi is only the second South African to have achieved a finals medal in senior men’s kumite at this event. Surrounded by more than 2000 competitors from countries across the world was very exciting – but it was also tough on the nerves, Royi said. Royi is South Africa’s (and Makhanda’s) second senior male karateka to have won a medal in kumite (fighting) at the WUKF World Championships, winning bronze in…

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Performer Li Lau assured everyone he was in good health after an accident that stopped the  National Arts Festival performance around 5pm on Sunday 30 June. Speaking in a video clip, he thanked the audience for their support and concern after the accident and said the show would be on again today. The show, Carnival Sideshow and other Magical Things, is a duo with fellow illusionist Brendon Peel. It features extraordinary acts including performers appearing to swallow glass, and swallow a piece of string, only to pull it out of their eye. The act in which Lau was accidentally injured…

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Water leaving the James Kleynhans Water Treatment Works is of drinking quality, the Department of Water and Sanitation has emphasised. This was part of the Department’s response to Grocott’s Mail’s questions. We asked whether contamination of the Fish River by unprocessed sewage from the Cradock waste water treatment works would affect Makhanda’s water supply. Makhanda (Grahamstown) is supplied with bulk water from two sources. The rainwater-dependent dams west of the town, and water from the Gariep Dam via the Orange-Fish tunnel, released from the Fish River and stored in the Glen Melville Dam east of Makhanda. The municipality recently announced…

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