Author: Grocott's Mail Contributors

A letter from the National Arts Festival CEO As you are likely to have heard, our City, Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown) is currently experiencing the effects of a severe drought that is the worst we’ve seen in 220 years. The effects have been exacerbated by a largely inadequate and poorly maintained municipal infrastructure and, as a result, a large number of our residents have been battling to get water to attend to their everyday needs. It has been hard going for the past few weeks and, predictably, there has been some media coverage of the crisis. In June we’re set to…

By RYAN MCDONALD Prior to the Divorce Act coming into operation on 1 July 1979, South African spouses could only get divorced on the basis of certain limited grounds such as adultery and malicious desertion. This meant that a spouse had to be at fault before divorce proceedings could be instituted. With the coming into effect of the 1979 Divorce Act, South Africa moved away from a fault based system. The Act provides for three no-fault grounds of divorce: The irretrievable breakdown of the marriage The mental illness of a party to the marriage The continuous unconsciousness of a party…

In March each year, between 450 and 500 local residents take to the streets of Makhanda (Grahamstown) for the Makana Brick 8km Nite Race for serious runners, casual joggers and walkers. The bulk of the field on each occasion comprises mostly the younger set – students and scholars. Nothing gives them more joy than being on the receiving end of a medal and a pineapple after crossing the finish line after their jaunt along the city streets. The good news for fans of the annual Makana Brick 8km Nite Race is that the 2019 version takes place on the evening…

A few months ago, a client whom we had not seen before made an appointment to meet at our office to discuss his financial planning needs. He mentioned that he had some investments as well as a life assurance policy he wanted to cancel as he felt he was wasting his money by paying the monthly premiums. We asked him to tell us a bit more about himself and his plans for the future. It turned out that he had a rather serious medical condition which was impacting on his ability to work and earn a living. Once we were…

Ibali nguANDILE MATSHOBA “Ndingalwa ndibebomvu ngesiXhosa sam!” La ngamazwi kaAkhona ‘Bhodl’ingqaka’ Mafani xa ebephosa esivivaneni ngokubaluleka kokubhalwa, ukufundwa nokulondolozwa kolwimi lwesiXhosa kumnyhadala i-Amazwi Puku Story Festival kwisixeko iMakhanda kweli leMpuma Koloni. Lo mnyhadala nobusaziwa ngokuba yi-Puku Story Festival uthe wahlangulwa ekutshabalaleni yi-National English Literary Museum (Nelm). Lo msitho ububanjwa ityeli lesixhenxe kulonyaka ukususela oko wasungulwa ngowama-2013 liqumrhu i-Puku Foundation nezinze eGoli kwandonga ziyaduma, ububanjwe ukusuka ngomhla wama-21 ukuya kowama-23 kule yoMdumba. Umhla wama-21 kweyoMdumba ngumhla obaluleke kakhulu kwihlabathi jikelele, nowaziwa ngokuba ngumhla wokusebenzisa ulwimi oluncance ebeleni, i-International Mother Language Day. Kwananjalo, umbutho Wezizwe Ezimanyeneyo uye wabhengeza ukuba unyaka lo sikuwo…

Addicted to Plastic Shopping Bags What would you do without them? Hayley McLellan decided to stop using plastic shopping bags 12 years ago, and her immediate friends and family thought she was crazy. Instead of giving up, she stuck to her plan and now heads a crusade for all of South Africa to give up single use plastics. Shopping bags, straws, bottles, cups and balloons. Once you make the change, and refuse to ever again accept these items, life doesn’t end. We need nutritious food, warmth, water, shelter and love – but we do not need single-use plastics. Makana Plastics…

United Shotokan-Ryu (USR) will be hosting André Bertel Sensei in Port Elizabeth on 2 and 3 March for his second South African Seminar. Bertel’s first visit to South Africa, and the African continent, was back in 2013. Bertel is internationally respected for his innovative and dynamic approach to the practice of traditional Shotokan karate, and is considered to be one of the foremost practitioners of Asai-Ha Shotokan-Ryu. Apart from having received private tuition from the late Japanese Shotokan Karate Master, Tetsuhiko Asai Sensei (1935-2006) over a period spanning two decades, Bertel has also trained with many of the other leading Japanese…

The St Andrew’s College First water polo team travelled to East London on Thursday 14 February to participate in the annual Vides U19 Water Polo tournament, the oldest Water Polo tournament in the country in its 43rd year of existence. St Andrew’s had a tough task ahead of them in defending their trophy that they won in 2018, as they would be challenged by 20 teams from around the country, all descending on the Buffalo City. SAC topped their pool with dominant and clinical performances on Friday 15 February. They beat Glenwood High School from Durban 15-5, then beat Alexander…

It was a mixed weekend for the Graeme First team cricket side. St Andrew’s College outgunned the Graeme side with an impressive T20 performance on Friday 15 February. It was good preparation for both teams as they are still trying to qualify for the CSA T20 Finals. St Andrew’s beat Graeme by a very comfortable 140 runs before going on to win the Eastern Cape final against Grey. Nick Barlow was massively instrumental, scoring a rare T20 century. Graeme face Hudson Park in the final of the Eastern Cape Focus School section on Friday 22 February. On Saturday 16 February,…

The Diocesan School for Girls (DSG) hosted another successful Dave Hodgson Squash Festival over the weekend of 15-17 February, with teams visiting Makhanda (Grahamstown) from Collegiate Girls’ High School, Clarendon High School and Queenstown Girls’ High School, as well as an Invitational team, with Kingswood College also taking part in the local festival. There was some wonderful squash on display, especially when the top two rated schools in the country were involved – Queenstown GHS (1) and Clarendon (2). In their match up, Clarendon upset the odds to win the game in a very exciting encounter, as GHS have been ranked as…