Grocott’s Mail asks DA Premiership Candidate for the Eastern Cape Nqaba Bhanga to explain how he believes the party’s strategy – as it effects the coalface of local government – is different to the ruling party. And what the DA is doing to shed the perception that they serve business, rather than ordinary people. Grocott’s Mail: What’s wrong with Makana and what’s needed to fix it? Is it as simple as misuse of funds? Nqaba Bhanga: Infighting in the ANC has put us where we are. There has never been cohesion in managing the issues in Grahamstown. The problem is…
Author: Grocott's Mail Reporters
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Infrastructure and service delivery across the Eastern Cape is in a dire state – particularly for the rural poor, says Nqaba Bhanga, who has travelled more than 35 000km in the province in the past five months. Turning it around requires strong leadership, and proper budgeting and maintenance. There’s money to fix our towns and villages, he says – but it’s not being used for the right things. “I know what poverty is. Going into the villages of the Eastern Cape, I have seen poverty. Many South Africans in rural areas have been left behind.” DA Premiership candidate Nqaba Bhanga was…
By: CHRIS TOTOBELA On Saturday 30 March, gathered spectators at JD Dlepu Stadium saw the kick-off of the Makana LFA first division. The day started with some under 17 league matches, before the main matches of the day kicked off. In the first game Sophia Stars U17 demolished XI Attackers by six goals to nil and Jacaranda defeated Young Neighbours by the same score while Golden brothers and Makana Pillars drew 2-2. In the first game of the first division, new year’s cup winners Grahamstown United and Fingo United played a goalless draw. Six South African Infantry (6 SAI) Army Base defeated…
NguCHRIS TOTOBELA Imozulu ibingagqibeki ncam nebithande ukuba mathumb’ antaka ayibathibazanga tu abalandeli bebhola ukuba bangayi kwimidlalo yeMakana LFA ebibanjelwe eJD Dlepu. Kumdlalo wokuqala, abajonge lendebe ngamehlo abomvu, iJacaranda Aces ibethe iFuture Stars ngamanqaku amabini eqandeni. ISophia Stars ibambene ngenqaku elinye macala neNewtown City logama iCameroon iqengqele iRiebeck City efike emva kwexesha ebelibekelwe kumdlalo. INewseekers ibhaxabule iYoung Killers ngamanqaku amabini eqandeni yaze yona iAttackers yahlutha intlaka emlonyeni kwiLove and Peace ngenqaku elinye eqandeni. Kumdlalo obuvutha bhe iMakana pillars ethande ungahleki nanye kwezihlekisayo iphinde yaqhubekeka nokuzihlahlela indlela eya ekuphakamiseni indebe emva kokuba ibethe IJoza Callies ngenqaku elinye eqandeni. ICallies iqale lomdlalo ngabadlali…
NguCHRIS TOTOBELA Bekuxhelw’ exhukwane kubalandeli bebhola ekhatywayo, nanjengoko imidlalo iqale ngoLwesine umhla wamalungelo abantu. NgoLwesine iYoung killers iphazamise iJacaranda Aces kwiinzame zayo zokuphumelela indebe yeleague ngethuba iyiphosa phantsi eluthulwini ngenqaku elinye eqandeni. ILove and Peace ibhaxabule iCameroon ngamanqaku amahlanu kwamabini, logama iMakana Pillars izenzele kwiRiebeck City ngamanqaku asibhozo eqandeni. INewseekers ibethe iSophia Stars ngamanqaku amathathu eqandeni, logama iAttackers izibhulele iFuture Stars ngamane kwelinye. IJoza Callies ibhuqe iNewtown City ngamanqaku amathathu eqandeni. NgoMgqibelo iJoza Callies ibethe iAttackers kwidabi laseJoza elidala ngenqaku elinye eqandeni kumdlalo obutaka iintlantsi. INewseekers ibethe iNewtown City ethande ukuba yingqongqo mvanje, ngenqaku elinye eqandeni. IRiebeck City itsalele iFuture…
By: CHRIS TOTOBELA The Makana LFA Premier league is well under way, with the teams having played five to six games already. It is still the early stages of the season but there are fireworks already and the teams seem to mean business, however there is still one team that is yet to take the field in this year’s competition. Just before the start of the current campaign, the fans anticipated good football and highly contested clashes especially after the relegation of Eleven Attackers and Sakhulutsha from the SAB league. Attackers have had a rocky start to the league while…
By ZIKHONA NYUMKA “My life has been dominated by art mostly”. I always say I and my art, we are feathers of the same bird [Singamaphuth’ ahlathi’nye], Bhodl’ingqaka said.” Bhodlingqaka whose real name is Akhona Mafani, is a locally renowned Xhosa praise poet and creative artist who hails from the dusty streets of Vukani location in the City of saints; Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown). The poet is a product of Shizzo Manizo productions, a respected local record label that is owned by Lonwabo “Dezz” Gwente and Siphelo “Nqontsonqa” Dyongman. The record label has also given birth to several local artists from the Vukani location. His love…
NguCHRIS TOTOBELA Emva kwemvula emandla ebangele ukuba kumiswe imidlalo kulempela veki iphelileyo, kuye kwaqhutywa yonke imidlalo yeMakana LFA ebicwangciselwe le esiphuma kuyo impela veki. NgoMgqibelo kuqale imidlalo yabanga phantsi kweminyaka elishumi elinesixhenxe nalapho iFingo itsalele iLakhenathi, logama nayo iCameroon itsalele iLove and Peace. IFuture Stars nayo itsalele iYoung Killers yaze yona iGrahamstown United yabhaxabula iNewtown City ngamanqaku amathandathu kwelinye. Koompondo zihlanjiwe iJacaranda Aces ibethele kowayo iRiebeck City ngamanqaku amabini eqandeni, yaze yona iCameroon yabhungca kwiNewseekers ngamanqaku amathathu kwamabini. IAttackers ibhaxabule iYoung Killers ngamanqaku amane kwelinye logama iMakana Pillars ibhulele oogqirha nezicaka iNewtown City ngamanqaku amane eqandeni. Kumdlalo wokugqibela iFuture Stars…
By MANDILAKHE KLAAS Ntsika Secondary School hosted Nombulelo Secondary School’s First Soccer team on Tuesday 12 March. Both sides were in action for the first time this season, which was evident when both teams struggled to connect passes in the middle of the park. It was the home side, Ntsika, that found the back of the net first, thanks to a well taken goal by their striker. But the boys from Nombulelo showed why they are one of best sides in local High School Football when their little dynamite Siyaduma “Pani” Qude started to control the midfield and eventually finding…
By: AMEY MEYER Past and present fans gathered at Kingswood College for the celebration of the school’s 125th anniversary on Saturday 16 March. A variety of sports and activities took place both on and off campus in a massive celebration of this achievement, with the netball match between the past and present pupils being the one of the highlights. The netball court was filled with the sounds of squeaky shoes as past and present players went head to head in a dynamic match. The court was filled with laughter and jokes as the players excitedly displayed their skills. By half…