Author: Grocott's Mail Reporters

By SUE MACLENNAN and AZLAN MAKALIMA The Unemployed People’s Movement is considering contempt of court proceedings against the Premier and his co-respondents following their failure to execute the 14 January High Court order to dissolve the Makana Council and put the municipality under administration. Lawyers for the four provincial respondents have countered with an application for leave to appeal Judge Igna Stretch’s ruling. Meanwhile, the United Front says it’s unacceptable for councillors to remain in office after the ruling. The organisation has vowed to march to the city hall, remove the Council and put in an administrator. The ruling handed…

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By CHRIS TOTOBELA Our local sides are currently experiencing mixed fortunes in the SAB regional league. On Saturday, Makana Pillars came up against the high-riding Maru FC which is enjoying good form at the moment in another local derby, just seven days after beating City Pirates. As expected, Maru emerged victorious in that game, cementing their position on top of the log. Maru eased past Pillars by three unanswered goals. Pillars are sitting at the bottom of the log standings with only one win and two draws. Things got worse for Pillars on Sunday as they lost via a walkover…

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Many games went to the wire in an exciting fixture between Graeme College and Pearson High last Saturday. The second XI and U14A made the best of a two-innings format. In the second XI match, Graeme batted first and scored 114 all out in their first innings, with Raven Bush scoring 25. Pearson then replied with 129 all out after Connor Pieterse finished with exceptional figures of 6 for 47. That gave Pearson a small lead of 15, and the five-wicket second innings format created a thriller of a contest. Graeme declared on 68 for 3, this time Ryan Bush top scoring with…

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By Nienke Botha, Jacqueline Holloway, Chris Totobela and Mfuzo Dyira This Saturday, first year students from around the country and the continent will be arriving in Makhanda to register at Rhodes. While there are excellent sport facilities and clubs at the University, joining a community sports or activity club can be a great way to get to know the town and the people who live in it. Here we share with you a few of the options. Tennis The Grahamstown Tennis Club, established in 1883, has 100 members between the ages of eight and 90. Social tennis is on Wednesdays…

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By Nienke Botha and Jacqueline Holloway Despite the good rains that Makhanda received earlier this month, not enough rain fell in the catchment to fill supply dams in the west, the region is still in a state of drought and the water crisis is still very much present. In his letter to residents this week, the Mayor explains that the municipality can’t supply water to all areas at all times, especially the high lying areas, because the Waainek Water Treatment Works cannot be used for water supply to the west. Howieson’s Poort Dam is at 1% and Settlers Dam at…

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By Nienke Botha and Jacqueline Holloway As the town starts to welcome back our students, we look at what they need to know to stay safe. “Makhanda is a small city with a few traffic lights, but that doesn’t mean that crime is absent here,” says Captain Khaya Tonjeni, spokesperson for the South African Police Service. Tonjeni’s most important safety tips for students are: Always walk in groups; Tell your friends where you are going; Keep your cellphone, handbag and drinks under your direct control at all times – don’t hang your handbag over the back of a chair in…

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NguCHRIS TOTOBELA Bekugoso okwaphukayo kulempelaveki esisuka kuyo nalapho bekubanjwe imidlalo yabo bangaphantsi kweshumi elinesithathu neminyaka engaphantsi kwelishumi elinesihlanu. Kwimidlalo yabo bangaphantsi kweminyaka elishumi elinesithathu iCity Pirates ibhaxabule iAfrican Spears ngamanqaku asithoba kwelinye, logama iLakhenathi ibethe iJoza Callies ngamane kwamathathu, yaze yona iGolden Brothers yabetha iMaru ngamanqaku amane kwamathathu. INewseekers ibhaxabule iYoung Eagles ngamanqaku amahlanu kwamabini kumdlalo okhe wanqumama ithutyana emva kokuba uSompempe eye watshovela ngaphandle umdlali obefumene ikhadi elibomvu. Umqeqeshi weEagles kuye kwanyanzeleka ukuba angene anqandele umdlali wakhe, wayalela uSompempe ukuba abeke impempe phantsi alishiye ibala naye nanjengoko eye wabonakalisa ubundlobongela kumdlali oselula nobengaxhobanga. Uye waphinda waqhuba emva koko umdlalo…

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By CHRIS TOTOBELA This past weekend was a very exciting one for local football lovers who came in numbers to support their teams. First up on Saturday were the Makana LFA Premier league games followed by the SAB regional league local derby. In the first game, Newtown City nearly squandered a two-goal lead when they allowed Love and Peace back into the game – but edged them out by 3-2 in the end. The 6SAI Army team eased past Cameroon by five goals to three while Grahamstown United continued with their winning streak, beating Joza Callies by four unanswered goals.…

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NguCHRIS TOTOBELA Imozulu ebimaxongo ibanda kwaye inemvula enamandla ngoMgqibelo ikhokelele ekurhoxisweni kwemidlalo. Yonke imidlalo ebicwangciselwe uMgqibelo kumabala ohlukeneyo yeMakana LFA yoompondo zihlanjiwe kwakunye naleyo yamakhwenkwana aselula iye yarhoxiswa. Oku kubangelwe yimeko yezulu ebimbi ngeyona ndlela. Esi sigqibo samkelwe ngezandla ezishushu ngabaqeqeshi nanjengoko bekungazobalula tu kwaphela kubadlali babo ukudlala phantsi kwalameko. Iye yaqhuba imidlalo ngeCawa, ngokwendlela ebicwangciswe ngayo nangona imeko yezulu ibimathumbantaka. Abakhokelayo kumanqwanqwa eMakana LFA koompondo zihlanjiwe, iGrahamstown United iwuqale kakuhle kakhulu lo unyaka iqhubekeka apho ibishiye khona phambi kwekhefu lweziyunguma. IUnited ibethe iNewseekers ngamanqaku amathathu kwelinye kumdlalo ubanjelwe eFiddlers Green. Komnye umdlalo obunzima kakhulu obubanjelwe kwibala laseJD Dlepu, iNewtown…

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By CHRIS TOTOBELA Our local teams will be back in action this weekend in the Makana LFA Premier league but the main attraction of the weekend will be the SAB local derby. City Pirates will lock horns with Makana Pillars in their SAB regional league encounter which promises fireworks. Both teams are struggling this season and have not yet found their rhythm. City Pirates have registered only one win and two draws in their outings, while losing three in the process. Makana Pillars have yet to win a game this season, regstering two draws and losing four games. Both teams…

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