Author: Lindani Donyeli

Samuel Ntsiko School recently held a farewell ceremony in the City Hall for retiring teachers. The venue was packed pupils and their parents, with lively performances by the school choir, gospel choir, umxhentso and marimba band, as well as an imbongi. Gifts were presented to        Sheila Booi, who taught English and Maths at the school for 23 years. Sindiswa Mthongwana has taught Natural Science and isiXhosa for the past 26 years. Photo: Lindani Donyeli

Police and a local councillor worked together to recover a cache of stolen goods, including a large LG television, a bicycle, an electric keyboard and mini Hi-Fi. The items were returned to their owners in Vukani on Saturday 14 October. The police also arrested four suspects, who were arraigned on Monday. Another suspect was released on Saturday after it was established that he had not been involved in the actual robbery, although he seems to have been a middleman selling the goods. The robbery occurred sometime over the weekend of October 7-8. Vukani resident Khaya Khethani told Grocott’s Mail this…

The community assisted an elderly granny after last week’s heavy rains flooded her house and appeals to the municipality went unanswered. However, Nomthandandazo Steerman, who lives with her daughter and grandchild, needs a more permanent solution to the flooding, which occurs every time it rains hard. “It is a usual thing for me to stay in a dam when it is raining,” she told Grocott’s Mail. When Grocott’s visited her house on Tuesday afternoon they found that her bedroom was full of water and her neighbors were using buckets to bale it out. She appealed to the community after…

Police had to redirect traffic for more than 30 minutes at lunchtime on Monday 2 October after an unoccupied silver VW mysteriously rolled down High Street and came to a stop outside First National Bank, blocking the road. While they were calling for assistance from the Traffic Department and trying to trace the owner, the driver arrived, got into the car and drove away. No accident had occurred and no one was arrested. Photo: Lindani Donyeli

Stock owners say there need to be more rangers to help control the stray animals wandering Grahamstown’s streets. And Makana says if there’s cooperation between them and the stock owners, it won’t be necessary to impound animals. A meeting of stock owners called by Makana Parks Department at BB Zondani Hall last Thursday aimed to find a solution to the problem of stray animals on the streets of Grahamstown. Manager Jeff Budaza led the meeting. It had become a usual thing to see cows, goats and donkeys wandering in the middle of the road in Grahamstown and drivers routinely…

More customers, more bicycles… and that’s exactly what got The Motion Shop on the move to its new premises at the Colcade Centre in Hill Street. “We have three times the space – and we need it here, as we get bigger and better!” said owner Jason Meaton. He says both the retail and maintenance and repair aspects of the business are growing. Along with a bigger workshop, the premises also offer customers parking space.

Thirty five Riebeeck East households will be selected to receive government support to grow sustainable food gardens. Umthathi’s Xolani Mountain announced this at a certificate awards ceremony there last Friday for a group who had completed a gardening course. The aim of the course is to help the community grow food in every available space – even in the smallest of back yards. The Umthathi Training Project in Grahamstown teaches the importance of organic produce and helps communities to grow their own. The awards ceremony took place at the Alfred Dike Kota Hall in Riebeeck East and ward councillor Ntombekaya Peters welcomed…

Police officers should not be sitting in offices, they should be out in the community, says Grahamstown’s Head of Police Brigadier David Kanuka. The South African Police Service (SAPS) recently visited Vukani in an exercise to reach out and improve communication with the community. Residents came out in their numbers and gathered in an open field in Vukani to hear what the police had to say to them. Kanuka, Cluster Commander in Grahamstown and head of Grahamstown’s nine police stations, was in attendance accompanied by his management. The guests were welcomed by Pamela Sandi in the absence of Ward Councillor Thembakazi…

Five learners from Fikizolo Primary School recently received new school uniforms. Nozwe Trust Chairperson, Mheku Manentsa accompanied by women from Methodist Church gave new winter school uniforms to disadvantaged learners.These children were selected by the school according to their noticeable need for new attires. “We know that it gets extremely cold in the winter season and it is not healthy nor comfortable for these learners to be in school in this manner”  said Mheku Manentsa. The Nozwe Trust was founded by former Fikizolo principal Nozwe Zondani who is the mother of chairperson Mheku Manentsa. Current principal, Zoleka Kate thanked the…

Prison wardens celebrate Heritage Day in the prison grounds. Photo: Lindani Donyeli