Author: Staff Reporter

The Indigo school is exhibiting their Grade R class literacy project at the Albany Museum, titled: ‘My Favourite Words’. The project forms part of a larger context and deeper concern for the latest findings published by Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), who verified that almost four in five Grade 4 pupils fall below the lowest internationally recognised level of reading literacy. Children in Foundation phase are battling to learn to read, and by Grade 4, are unable to read in order to learn. Indigo School head Catherine Pamphilon said it was within this context that the school put…

In an operation praised by the head of provincial police, alert Grahamstown (Makhanda) police officers attending an accident scene in the early hours of Monday 10 September arrested six men, confiscating firearms and ammunition. A truck overturned on the N2 near Sevenfountains late Sunday night, blocking the road for several hours. Members of the Grahamstown Highway Patrol were busy at the scene when they noticed a BMW approaching and stopped it, police spokesperson Captain Mali Govender said. There were six occupants. “The members searched the vehicle and found an undisclosed amount of cash and airtime vouchers,” Govender said. “Two 9mm…

The Grahamstown SPCA has laid charges following a brutal dog stabbing in Zolani, Grahamstown (Makhanda). SPCA Manager Mark Thomas said they were called out early Tuesday morning to assist a dog which had been stabbed and needed urgent help. “The dog when we got to it was in a very poor state and had suffered multiple stab wounds to its chest,” Thomas said. “Through swift veterinary intervention from the on-site vet at the SPCA and a team of skilled vets at Ikhala, the dog underwent multiple lifesaving operations without which the wounds would have proved fatal. “The dog is very…

Nombulelo pupils participated in the Silent Protest recently. Speaker Professor Pumla Gqola (author of Rape: A South African Nightmare)  encouraged learners from Makhanda schools to start critically analysing the norms in our country that allow our alarming number of rapes to happen. “If everyone ostracised men who made inappropriate comments about women, perhaps fewer people would think that rape may be tolerated,” she said. She encouraged rape victims to seek counselling, but said that society should be careful of putting the responsibility on the victims to speak out about rape. “What we need to start speaking out about is rapists. If every second…

Two Eastern Cape schools joined a virtual network of high-quality mathematics and science teaching when they were added to the highly acclaimed Ligbron e-learning system recently – thanks to the generosity of Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA). Pupils at Jabavu and Thubalethu high schools in Alice and Fort Beaufort in the Eastern Cape have started training on the interactive, South African-designed system that links pupils of maths and science in selected areas around the country. They will be joining a virtual school body that is now 39 000-strong, 5 400 of whom in Grade 12.  Some 31 secondary schools have been serviced…

The Rhodes Business School is now offering a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Analysis to help solve critical skills deficits in business. “Business analysts understand and identify where and how business can change to operate more economically, efficiently, effectively and sustainably,” explained Director of Rhodes Business School, Professor Owen Skae. “There is a critical shortage of business analysts in South Africa, and local companies generally outsource this vital role offshore. This results in a negative impact on our local economy.” According to Rhodes University desktop research and discussions with industry experts and potential employers of business analysts, each offshore outsourced business…

Running your own business? Want to run your own business? ENGEN Pitch & Polish may be just what you need to launch you on the path to success. National entrepreneurial workshop and competition ENGEN Pitch & Polish is coming to Grahamstown (Makhanda) in two weeks – and local entrepreneurs stand a chance of having their business idea heard – and backed by investors. Now in its ninth year, ENGEN Pitch & Polish is a national entrepreneurial workshop and competition that – so far – has helped around 10 000 entrepreneurs improve the way they pitch their businesses to potential investors. “A…

Firearms and ammunition were seized from four men on the N2 outside Grahamstown this week. Police spokesperson Captain Mali Govender said Joza crime prevention officers on duty on Monday 3 September had noticed a Polo sedan parked alongside the N2 with four male occupants who appeared nervous. “This made the officers suspicious and they undertook a search of the occupants and the vehicle,” Govender said. During the search the officers found firearms including two 9mm pistols and a toy air pistol. “Magazines and ammunition were also seized as well as other property,” Govender said. “Four males in their mid thirties…

Mfuzo Dyira, a local and product of Ntsika Secondary School, is the toast of GBS Mutual Bank management and colleagues as he celebrates 25 years of service with the Grahamstown-based financial institution. Dyira, the Financial Life Skills Co-ordinator at the bank, is proud of the fact that he has served GBS Mutual Bank in various capacities over the past 25 years, a significant milestone in any working career. Over the years, GBS Mutual Bank has had reason to congratulate several employees on their long service achievements, with Dyira just the latest one. The Ntsika Matriculant commenced work at GBS Mutual…

The September payment cycle started smoothly this past Saturday besides the eagerness that came with it, given the fact that the South African Post Office would be paying a far bigger number of beneficiaries as compared to previous months. This payment cycle happen simultaneously with the card swapping exercise where beneficiaries have to swap the old card for the new gold SASSA card. This situation has resulted in enthusiastic beneficiaries standing in sometimes long queues for the new card which takes less than three minutes to be issued. To deal with the issue of long queues and instances relating to…