Author: Student Reporter

By VUKOSI MALULEKE Three students from Rhodes University recently participated in the 2021 ELIDZ Hackathon Challenge and won first place. The trio whose names are Sifiso Masango, Lupumlo Ngcukana and Ayanda Kenye-Duma collectively make up the group RU Ready: Umrhwebo.  As their collective name suggests, the team readily came up with  the concept of a programme whose purpose is to connect emerging rural, small-scale farmers with the mainstream economy, through the use of blockchain technology. Their solution proposes a virtual platform where rural small-scale farmers, buyers and service providers can connect and collaborate in order to grow the local agricultural…

By PHETOLO PHATSIBI Two small business owners in the CBD expressed solidarity with the recent service delivery protests, saying they are also affected by poor service delivery. Jacques Artisan Bread and Gino’s Restaurant were among the Makhanda businesses  forced to shut down due to the protest. Anastasia Zacharellis, owner of Gino’s, said the protests were necessary. “We live here and we are impacted by no water, bad roads, bad infrastructure and a rotten municipality,” Zacharellis said. “I have been a small business owner in this town for 30 years and have watched the place deteriorate. “Being a small business and…

By TRISTAN COOKE Day 9 of the #NationalShutDown at Rhodes University “There is a lot of progress in terms of our demands but not all of them have been met”. Rhodes University SRC president Leboghang Nkambule said students remained sceptical following Vice Chancellor Sizwe Mabizela’s address to the University community on Friday 19 March. However, following an email to staff and students on Monday 22 March, she said, “We see the progress… there is work that is going in and we are indeed applying the pressure that is needed.” Rhodes is among 18 universities across the country participating in the…

The ball of free education is entirely in the court of national government says Rhodes, as #NationalShutDown protests at the Makhanda campus enter their second week. Tristan Cooke reports Rhodes makes up around R279 million of South Africa’s R13 billion national student debt bill. As the town’s biggest employer and largest single contributor to its GDP, it’s crucial the institution remains financially sustainable for contribution to the town and its quality and transformative education. In a virtual engagement on Friday 19 March, Vice Chancellor Dr Sizwe Mabizela laid bare the institution’s economic straits and SRC President Lebohang Nkambule drew a…

Day 4 of the #NationalShutdown protests at Rhodes University, Thursday 18 March, saw a growing number of student protesters, and an increased police presence. Dana Osborn and Tristan Cooke followed the student action and spoke to student, University and labour leadership about allegations of intimidation. “I don’t think our students want to see this university collapse. I don’t think the university management wants to see the students suffer. That is the starting point – but it gets contaminated and turns into a fault line of us versus them.” Director of Communications and Marketing at Rhodes University Luzuko Jacobs was responding…

#NationalShutDown continues at Rhodes University By TRISTAN COOKE and DANA OSBORN The Rhodes University Student Representative Council on Wednesday 17 March asked the Vice Chancellor, Dr Sizwe Mabizela, address the entire student body. This follows conflict over the allocation of NSFAS allowances. Protests under the banner #nationalshutdown closed down all activity on the Rhodes University campus on Monday. The University administration has informed the SRC that National Student Financial Aid Scheme allowances would be given to all eligible students. However, while Oppidan students received the allowances, students in university residences did not. On Tuesday afternoon, the SRC conducted a vote…

By SINAZO ALUNGILE NOVUKELA For young people, poetry can be more than a way to share ideas: having a way to express yourself can be a huge relief. It’s for all these reasons and many more that the first Makhanda Poetry Revival reading session was held on Thursday 12 November 2020 at the Assumption Development Clinic in Phumlani, Joza. Pioneered by Makhanda born creative writer Andile ‘Ecalpar’ Nayika, the plan is to unlock young people’s potential. “The Poetry Revival sessions can be used by different people to celebrate themselves, their art and their diversity. My own life experiences have influenced my creative process and…

By WENDY NZAMA On Monday 23 November 2020, Community Health Workers (CHWs) in Makhanda marched to the Department of Health offices in Makhanda demanding to be employed permanently by the department. These workers handed over a memorandum with their demands to the Acting Makana Sub-district manager Mohamed Docrat. These included permanent employment. Community Health Workers earn a stiped of R3 500 per month with no benefits. It’s not the first time CHWs have taken to the streets this year. In July 2020, alongside other Civic Organisations they staged a protest outside the offices of the Eastern Cape Health Department in…

By NASI HAKO Non-profit organisation Umthathi Training Project is striving to make a difference in their area, one piece of litter at a time. Members and supporters recently organised a community clean-up to inspire residents to keep the area clean and be considerate to their neighbours. “Our environment in this location [was] polluted with so much litter everywhere,” said Project Manager and Acting Finance Officer, Brandina Chidarikire. The Xhora Street, Extension 7 organisation runs programmes that aim to teach community members to be self-sufficient and generate their own income, as well as improve the community’s health, lifestyle and nutrition. One…

By ELLA VAN GEUNS A page turns, a mouse clicks, and a finger taps. A television hums in the background — it’s volume low enough not to impose on family conversation, but loud enough to be noticed. It spits out figures: the number of active Covid-19 cases, the number of Covid-19 related deaths, the number of Covid-19 recoveries. On the coffee table, a slip of paper lies underneath a mobile phone. Moments ago, the youngest daughter catalogued all the films her family intended to watch during the next two weeks — two films per person, she noted. The mobile phone lights…