Author: Sue Maclennan

Students and staff from Eastcape Midlands College hand over a petition about crime hotspots in Grahamstown  (Makhanda) to Colonel Monray Nel outside Grahamstown Police Station before proceeding to the City Hall for a dialogue on tackling gender based violence. Nel thanked the group for taking up the important issue and said through their community policing forums, SAPS was addressing crime hotspots. The march and dialogue, held as Women’s Month draws to a close, were supported by representatives from the Higher Education and Training HIV/Aids Programme (HEAIDS) Provincial Office, the Department of Health, Soul City, the Raphael Centre, the Department of…

Makana Municipality’s suspended Infrastructure and Technical Services Director Dali Mlenzana will be subjected to a disciplinary hearing, with the outcome expected by the end of November 2018. Mlenzana faces charges of misconduct for alleged financial and administrative irregularities. He was placed on precautionary suspension on 25 July pending an independent investigation. This followed a seven-day period allowing him to make written representation why he should not be suspended. Sources said Mlenzana had submitted substantial documentation to this end, with detailed motivations as to why the allegations were unfair and unfounded, accusing those behind the process of a witch-hunt. Five initial…

Economic Development and Tourism MEC Oscar Mabuyane has promised more resources for the protection of the Eastern Cape’s natural heritage assets and said he would march alongside activists who chose to demonstrate ahead of the next appearance of rhino poaching accused, the Ndlovus, in the Grahamstown High Court on 26 November. Jabulani Ndlovu, Forget Ndlovu and Sikhumbuzo Ndlovu are facing 50 rhino poaching charges in connection with incidents across the province over the past five years. The celebration of Field Rangers Day at Thomas Baines Reserve outside Grahamstown (Makhanda) on Friday 24 August was a tribute to what wildlife champion…

Vuyani Notyawa, Monde Xinwa and Xolani Mcobongi make their living from collecting waste at the municipal landfill site west of the industrial area. They live in Tantyi, Zolani and Xolani respectively, and spend their days at the dump. They collect cardboard, paper, plastic, cans and electronics to sell on to recycling operations. How much they make depends on the weather and how many other people are at the site on any given day. “In the rain, recyclers don’t buy paper,” says Xinwa. “It depends how many we are here, but it can R70-R150 that we make in a day.” Recently…

Municipal Manager Moppo Mene says he’s committed to transparency and and has appealed to residents to engage with him rather than support a rates boycott. Meanwhile, Makana Revive! says it was not driving a call on social media this week for citizens to divert a portion of their rates to the Grahamstown (Makhanda) NPO. Facebook and Whatsapp group debates began with residents’ frustration at the state of infrastructure and governance in Makana Municipality and moved to the ethics; the risk and cost of litigation against the withholder; the problem of paying money to an NGO that isn’t obliged to account…

When Sanet Steyn woke up in the early hours of Monday morning she was confused more than afraid when she saw an intruder in her flat. Steyn, who lives in a complex at the east end of African Street, said it was around 3.30am on Monday morning when she was woken by a light on in her flat. She thought she must have forgotten to switch it off and got up to do so – but was confused to see a person standing shining a light into her fish tank and staring into it, clearly absorbed and fascinated. “What on…

Taxi associations in Grahamstown (Makhanda) still have to ratify an agreement brokered this week. Competing taxi associations Border Alliance (BATA) and Uncedo have met twice this month to resolve a disagreement over fee sharing. The dispute over stand fees (the duty payable to the rank management once your taxi is full and ready to leave) earlier this month saw Uncedo leave BATA’s long-distance car rank in Link Street and establish their own loading area less than 500 metres up the road. The dispute is about BATA’s Link Street rank. Both Uncedo and BATA were using it to load long-distance taxis…

Next time you take a walk in your neighbourhood and something lovely or amazing catches your eye, why not catch it with your camera or phone and stand a chance of winning a prize for your effort! Grocott’s Mail is proud to be a partner in Wessa EasternCape’s #CelebrateNaturalHeritage photography competition. Take out that camera, cellphone or tablet and get snapping! This Heritage Day, WESSA is celebrating and giving thanks for our amazing natural heritage – our natural environment. Whether that be a glimpse of the sky through the grasses of the veld; the spectacular winter sunsets and sunrises we see each day;…

This Saturday will be perfect weather for athletes and a fun family day outdoors in Grahamstown (Makhanda). Hundreds of runners will set off from the Graeme College start/ finish of the GBS Mutual Bank Mountain Drive Half Marathon at 8am – and you’re invited to join the action! From 7am, as race entrants arrive with their families and supporters, Rotary Grahamstown will be serving delicious breakfasts, with Mugg & Bean at hand to supply the perfect cup of coffee. While the runners make their way over the mountain in what are predicted to be comfortable 17C sunny conditions, things will…

A storm has been brewing in Sunnyside over a resident who has effectively extended his property by building a high mesh fence that bisects the sidewalk above his house and allegedly encloses sewage, stormwater, electricity and telephone infrastructure. There is a padlocked access gate, but it’s not clear who besides the owner has the key. While residents say the fence at the south end of Hill Street is a hazard and have asked how the municipality can condone it, the owner says he was given permission. Outrage on social media this week saw one resident posting, “What has happened to…