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17/01/2025

Lifescaping with Andrew Davies

17/01/2025

[ANALYSIS] Numbers way up but percentages lag behind in the 2024 Makhanda matric results

By Ashley Westaway

In January 2024, the city’s education community adopted a vision statement: “By 2028, Makhanda emerges as the leading academic educational centre and city in South Africa and is recognised as such, thereby affording all local children and young people the benefit of good quality and relevant education at pre-school, primary, secondary and tertiary levels.”

This analysis of the performance of our schools and students in the 2024 National Senior Certificate examinations gauges the extent to which we have made progress towards reaching this ambitious objective over the past twelve months. The methodology that I use for the annual review of matric results is balanced and comprehensive in that it uses a variety of indicators, involving both percentages and numbers, and it considers both the quantity and quality of local performance.

The most appropriate starting point for an analysis of Matric results is the cohort size. The size of the cohort indicates the ability of the local schooling system to retain its learners and prevent their drop-out.

In my opinion, the most impressive statistic of all that is presented in this analysis is the retention rate achieved in Makhanda in 2024.

883 young people sat the exams in local public schools in October/ November. This translates into a retention rate of 74%. In other words, out of every four children who were enrolled for Grade 1 in 2013, three wrote the NSC examinations last year.

As a city, we have come on in leaps and bounds over the past five years in relation to retention. In 2020, only 540 local students wrote their final examinations, representing a 45% retention rate. The comparison provides us with clear assurance that public schools in Makhanda, across the length and breadth of our city, have improved significantly in the recent period.

337 more young people progressed all way through primary and secondary schooling to reach Matric in 2024 than five years earlier. The retention rate in Makhanda has literally skyrocketed over this brief period from 45% to 74%. The significance of our retention performance is underlined when considering that the national statistic in this regard is 62%. Our city is therefore 12 percentage points higher than the South Africa as a whole.

In 2020, the fee-paying sector enrolled 172 matriculants, whilst last year the tally crept up to 180. By contrast, in 2020 the fee-exempt sector registered 368 matriculants and by last year, the total leapt up to 703.

In other words, the number of matriculants in the fee-exempt sector (comprising Khutliso Daniels,
Mary Waters, Nathaniel Nyaluza, Nombulelo, Ntsika and TEM Mrwetyana) almost doubled. Numbers have increased significantly at each of the six aforementioned schools.

As a city, we thus owe the fee-exempt schools, both primary and secondary schools, a great debt of gratitude for having enabled the massive improvement in learner retention.

In order to understand how we have improved the retention rate from 45% to 74% in five years, we must in fact turn attention to primary schooling. Final year Rhodes University Bachelor of Education (BEd) students assess the comprehension ability of Grade 4 learners in our public schools on an annual basis, under professional management.

The 2023 and 2024 studies have shown that Makhanda is considerably more literate than South Africa at large. The most basic foundations of academic education are literacy and numeracy. A prerequisite for progression to matric is functional literacy. Our primary schools are doing a good job in teaching our children to read, write and comprehend. This success is directly reflected in the surging higher numbers of Makhanda matriculants.

Follow the link below to read the full article.

https://grocotts.ru.ac.za/2025/01/15/numbers-way-up-but-percentages-lag-behind-in-the-2024-makhanda-matric-results/

16/01/2025

(IN PICTURES) Many Makhanda schools reopened without any serious incidents this week. Principals who spoke to Grocott's Mail all indicated they were ready to welcome learners and hit the ground running. At TEM Mrwetyana Secondary in Joza, jubilant pupils and teachers welcomed new principal Sizwe Mdaka. Makana Municipality ward 2 councillor Ramie Xonxa visited various schools in the ward on the day, sharing messages of support and inspiration. Xonxa spoke to the children about the scourge of teenage pregnancy. He warned the children not to get involved in bad behaviour and rather focus on their academic development.
Xonxa also welcomed parents to Samuel Ntlebi Primary School.

Read full story in Grocott's Mail next week.

16/01/2025

Pirates and Attackers produce fireworks in packed JD Dlepu Stadium

By Chris Totobela

All roads led to JD Dlepu stadium this past Saturday. On show was the Hollywood Bets Regional League clash between hosts City Pirates and XI Attackers in a highly anticipated local derby that has never failed to produce fireworks.

Local football lovers packed JD Dlepu Stadium in Joza, creating a great atmosphere for both teams.

The game started with both teams playing cautiously and weighing each other while waiting for openings. It did not take long before both teams threw caution to the wind and started attacking each other.

Attackers' ball retention and rotation was superb while Pirates looked very dangerous when they had the ball. Pirates' winger and dribbling wizard, Aphelele "Seven" Tyelbooi, ran rings around the Attackers' defence and it was his perfect through pass that found Bahle "Fakaza" Ndyolashe unmarked inside the box, and he steered it home to open the scoring.

The goal stunned Attackers into action as they played with a bit of urgency, but were guilty of over passing the ball at times or passing it to wrong areas instead of dangerous areas. Pirates took their lead to the halftime break.

In the second half, both teams started where they left off with Attackers dominating the midfield battle and playing with more purpose searching for an equaliser. The game seemed too much for the man in the middle as both sets of players kept on shouting at him for the wrong decisions and lack of consistency in his decisions.

Attackers took the game to Pirates and forced them to defend. Pirates absorbed the pressure very well but they finally succumbed when Attackers equalised after a neat passing game. Sihle "General" Ntlanjeni tapped the ball into an open net after the keeper failed to deal with a cross from the right.

The game opened up nicely as both teams searched for a winning goal while displaying good attacking football with flair. Both teams became desperate as they also dished out dangerous tackles. They both created many chances to win the game but were both guilty of rushing things in the final third of the field.

Attackers' new midfield sensation, 17-year-old Anga Shwempe played like a seasoned player as he dictated terms in midfield and played an important role in every attacking move.

However, both teams had to settle for an entertaining one-all draw as the final whistle sounded to end a great game of football.

The game was nearly spoilt by the man in the middle as he did not match the energy, skill and braveness that was displayed by these two Makhanda football giants on the day.

But what a way to kick off the new year!

Credit must be given to both camps for playing such a brilliant and competitive game after just a week or two of training after the festive break.

16/01/2025

Local football fans lose interest in New Year's Cup

By Chris Totobela

The 2024 New Year's Cup (NYC) edition did not live up to expectations, especially when one looks at the previous editions. The first two to three editions raised the bar very high, which is why it becomes so easy for football lovers to notice a serious decline in this tournament.

Firstly not all the teams that were on the poster of participants that circulated, honoured their invitation. Nevertheless the draw went ahead on the same day of kick-off, 23 December. Joza Stars' coach and manager was shocked when his team was told they would play the first game of the tournament at 3pm while the draw took place just after lunchtime, instead of the scheduled 10am.

Speaking to Grocott's Mail, the Joza Stars' manager expressed his disappointment. "I think the whole tournament was poorly organised. Maru was supposed to play the first game but they refused and we were told to play just less than two hours after the draw had been made, and it was extremely difficult for me to organise my players and most of them were still at work and I think this contributed to us losing to the eventual winners."

He also spoke about poor officiating, which made headlines in the 2024 edition. "I have watched many editions of the NYC but this was the worst officiating I have ever seen. The referees were poor from day one until the last day."

Grocott's Mail spoke to a couple of football people who watched the NYC to get their views on the 9th edition.

Football legend Xolela Tyelbooi shared his views. "This is the most poorly organised NYC I have ever seen. How can you make a tournament that lasts for a week and only play one game a day? The less said about the standard of football the better. Most teams came with combined teams and before they started to gel they found themselves already out of the tournament. The organisers shot themselves in the foot by sidelining local referees as their trusted referees had no clue what they were doing in the field.

"The non-involvement of our LFA is a clear sign of disrespect that backfired as everyone could see that the tournament was poor. This tournament does not contribute to the development of local football and it is just a money making scheme, let the organisers point out what it is that they have done to contribute to local football. I think the NYC is dying a slow death as we have witnessed in this edition."

Maru FC's Wandile Duruwe echoed the same sentiments. "Poor organisation was evident from day one, booking of the field was done very late. Poor refereeing was on everyone's lips from day one. We have very good referees that are 10 times better than the ones that we have seen in this NYC and if this tournament is really about developing young talent, why are our referees not given a chance? The standard of this tournament has dropped and people have lost interest, the stadium was empty from day one and on the final day, only a handful of people came to watch.

"Players have also lost interest as they are tired of empty promises. Organisers do not even involve our LFA or region in this tournament, what does that tell you? The tournament is dying, there is nothing exciting about it. There is not a single local club that participated in this tournament that did not receive a red card, which makes us believe that our teams were targeted and this would make our teams to think twice before taking part in this NYC again."

Malibongwe Hempe of City Pirates was also disappointed. "I don't want to say much about this poorly organised NYC, especially about the disgusting officiating that we experienced. We were forced to play in the field that had broken glasses in it and as expected, some players came out with serious injuries and this shows that the organisers don't really care about the players' wellbeing. We did not even see the LOC that we were always told about as we only saw the chairman doing everything. It was just a mess as some teams did not even pitch up for their games."

Makana Tigers' manager Thandisizwe Matebese also shared his views. "This was the worst NYC I have ever seen and everything was poor. People have lost interest. People will rather come and watch the LFA teams than watching the NYC. It is dying and everyone can see that. Organisers need to pull up their socks. I don't know where he got those match officials but they were a shame."

JD Dlepu Stadium resident coach Louis Ntlanjeni was also disappointed. "The standard of officiating was very poor and many people suspected that there was a conspiracy to boot all the local sides out of the tournament, which is very sad as the numbers on the stands were already very low. People have just lost interest because of what is always happening in this NYC. I think the organisers must swallow their pride and involve the local people. It is also not clear how this NYC is assisting in the development of local football as there are no scouts coming to this tournament."

Rhodes University sport administrator and Maru head coach, Siya Dumiso, as well as Makana LFA chairman Afika Adam and secretary Akhona Heshu, all declined to comment.

However, chairman of the NYC responded to people's concerns. "I would like to start with the most controversial topic of this edition. We had referees that were supplied by the province as they use this tournament as a springboard for them to be promoted to the PSL. Luxolo Badi and Sithela were also spotted in this tournament. It was just a pitty that these ones froze when they got to the big stage. In terms of some of the clubs not pitching up for games, we understand that this is the most important season in our African culture where boys go to the mountain and we did not find their replacements in good time. The standard of football has not dropped if you look at Maru versus PK United game, Motherwell Envoys versus Makana Tigers's game and the final. Yes the numbers in the stands declined and we understand as this is the busiest time for many people."

The chairman switched his focus into the future, promising an improved tournament. He promised that this year's edition will be better, with the prize money going back to R100 000 and a total of 32 teams taking part in the event. He hinted to the organisers possibly reverting to using the SMS format to enter teams into the tournament. He also confirmed that Gqeberha will co-host the tournament.

Papu also told GM that he is thinking of moving the tournament to another town as he is not getting any support from the local municipality. He says he wants to take the event where it will be appreciated. He also responded on the NYC not helping on the development of local football. "We have trained many local coaches and we will be providing Makhanda with mobile clinics. Yes we have left nothing for local football this year."

He also responded to teams complaining about late payment. "Our sponsors have long internal processes that have to be followed and we have no choice but to wait for those processes."

The 2024 edition was won by Gqeberha-based Motherwell Envoys having defeated PK United, from Peddie, in a thrill-a-minute final by a single goal.

Clearly this NYC has got toungues wagging as football lovers have raised many questions about it, but one thing that they agree on is that the standard of the whole tournament has dropped significantly and that it does not really assist in the development of local football as the local people and football authorities are always left out in the cold while being reduced to mere spectators in their own backyard.

It is also not fair for the clubs who spend a lot of money in this tournament, only to be robbed by incompetent match officials who use this tournament to see if they are ready for the big stage or not. The organiser needs to step up and come up with a different plan that will include all stakeholders in local football.

Playing the NYC in an empty stadium was embarrassing but hopefully this year's edition will bring back all the lost glory of this tournament.

Chris Totobela is a Grocott's Mail sports writer.

14/01/2025

Kingswood matrics shine with outstanding results - 100% pass rate, 93% bachelor's

By Staff Reporter

Kingswood College are delighted to announce another set of terrific results with a 100% pass and 93% Bachelor Degree pass.

2024 Dux and Deputy Head Boy Jason Connan did not shrink from his potential when he clinched 8 A’s for Afrikaans FA, English HL, IT, LO, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Physical Sciences and Further Studies Mathematics.

This following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather who were also top achievers at Kingswood College, where they attended school. Jason’s father, James, was runner-up to Dux in his year (1991) while Jason’s grandfather, Ernest, was Dux at Kingswood in 1963. Jason started at Kingswood College in Pre-Primary with Deputy Head Girl Khanya Mbenyana who was also a top achiever in the IEB results, achieving 5 A’s.

Amongst the 70 matric pupils, we achieved 1 pupil (Jason Connan) with 8 A’s, 4 with 6 A’s (Emila Jacob, Olivia Connellan, Rosemary Colenso and TJ Cannon), 3 pupils with 5 A’s (Jasmine Witthuhn, Khanya Mbenyana, and Joshua Hufkie), 4 pupils with 4 A’s (Jessica Barnard, Gizelle Loy, Alessandra Wijtenburg, Gary Woods) and 8 pupils with 3 A’s.

Senior School Head in charge of Academics, Ms Tracy van Molendorff, had this to say: “Kingswood College is proud to announce the exceptional achievements of the Matric Class of 2024. These results reflect not only the dedication and resilience of the pupils but also the unwavering commitment of our teaching staff and the support of their parents. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all our pupils, especially those who attained personal bests through hard work and perseverance.

"A special mention goes to our Dux Scholar, Jason Connan, who achieved an extraordinary 8 distinctions, embodying the spirit of excellence that Kingswood stands for. We also commend the many pupils who achieved 4, 5, and 6 distinctions, a testament to their consistent effort and determination. This year’s results are a celebration of individual and collective triumphs, showcasing what can be accomplished through collaboration and dedication. We are incredibly proud of the Class of 2024 and look forward to seeing them thrive in their future endeavours.”

Kingswood College Head, Leon Grové, reiterated: “We are exceptionally proud of the Class of 2024 and their academic achievements are a testament to their determination, sacrifice, and hard work. We wish them well as they embark on the next phase of their educational journey knowing that the virtues and values that have been instilled in them at Kingswood will be the foundation of success in whatever they choose to do going forward.”

14/01/2025

Makana Municipality congratulates 2024 matrics

14/01/2025

Outstanding academic excellence at DSG: IEB Matric and A-Level results 2024

By Staff Reporter

The Diocesan School for Girls (DSG) celebrates the Class of 2024’s exceptional results from both our IEB Matric and Cambridge International A-Level streams.

Highlights of the IEB results:
 100% pass rate, with 99% Bachelor’s Degree passes.
 2.3 distinctions per candidate on average.
 32% distinctions, 63% A or B aggregates, and 92% A, B, or C aggregates.
Top Achievers:
 Isabella Rodwell (Dux): Aggregate 88.2%, 7 distinctions.

 Cameron Brook: 9 distinctions, including two in Further Studies Mathematics
(aggregate 86.7%).

 Jessica Barrow and Kirsten White: 8 distinctions each, including Further
Studies Mathematics (aggregate 87,7% and 86.7%, respectively).

 Lathitha Mayaba and Jamie Marx, each achieved seven distinctions with
aggregates of 86,5% and 85,7%, respectively.

Five girls achieved five distinctions each: Lily Bowker, Caitlin Gardiner, Wendy Mawu, Constantina Minas and Ashleigh Price. Ten girls achieved four, many of whom missed a 5th or 6th distinction by a mere percent: Ella Becker, Avuyisiwe Dyaphu, Stacy Karungi, Hannah Lowe, Kwazi Matoti, Annabella McLeod, Jessica Smailes, Marique Stevens, Bandile Tapela and Kanya Torp Nelani. A further seven girls achieved three distinctions, and 12 girls achieved two distinctions.

Big congratulations to the following matrics for placing in IEB Top 1%
 Cameron Brook – Design
 Kwazi Matoti – isiXhosa First Additional Language
 Sarah Lake – Mathematical Literacy

DSG and St Andrew’s College also celebrated the Cambridge International A-Level Results, announced on Friday last week. Our fifth Cambridge A-Level cohort also achieved remarkable success with Jannie, de Villiers (Head of School) commenting “The A-Level results mark a historic milestone for DSG, standing as the best since the inception of the programme. These exceptional results serve as an important international benchmark, affirming that our A-Level offering is on par with the very best globally.”

Congratulations to our top achievers:
 Lucy Ritchie (DSG): 3 A* (Maths, Physics, Chemistry), aggregate 92%.
 James Barrow (SAC): 2 A*, 1 A, aggregate 89%.
 Emma Lidsba and Elizabeth Lake: Outstanding distinctions across multiple subjects.

“These results are a testament to the dedication of our students and the unwavering support of our staff and community,” said Dr. Petra Gentz, Deputy Head Academics.

“The DSG Class of 2024 can take pride in staking their flag at the pinnacle of the momentous 150th anniversary year with both A-Level and IEB results that truly stand out. Congratulations to our pupils, teachers, and everyone who supported this incredible journey!” Jannie de Villiers (Head of DSG).

13/01/2025

St Andrew's College matrics achieve 100% pass rate in IEB exam

By Staff Reporter

The 2024 St Andrew’s College matrics who wrote the IEB National Senior Certificate examinations achieved a 100% pass rate, with 98% of the 82 boys achieving a Bachelor’s Degree (BD) pass and all of them qualifying for further study after school.

The Dux Scholar was Murray Wilson, from Cape Town, who achieved an 89% aggregate, and eight distinctions in Accounting, Afrikaans First Additional Language, English Home Language, Geography, Life Orientation, Mathematics, Physical Sciences and Further Studies Mathematics: Calculus & Algebra.

Two further St Andrew’s College boys also achieved eight distinctions:
Andy Holmes, from Johannesburg, achieved an 89% aggregate, with distinctions in Afrikaans First Additional Language, English Home Language, Geography, History, Life Orientation, Mathematics, Physical Sciences and Further Studies Mathematics: Calculus & Algebra.

Alex Hutton, also from Johannesburg, achieved an aggregate of 87%, with distinctions in Afrikaans First Additional Language, English Home Language, Geography, Life Orientation, Life Sciences, Marine Sciences, Mathematics and Further Studies English.

Ethan van der Merwe, from Makhanda, achieved seven distinctions and an 88% aggregate, with distinctions in Accounting, English Home Language, Information Technology, Life Orientation, Mathematics, Physical Sciences and Further Studies Mathematics: Calculus & Algebra.

Six distinctions were achieved by three St Andrew’s College boys:
Julius Rocher, from Makhanda, achieved an 88% aggregate, with distinctions in Accounting, Afrikaans First Additional Language, Information Technology, Life Orientation, Mathematics and Physical Sciences.

Aiden Wood, from Cape Town, achieved an 86% aggregate, with distinctions in Dramatic Arts, English Home Language, History, Life Orientation, Mathematics and Physical Sciences.

The 2024 Head Boy, Tom Clucas, from Johannesburg, achieved an 82% aggregate, with distinctions in English Home Language, History, Life Orientation, Life Sciences, Mathematics and Physical Sciences.

Three College boys achieved five distinctions:
Laurie Apps (Kenton-on-Sea) in Business Studies, English Home Language, Geography, History and Life Orientation, with an aggregate of 83%.

Ayena Gwarube (East London), in English Home Language, History, isiXhosa First Additional Language, Life Orientation and Mathematics, with an aggregate of 82%.

Hlumani Thomas (Johannesburg) in Business Studies, English Home Language, History, Life Orientation and Further Studies English, with an aggregate of 77%.

Achieving four distinctions were Joe Wostenholm from Johannesburg (English Home Language, History, Life Orientation and Mathematics), Chukwu Ekpebegh from Mthatha (Accounting, Life Orientation, Life Sciences and Mathematics), and Roland Turvey from Johannesburg (Geography, History, Life Orientation and Mathematics).

In addition, the following four St Andrew's College boys are to be congratulated on being placed in the top 1% nationally in their subjects: Alex Hutton (Geography and Marine Sciences) Andy Holmes (Geography) Dominic Cloete (Mathematical Literacy) Henri Findt (Mathematical Literacy)

Warm congratulations too to our sisters at the DSG, who learn and study with the College boys as part of our coordinate model, on their excellent results. These wonderful results are testament to the extraordinary efforts of all the boys and girls of College and the DSG and the exceptional work and dedication of the staffs of both schools.

Congratulations to the whole class of 2024!

Message from the headmaster
Our St Andrew’s College Class of 2024 set out to improve the academic focus of the school. Head of School, Tom Clucas, and Second Head of School, Murray Wilson, ably supported by the Senior Prefect group, were innovative and effective in making academics ‘cool’ at College.

From the Academic Honours Blazer introduced at the beginning of 2024 to the House Academic Improvement Awards, they aimed to change the mindsets of our boys, focusing on establishing good work habits and recognising achievement at all levels. In all of this the boys were also modelling the kind of attitudes that we wished to see in all year groups.

Supported and encouraged by our staff, the fruits of the efforts of our Class of 2024 were evident throughout the 2024 Academic Year and we had been expecting a solid set of IEB and Cambridge A-Level results. Our Class of 2024 did not disappoint. In fact, we are delighted with the quality of the results achieved at all levels.

There are excellent results at the top end, all of our boys managed to pass with room to spare and the proportion of boys achieving university entrance qualifications is exceptionally high. There are several members of our Class of 2024 who have improved beyond all recognition from the start of their St Andrew’s College journeys to their conclusion.

We are exceptionally happy with the results achieved. These qualifications provide an excellent platform for study in South Africa and anywhere else in the world, and as a non-selective school we believe we provide a subject range that allows every boy to flourish. These results are a reflection of the remarkable efforts and commitment of our boys, the majority of whom also made extraordinary contributions to our broad and diverse range of holistic school activities. Our thanks to the staff at both College and DSG for all their efforts to help our boys achieve these results and well done to our class of 2024.

We thank the Men of our Class of 2024 for their leadership and inspiration, and we wish them every blessing for the future.

13/01/2025

2024 matric class achieves 87.3% pass rate, Eastern Cape climbs to 85%

By Luvuyo Mjekula

The national matric pass rate has soared from 82.9% in 2023 to more than 87% in 2024, the highest in the history of South Africa.

This was announced by Basic Education minister Siviwe Gwarube as she delivered the National Senior Certificate (NSC) results in Johannesburg a short while ago.

The Free State came first with a pass rate of 94%, with the Eastern Cape lying ninth at 85%.

The minister proudley announced that each of the nine provinces achieved a pass rate of more than 84%.

The results per province:

Free State - 94%
KZN - 89.5%
Gauteng - 88.4%.
North West - 87.5%
Western Cape - 86%
Limpopo - 85.1%
Mpulanga - 84.9%
Eastern Cape - 84.98%
Northern Cape - 84.2%

Gwarube also announced the performance of education districts across the country.

The top three districts performed as follows:

Johannesburg West was the top performing with a 97% pass rate,
Fezile Dabi in the Free State came second with 93.5%,
Umkhanyakude in KZN reached 92.8%

Some highlights of the 2024 results:

Nearly half of the learners who passed received a Bachelor pass.

73 of 75 districts obtained a pass mark higher than 90%.

Over 319 000 distinctions achieved, an increase from last year.

Every province increased the number of distinctions.

Number of underperforming schools has decreased.

Learners from quintiles 1 to 3 have made significant stiodes.

Northern Cape recorded highest improvement of 8.3%.

Girls performed better than boys.

Likening the learners to the South African national flower, the Protea, Gwarube said the class of 2024 excelled against the odds.

This is a developing story.

09/01/2025

Prepare your finances for back-to-school costs

By Staff Reporter

South African parents and guardians are facing the financial reality of preparing their children for the start of the school year.

With many family budgets already over-stretched, the added expenses can be overwhelming.

The cost of essentials adds up quickly – fees, uniforms, textbooks, and stationery, among other items – and this is compounded by additional costs for sporting equipment, tech, transport, class outings, and extra lessons.

According to research by the Old Mutual Group, putting a child through the public school system in 2023 cost roughly R651,313, with private schooling costing R1,901,549 on average.

Public primary school fees were around R24,408 a year, and private primary schools cost around R71,496.

A government high school cost approximately R36,072 per year and a private high school cost around R105,084.

Annual increases add to the financial burden. Overall, education was 6.3% more expensive in 2024 than in 2023, according to Statistics South Africa. This exceeded the 5.7% annual increase in 2023 and remained the highest since 2020, when the rate was 6.4%.

Sarah Nicholson, operations manager of JustMoney.co.za, a platform that helps South Africans make good money choices, says, “The high cost of schooling can be tough for many families, but it’s important to remember that education is one of the best investments you can make in your child’s future.
“Planning, prioritising, and creativity can help you start the school year right, and set your child up to succeed, without breaking the bank.”

Practical tips to lighten the load:

1. Plan ahead. Write down everything your child needs and make essentials a priority to avoid unnecessary expenses.

2. Compare prices. Shop around for school supplies and take advantage of deals, discounts, and loyalty programmes.

3. Check second-hand stores and online platforms. Search for books, uniforms, and sports equipment that are still in good condition. If your child has outgrown school uniforms and other necessities, sell or swap these items.

4. Label everything. Personalise school supplies and uniforms to reduce the risk of items getting lost or stolen.

5. Assess technology needs. Source from outlets offering learner discounts, or consider a bulk buy with other parents. Avoid overinvesting in tech your child doesn’t need immediately, as devices rapidly become outdated.

6. Keep receipts. Track every school-related expense. Knowing where your money goes will help you budget accurately.

7. Budget for fees. Many schools offer options to spread payments over the year, which can ease financial strain. Investigate bursaries, scholarships, or fee exemptions offered by the school or local organisations.

8. Assess extra-curricular activities. Choose activities wisely and limit participation to what suits your budget.

9. Monitor subscriptions. If your child has been using educational apps or tools, evaluate their usefulness and cancel subscriptions that no longer add value.

10. Use free resources. Explore online platforms for educational materials and support, instead of spending money on costly learning tools.

11. Communicate with teachers. Reach out early to discuss any specific requirements or additional help you may need for your child. This will allow you to factor in costs for extra lessons or counselling.

12. Save on transport. Consider carpooling with other parents or investigating more affordable – but safe – private or public transport.

13. Organise lunchboxes. Plan simple, nutritious meals at home rather than relying on tuck-shop items. Buy food in bulk and prepare snacks in advance.

14. Set up a savings fund. Start a small, recurring savings plan for future school costs. A small amount saved each month will reduce pressure next year.

15. Plan for emergencies. Set aside a little extra for unexpected costs such as last-minute projects or sports equipment. This will help you avoid dipping into your monthly budget.

“Being organised, exploring cost-saving options, and seeking support where needed will set your family up for a smoother start to the school year. Remember, small steps can make a big difference,” says Nicholson.

“A solid financial footing sets the foundation for success, for both parents and learners. A little planning today can create lasting peace of mind throughout the year.”

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HAPPENING NOW: The Association for Persons with Physical Disabilities (APD) is leading an awareness drive in Joza this morning to educate the public about disabilities and their impact. A march led by people living disabilities made its way from the Sani Street intersection, near the Joza Post Office, to Noluthando Hall a short while ago. The Library for the Blind, the Makana Municipality and members of the Makhanda community are also present at the event. APD social worker Francine Mwepu said: “We will have some speeches at Noluthando Hall, from the municipality, the Library for the Blind and disabled people themselves.” Mwepu said the non-profit organisation’s purpose is to support people living with physical disabilities. Its offices are situated in Cobden Street. Read full story in Grocott's Mail on Friday.

WATCH: Makhanda residents take public servants to task at community imbizo By Luvuyo Mjekula High crime levels, lack of visibility, slow wheels of justice, repeat offending, poor communication, homelessness, dark streets, water outages and lack of facilities. These were some of the concerns brought up as Makhanda residents and public servants vigorously engaged in a community imbizo at the BB Zondani Hall in Fingo Village yesterday. Among the departments present at the event were the police, justice, social development, home affairs, correctional services and justice and constitutional development as well as municipal councillors. The 'Policing Accountability Engagement' imbizo also drew a large crowd of community members and organisations. Before the residents took them to task over poor services, the public servants went on an enlightment drive, informing residents about the services their various departments provide. A correctional services official talked about community corrections, giving details on inmates who successfully completed their community corrections programmes and how many went on to reoffend. Meanwhile, a home affairs department's representative gave statistics, including the high number of uncollected IDs and a prosecutor detailed the court process from arrest until prosecution. The event came a week before the start of 16 Days of Activism for no violence against women and children, set to kick off on Monday, 25 November. Read full story in Grocott's Mail's PDF edition on Friday.

WATCH: Prayer for Scott's Farm family after fire calamity By Luvuyo Mjekula The community of Scott's Farm and surrounding areas rallied together this afternoon to console and support the Blackbeard Street family whose house was razed by fire yesterday. Grocott's Mail reported yesterday that neighbours watched in disbelief as the blaze consumed the double storey house. Firefighters did their best to fight the fire with the help of local residents, but the blaze proved too intense, leaving only destruction in its wake. The cause of the fire is still unconfirmed, but neighbours told Grocott's Mail there was no one inside when it started. Distraught family members were present at today's prayer service, led by Baptist Church pastor Euginio Nel. Nel told the family they were not alone, and had the support of the community. Neighbour and retired social worker, Sally Damana, also addressed the gathering. "It is dark now, that is how you feel. You do not know where to go and how to get there. But God will say in one word - let there be light. And that light will come," said Damana. Some of the community members brought much-needed donations to the service and urged other members of the public to also lend a hand. Donations can be dropped off at 11 Cromwell Street in Sunnyside or at The Courier Guy business in New Street. Read full story in Grocott's Mail next week.

WATCH - This tap in the front yard of a Xolani Location home has been leaking for weeks, giving the family and their neigbhours sleepless nights. Every day, the Somngesi Street families battle floods gushing into their homes. One resident said she had to dig a furrow in her bedroom to let the water out. There was hope when Makana Municipality plumbers arrived two weeks ago, only to repair another neighbour's tap that was also leaking. "They promised to return in the next couple of days to fix our tap, but they never came back." The resident said he had tried numerous times to get help from the municipality, with no success. He said a local plumer told him chemicals in the water and hot temperatures broke the worn-out municipal pipe. "The water causes a lot of damage. What worries me the most is that it goes into neighbouring homes."

A fire spread along the N2, between Waainek Prison and Settlers Monument. Road maintenance workers from Botle Ba Africa Roads, a Sanral subcontractor, are trying to extinguish it. According to one of the workers, Kwanele Rafani, they were working along the road when they noticed the fire. He adds that the firefighters were on the scene earlier and would be back to continue extinguishing the fire. Chief Fire Officer William Welkom says they have been on the scene since the fire started. He suspects the fire started from a powerline.

Students from Eastcape Midlands College are currently protesting down Milner street towards African street for unpaid NSFAS funds. This is a developing story

🗣️PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT!!! 📢 This year, we’re taking over and taking back the Power! Elyahreev Immortal is releasing his 4th studio album and he chose to do it with us! It’s official! Feb 11, all roads are leading to Makhanda, at The Black Power Station for this Hip Hop explosion! And yes, there will be an Open Mic! Bring your fam and let your friends know! Let the word spread like wild fires!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 #truthmusic #hiphop #sots4 #theblackpowerstation

SALB celebrated World Read Aloud Day by reading books in three languages: IsiXhosa, English and Afrikaans. #worldreadaloudday

Thumeka Kwezi of the ATM explains why you should register to vote in the upcoming elections. #Elections2024 #SouthAfrica Video: Steven Lang

Over the weekend, three parties set up desks to encourage people to register in Ward 8, Makhanda: The DA, the ATM and the ANC. #Elections2024 Video: Steven Lang

This morning, disgruntled parents of Riebeek East Combined School learners and various community members gathered at the Makhanda Department of Education, demanding answers from departmental officials about ongoing teacher shortages and scholar transport issues. Speaking to Grocott’s Mail, scholar transport service provider Sivuno Ntengo says some learners are stranded and have not attended school since the school opened. In the video, he expresses his concern about learners dropping out of school to work on farms. Full story to follow.

This morning, disgruntled parents of Riebeek East Combined School learners and various community members gathered at the Makhanda Department of Education, demanding answers from departmental officials about ongoing teacher shortages and scholar transport issues. Speaking to Grocott’s Mail, scholar transport service provider Sivuno Ntengo says some learners are stranded and have not attended school since schools started. In the video, he expresses his concern about learners dropping out of school to work on farms. Full story to follow.

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Grocott's Mail and Grocott’s Live bring you the best and worst of what happens in and around Grahamstown... and everything in between! Still independent after 147 years, serving the town with a mind of its own.

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