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.
