makhanda festival city
WELCOME TO 2020
Welcome indeed, Makhandans (Grahamstonians) to 2020. The first two weeks of the new year have brought about no pleasant surprises, apart from the welcome rains.
The water supply outages are still with us (for extended periods in many cases) and our ‘esteemed’ municipality proffers all sorts of excuses.
Load-shedding continues to irk us and causes much inconvenience, and our ‘esteemed’ Eskom proffers all sorts of excuses, although they will most likely dispute the use of the word “excuses”.
The pothole-riddled streets of Makhanda continue to cause mayhem, but the municipality appears totally unfazed, leaving this most important aspect to businesses, individuals and various community organisations to sort out. The recent rains have not helped the “pothole problem”, causing them to become larger and deeper.
Donkeys and cattle continue to roam Makhanda streets, posing a real threat to motorists and their vehicles.
Looking on the bright side, however, residents will have noticed that domestic and business refuse is being collected by the municipality. A year ago this was not the case due to a strike by municipal refuse collection workers. Their reason? They had not been issued proper and adequate safety clothing and equipment.
Water outages, load shedding, crumbling and potholed streets, and animals loitering on the streets. Not much to look forward to in 2020, it may seem. As my friend would say: “Vasbyt!”
STRONG WORK ETHIC PAYS DIVIDENDS
Not only did the Diocesan School for Girls (DSG) matric class of 2019 achieve a 100% pass rate, it also returned a 100% Bachelor’s Degree pass, with 37% of all subject symbols being distinctions, and a whopping 75% of subject symbols being either distinction or Bs (above 70%). A total of 83 DSG girls wrote the 2019 IEB exams.
In addition, three DSG pupils made the Independent Examinations Board (IEB) merit list for commendable achievement, having been placed in the top 5% nationally across five subjects – they are Emily Morgan, Nina OwenJones and Genevieve Powell.
DSG girls are mentioned on 11 occasions for being placed in the top one percent nationally in individual subjects
– Emily Morgan (life sciences and music), Saffron Gifford (accounting and life sciences), Genevieve Powell (English home language and visual arts), Nina Owen-Jones (life orientation and life sciences), Nosiphiwo Nabo (isiXhosa first additional language), Phoebe Elliott (visual arts) and Hannah Loggie (visual arts).
Outgoing headmistress Shelley Frayne said: “We are proud of our academic record which I know can be largely attributed to the strong work ethic among our pupil body, good parental support and a well-trained, committed and dedicated academic staff. I wish our 2019 matric girls much success as they embark on the next chapter of their lives.”
CELEBRATIONS ON THE HILL
For the first time in 10 years, PJ Olivier High School achieved a 100% pass rate in 2019 for its matric class of 20 pupils, and there were joyous scenes in principal Joubert Retief’s office as he handed over the certificates to pupils. Thirteen of them achieved Bachelor’s Degree passes, and six attained Diploma passes. Also present as the certificates were handed over were several teachers, as well as Christo Henning, chairperson of the PJ Olivier school governing body.
Top pupil for 2019 was Simone Schoonbee, and she returned a 94% pass for life orientation, 87% for history and 75% for Afrikaans higher language. Amy-Leigh van der Walt was another leading achiever (94% for history, 92% for life orientation and 83% for maths), as was Cherise Steyn (91% for life orientation and 84% for visual arts).
Retief said: “Congratulations to the class of 2019 for achieving a 100% pass rate. We are grateful that their hard work paid off. Thank you to the parents who supported them throughout the year, and a special thank-you to the teachers who worked hard from Grade R to Grade 12 and equipped the learners to become successful individuals.”
POSITIVE PROGRESS IN A POSITIVE YEAR
The 86-strong St Andrew’s College matric class of 2019 achieved a 100% Independent Examinations Board (IEB) pass rate, with 94% of the boys achieving Bachelor’s Degree passes to study at university.
St Andrew’s headmaster Alan Thompson said he was excited by the positive progress the school was making in terms of its academic excellence strategy.
He said: “I know that our boys will carry these achievements into a complex world in the next phase of their journey well-prepared to become productive and successful young men, wherever in the world they find themselves.”
Alexander Pezarro (from Botswana) achieved six distinctions, and attained 97% for IEB mathematics. James York (Makhanda), Dylan Bowker (Middelburg), Christopher Poole (Port Elizabeth) and
Sebastian McIntosh (Cape Town) achieved five distinctions each.
Achieving four distinctions each were Merrion Gess and Daniel Roodt (both from Bathurst), Ignus Potgieter, Ryan Ford and Peter Voges (all three from Makhanda), Craig Macpherson (Malawi) and Daniel Stijkel (Zimbabwe).
PLEASED WITH OVERALL QUALITY
Victoria Girls’ High School (VGHS) achieved a 97,4% pass rate for the 2019 matric examinations, with 83% of the class of 76 pupils achieving Bachelor’s degree passes, and A aggregates attained by Emma Koch and Mihle Gadu. There were 74 subject distinctions.
VGHS principal, Warren Schmidt, commented: “Some of the individual performances were impressive, particularly those of Emma Koch, Mihle Gadu and Esperance Mwepu. Emma’s seven distinctions is a particular highlight.
“We are, of course, deeply disappointed that our matric class of 2019 did not maintain the long-standing tradition of achieving a 100% pass rate, but remain pleased with the overall quality of the passes achieved. I hope that the 2020 and even the 2021 matric classes use this drop in pass rate as a motivation to push themselves.
“It is important that our pupils and their parents realise that teachers are experts when offering advice on a subject choice that best suits pupils’ abilities. We hope that parents will work with the school and encourage their children to work hard, because just believing in them or telling them to dream big does not result in excellence without a tremendous amount of consistent effort.”
GREAT MATRIC RESULTS
The Kingswood College matric class of 2019 produced some great results and a 100% pass rate, reflecting a positive step toward pursuing their chosen post-school careers. The class of 2019 garnered a total of 98 distinctions.
Tracy van Molendorff, Kingswood Senior School head, said the school was not only pleased with the number of distinctions, but also proud of those pupils who achieved well beyond their expectations. “We wish our matric class of 2019 much success as they embark on their next chapter,” she said.
The Kingswood Dux Scholar for 2019, Francoise Marais (from France), achieved an overall average of 86,4% and seven distinctions. Rachel Strachan (Makhanda) achieved an overall average of 81,3% with six distinctions, while Simeon Smit (King William’s Town) obtained five distinctions. Four distinctions each were achieved by Quinlan Caiger, James Lankester and Henning van Zyl (all three Makhanda), Reatile Balopi (Botswana) and Chloe Knight (Cape Town).
TOP PUPILS
Graeme College recorded a 94% pass rate for the 2019 matric examinations. Top pupils in the class of 49 were Tristan Pullen with six distinctions and Tristan Banfield with three distinctions.
BROWN TURNS TO GREEN
As a result of last week’s copious rainfalls in and around Makhanda, gardens are beginning to spring to life once again, lawns are quickly changing colour from brown to green, and birds are chirping away merrily, happy with the recent rain. One resident on the southern side of Makhanda has recorded just over 70mm of rain so far this month.
But, unfortunately, there is one drawback, and that is the wonderful rain has affected the state of the thousands of potholes in Makhanda’s streets, making driving a nightmare. Just one example is a section of Market Street, about 50 metres west of Hill Street. It is in an absolutely atrocious state following last week’s rains.
SOUTHERN STEAMERS
Back in 1992, according to an advertisement in a local publication, Southern Fried Chicken and Steamers Diner occupied premises at 57 New Street and 59 New Street respectively, the present-day Rat & Parrot.
Southern Fried Chicken served “lip-licking” fried chicken plus spare ribs and burgers, while Steamers Diner was a steakhouse with “specialities of the deep south”.
NEW AT SPCA
Dr Patricia Edwards is the new compulsory community service (CCS) veterinarian at Grahamstown SPCA, having taken over from Dr Amy Jackson-Moss who has completed her year’s compulsory service and has taken up a position with Grahamstown Veterinary Clinic. Edwards grew up in Pretoria and qualified as a veterinarian from the University of Pretoria in November 2019.
BLUE SAVINGS BOOK
Remember the days when building societies used to issue savings books to clients wherein details of the clients’ deposits and withdrawals were recorded? Transactions are so much simpler these days, what with bank cards, ATM machines, EFT transactions and the like.
An SA Perm Building Society advertisement placed in a local publication in 1984 asked the question: “Does your building society give you the simple saving Blue Book? Invest in the Perm’s Blue Book and watch your money grow!”
FLOURISHING IN THE BOTS
Makana botanical gardens has come alive in the past few days, what with some good rains promoting the growth of trees, grass and plants, and the weekly parkruns boasting in excess of 100 participants once again. In fact, the gardens complex was back to its old self last Saturday when 130 runners, joggers and walkers took part in perfect weather conditions in the weekly parkrun.
Thandixolo Royi was first finisher in 20 minutes 15 seconds, with Zenobia Louw first in the ladies’ division in 27 mins 04 secs – both recorded personal best times on the day. Meanwhile, Peter du Toit completed his 50th parkrun.
First 10 lady finishers were: 1st Zenobia Louw; 2nd Charlotte Abraham; 3rd Abby Buttle; 4th Kimberleigh Guest; 5th Carolyn Grant; 6th Josie Pegg; 7th Jeanne du Toit; 8th Belinda Campbell; 9th Siphesihle Mguga; 10th Robin Nxele.
First 10 men: 1st Thanduxolo Royi; 2nd Richard Wood; 3rd Justin Stoddart; 4th Paul Blake; 5th Douglas Wood; 6th Phillip Knaak; 7th Malibongwe Mbelu; 8th Allayne Guest; 9th Edward Hazell; 10th Kennedy Simango.
Parkruns are held at 8am each Saturday from the entrance to the botanical gardens in Lucas Avenue.
TYRES AND PARKING
Today, 22 Hill Street adjacent to GBS Mutual Bank is a parking lot for GBS staff members and clients. Back in 1983, so said an advertisement placed in a local publication, 22 Hill Street was occupied by Oliver Retreads, whose owner was Des Schwarz. Prior to that, De Villiers Service Station conducted business there.
CHARLIE AND THE BAMBI
Over the years I have written about Bambi Snack Bar, at the corner of Hill and Knight Streets, on several occasions, referring to the owner in the 1960s and 1970s as “Charlie Bambi”. Well, a resident informs me his real name was Anastasiou Kyriakou, known as “Charlie Bambi”. Wonder what happened to him and where he is now.
Send your news of local events and achievements, or of any issues you might be having to sidp@imaginet.co.za or call (046) 624-4356