WATER SITUATION IMPROVING?
Makhanda residents are questioning why Makana Municipality is not providing regular updates on the levels of Settlers Dam.
One resident who visited the dam recently estimated Settlers to be about 80% full, while another said the water is running quite strongly into the dam.
Yet another visitor to the dam said the water level was about “2m from the top of the wall”.
Makhanda itself continues to experience water supply problems, with a consumer lamenting: “Settlers dam is full, but taps are empty.”
Technical hitches and issues have been experienced at Settlers for many months, as well as at the Waainek and James Kleynhans water treatment works.
Meanwhile, the municipality issued a water supply update at the weekend, without mentioning the state of the city’s dams. In the report it was revealed that two of Makhanda’s reservoirs are 100% full and four are standing at 80%.
As a result, the municipality confirmed that the water supply had been opened for all areas of Makhanda, based on reservoir levels.
However, night restrictions would remain in place “to build up water levels on all reservoirs to accommodate fellow users in high-lying areas”.
And, there was certainly no shortage of water in the form of rain last week and at the weekend!
GORGEOUS GARDENS
Because of the incessant rain late last week and over the weekend, the open gardens event due to have been held at Settlers Close Cottages (Knight Street) and Oakhaven Cottages (Caldecott Street) last Saturday has been postponed to Saturday, October 14.
Entrance is by donation and crafts, refreshments and plants will be on sale.
HEAD AND DEPUTY
During St Andrew’s College’s speech day proceedings last week, Thomas Clucas was named head prefect of the school for 2024 and Murray Wilson deputy head prefect.
A LANE NAMED SLATER
Readers may not be aware, but there’s actually quite a delightful story behind the naming of Slater Lane in Makhanda, according to the official listing of the then Grahamstown’s streets.
But they may well ask exactly where is Slater Lane. In all likelihood readers will be aware that Ayliff Street and Charles Street are situated adjacent to the Kingswood College campus.
Ayliff and Charles are joined by a quiet thoroughfare going by the name of Slater Lane, and named after former headmaster of Kingswood, Jack Slater.
He used the lane frequently when proceeding to the school in the mornings and returning home at 14 Park Road later in the day.
SWOTTING AND WRITING
Rhodes University’s undergraduate lectures draw to a close tomorrow, and the swot period begins the following day, continuing until Thursday, October 19.
The crucial end-of-year examinations begin on October 20 and end on November 17.
WET AND WINDY RUN
It was wet, windy, muddy, misty and cold between Bathurst and Port Alfred on Saturday, and credit must go to the 104 athletes who braved and completed the Kowie Striders-organised 27km Pineapple Run sponsored by BUCO.
There was heavy drizzle throughout, and the conditions proved a daunting task for many in the smaller-than-usual race field.
When the athletes finished the race on the Port Alfred Country Club field there were puddles and pools of water aplenty, and legs, shoes and socks were saturated.
Winner on the day was Andile Motwana of Nedbank Running Club in one hour 27 minutes 57 seconds, while Refeloe Solomons of Nedbank was first in the ladies’ division in 1 hr 54 mins 09 sec.
Makhanda athletes Cassandra MacLachlan of Albany Runners (second) and Terri-Lynn Penney of Nedbank (third) finished in the top-three in the ladies’ division and were on the receiving end of cash prizes.
Makhanda finishers (Temp = Temporary licence):
24th Cassandra MacLachlan (Albany) 2:13:10
25th Mario Hockly (Albany) 2:13:31
29th Terri-Lynn Penney (Nedbank) 2:17:22
44th Orrin Snelgar (Temp) 2:26:31
45th Lionel Blaauw (Temp) 2:27:38
67th Mvelo Phungula (Albany) 2:49:16
69th Jess Gornall (Temp) 2:49:25
70th Carolyn Grant (Albany) 2:49:38
75th Kevin Rafferty (Temp) 2:55:17
92nd Andrea Comley (Albany) 3:16:07
104th Monica Strydom (Temp) 3:54:50.
MUDDY WHEELS TO THE COAST
While the weather conditions for the BUCO 27km Pineapple Run from Bathurst to Port Alfred on Saturday were described as “miserable” and “awful” by some runners, it was an entirely different story the very next day with the staging of the BUCO G2C (Grahamstown to Sea) mountain bike race from Makhanda to Port Alfred.
The weather was perfect on Sunday for the bikers, and the sun was shining brightly, although gravel roads and single tracks were muddy and slippery.
The G2C was contested in three divisions 70km (53 finishers), 58km (107 finishers) and 58km for E-bikes (nine finishers).
A good number of Makhanda mountain bikers took part in the annual event, and their results will be published in this column next week.
IN THE COLLECTION
The Diocesan School for Girls (DSG) art prize for the girl whose work is purchased by the school to be added to the DSG art collection was awarded to Thantasiwe Dwane at the DSG 2023 prize-giving function last week.
SIMPLY SPECTACULAR
With music provided by the Makana Community Orchestra, the Nelson Mandela University Orchestra and the Rhodes University Concert Choir, the ‘Symphony Spectacular’ on Saturday, October 14 is bound to be just that spectacular!
Among those on the stage of the Guy Butler Theatre in the Monument from 6pm will be conductor Johan Pretorius, soprano Tshegofatso Makube, pianist Garreth Robertson and tenor Sibusiso Mkhize.
KINGSWOOD NAMES PREFECTS
Kingswood College has announced its prefect body for 2024, with Matipa Karimazondo head girl and Munangi Kamwendo head boy.
Deputy head girl is Khanya Mbenyana and deputy head boy Jason Connan.
Also making up the prefect body are Jaryd Botha (head of Chubb House), Martine Collett, Livvy Connellan, Dominique de Jongh, Colin Fletcher, Trisha Harjeven (head of Wesley House), Julia Hough, Josh Hufkie, Realeboha Kao, Vizikhungo Labase (head of Gane House), Kwanda Ningiza (head of Wood House), Sipho Nonyalela (head of Jagger
House), Isabelle Oertel, Inam Tikana (head of Kirkby House), Amy Wilson, Jasmine Witthuhn (head of Jacques House), Gary Woods and Tapiwa Zhanda.
TOP MARKS
Sesihle Mrara received the dux award at the DSG prize-giving function last week.
The award is made to the girl who has attained the top combined marks in the final grade 11 examinations and all her grade 12 work.
GOLFING MOVE
Due to the rain of last weekend the date of the Settler City Toyota Open at Belmont Golf Club has been moved to Saturday, November 25.
The golf will be followed by the prizegiving, at which the Viv Jordan floating trophy will be awarded, plus an auction and live music. To enter, whatsapp Deon on 082-924-4797.
CALLING THE FRINGERS
As the National Arts Festival approaches its 50th anniversary, the call has opened for artists across all performing and visual art disciplines to apply for the 2024 Fringe.
The process to bring a show to the Fringe is fully online and there is no selection process. The only qualifying factor is the number of available and suitable venues to accommodate productions.
Applications can be made on the website www.nationalartsfestival.co.za and the deadline is January 12 2024.
The 2024 festival will run from June 20 to 30.
TOP SPORT
Wendy-Mae Turner was awarded the sportswoman of the year trophy at the DSG prize-giving function last week.
RAIN KEEPS MANY AWAY
The non-stop rain in Makhanda on Saturday morning saw just 13 entrants arrive for the weekly parkrun in Makana botanical gardens.
The runners and walkers who braved the adverse weather conditions included
Patrick Pringle who completed his 150th parkrun.
Also, well done to the volunteers and helpers who braved the conditions.
Interestingly, between them, the 13 participants have completed a massive 2,044 parkruns. This included the 269 for a visitor from Gauteng.
Parkruns are held at 8am each Saturday from the entrance to the botanical gardens in Lucas Avenue.
FUEL PUMPS AND A RAMP
These days, the building at 110 High Street houses Eskom’s administration and finance offices on the ground floor, and legal practitioners on the first floor.
This became evident on a recent stroll in upper High Street on the western edge of the CBD.
A far cry indeed from several decades ago when one was met by fuel pumps on the sidewalk of Williams Hunt (EP) Ltd.
Inside the glass-fronted building were the car showroom and offices, and upstairs the vehicle workshops, with access gained by a twisting ramp.
Must have quite hairy and scary at times negotiating that ramp!
Williams Hunt was the General Motors dealership for Opel, Holden, Vauxhall, Pontiac and Chevrolet cars, plus Bedford, GMC and Chevrolet trucks.
A GRAND RESIDENCE
The Grand Ladies’ Residence at 29 High Street (formerly the Grand Hotel) placed a full-page advertisement in Grahamstown This Week (GTW) newspaper of November 7 2008 in which it stated that it offered “grand new accommodation for Rhodes University women stylish student living”.
The text continued: “The Grand, steeped in the history of Rhodes University, whose students and staff have enjoyed its hospitality for over 160 years, now offers accommodation for discerning lady students.”