YEAR IN REVIEW 2023: CULTURE AND COMMUNITY
May
Action SA’s Ndlambe branch, together with 16 residents, spent a Friday cleaning up an abandoned department of public works property.
iHire sponsored power tools for the clean-up campaign.
ActionSA Ndlambe coordinator, Pierre Le Roux, said the abandoned property was a security concern for neighbouring homes.
The Bathurst Book Fair was busy and buzzing as book lovers braved drizzle to browse and buy books at bargain prices.
A lively speaker programme headlined a variety of attractions, along with a songwriting mini workshop for youngsters.
The Kariega Foundation hosted its second township animal outreach for the year at Ekuphumleni, Kenton-on-Sea.
A total of 58 animals were treated with dewormers, rabies vaccinations and for ticks and fleas. A fun educational afternoon with local children was also held.
June
The Port Alfred Round Table/ Kowie Toyota Winter Knights campaign saw Round Tablers set up collection points outside SPAR at Rosehill Mall, Pick n Pay at Heritage Mall, at Kenny’s Pub and at the West Beach parking lot in front of Guido’s.
The annual drive collects blankets, beanies, scarves and non-perishable food for people in need during the winter.
The annual fundraiser in aid of Hospice, the Brian Waddington Memorial Bowls Tournament, was played on Friday June 16 at the Port Alfred Bowls and Croquet Club, to huge success. The event was well-supported by bowlers from various clubs and more than R20,000 was raised for Hospice.
July
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The Bathurst Riding Club hosted its own “screen” version of the iconic Durban July. The club had eight prerecorded races with eight horses running in each, which they showed on a big screen at the hotel.
With the help of generous sponsorship, and the expertise of Eco Rubber, the Kowie Museum board was able to restore the old, unsightly, leaking and rusty roof of Port Alfred’s historic railway station.
Several local artists received Ovation Awards for their performances at the 2023 National Arts Festival in Makhanda including theatre veteran Rob van Vuuren, who took a Gold for his viral sensation Namaste Bae: Blessings and Kombucha, and Theatresmiths, a collaborative of theatre makers, for The King of Broken Things and a Silver for their children’s show The Great Big Enormous Turnip.
August
Families and friends filled the Titi Jonas Community Hall with love and support for the finals of the inaugural Port Alfred Youth Talent Explosion competition.
The audience enjoyed heartfelt performances of song, dance, drama and spoken word. The Be-Fabs dance group were a popular choice as the winners of the 16-25 age category. Thirdplaced Siyolisiwe Futuse, 16, created a storm of her own on social media.
Entrepreneurs from all over the province flocked to “the centre of the universe” to showcase their ranges of quality arts, crafts, food, drink and more at the Bathurst Country Affair.
More than 30 exhibitors and participating businesses in Bathurst reported record crowds and significant support.
September
The Mhala traditional council, led by chief Mxolisi Hamilton Makinana ‘Ah Zwelihlangene’, hosted a commemorative event honouring those who suffered losses during the 100 years of warfare between the British and AmaXhosa in the Eastern Cape.
The event, at Mhala Great Place, the ancestral home of chief Makinana, recognised the perseverance of the Xhosa nation in the face of immense hardship and celebrated the important role of women in Xhosa culture and society.
Stance by the River took place on the banks of the Kowie River, despite the wet weather. Founder Kurt Solomon said the charity fundraising event brought together strangers, creating lifetime friendships over their passion for pimping their cars.
October
Children from Ingubo Children’s Haven enjoyed a hands-on art lesson with artist and art teacher Helen Averbuch, who hosted them at the Artship studio. At
Ingubo, children take part in a life skills programme and receive academic, psychosocial and material support.
The Makana Community Orchestra played to a packed Guy Butler auditorium at the Monument in their fourth performance of the year: Symphony Spectacular ,on Saturday October 14.
Rhodes University music department head and cofounder Dr Boudina McConnachie describes the orchestra as “music for and by the town’s citizens”. It’s open to anyone who plays an instrument at Grade 5 level or above.
Kleinemonde resident Madeleen Welman’s radio play, Die Vuurvliegdief, was named best produced radio play script at the 2023 Muse Awards.
The Writer’s Guild award follows a merit award in the 2022 Radio Sonder Grense (RSG) Sanlam radio drama writing competition.
Pink is the theme colour for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, October – and pink was the colour of 230 beanies, 12 pairs of socks, 39 blankets and piles of squares from Port Alfred’s pop-up knitting “army”.
When the call went out to create comfort items for cancer patients, volunteers dug out their pink wool and needles and started knitting and crocheting.
The Lions Club of Port Alfred gave Sunset Park residents the perfect build-up to the Boks vs All Blacks Rugby World Cup final when they hosted a braai for them on October 28.
November
The Njokweni family from Ekuphumleni expressed their heartfelt thanks to Gqeberhabased Harlequins Legends rugby team, the Kenton-On-Sea SAPS, Kenton’s Coastal
Kindness organisation and Sunshine Coast SPAR, for helping them get back on their feet. The Siyakha Victim Support Centre‘s Mike Konaha coordinated support for the family after they lost everything when their shack burned down on Sunday November 12.
Survival Swimming Kentonon-Sea was launched at the Kariega Lagoon on Saturday, November 11. The initiative, which teaches children and adults basic skills to survive in water,, was sparked by the drowning of four children on New Year’s Day this year.
Sunshine NGO Forum coordinator Hyman Van Zyl told a gathering of NGOs, NPOs and development groups at their second annual conference at Royal St Andrews Hotel that by better aligning their activities with local government and donors, the more those they wanted to help would benefit. One example of the improved collaboration is the Sunshine Life Centre being run under the Shine NGO in Port Alfred.