STUTTERHEIM – Parkrun: DORDRECHT
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Xolani Sikhomo Mavela was a student in Xhosa communication and methodology at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. This humble, conscientious and inspiring man has received his doctorate. What makes this special is that he is only the second person in the country to do his doctorate in his mother tongue, namely Xhosa.
Xolani lived in a small village just outside Stutterheim and went to school at Nomathemba Primary, Mlungisi Senior Primary and Jongile Mpondo High School. All these schools are in Mlungisi, in Stutterheim. He was the top matriculant in the district in 1992 and received awards for agricultural science and Xhosa. He received a BA degree in human sciences in 1995 and a BA hons cum laude from the University of the Western Cape and a master’s degree (cum laude) in African languages and literature from Stellenbosch University where he started as a junior lecturer.
He feels it is time that indigenous
languages should come to the fore in education and that a Xhosa literary museum should be established in the Eastern Cape where most people speak the language. This should preserve the Xhosa heritage for future generations.
Today Xolani is a senior lecturer in Xhosa communication and methodology at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology.
42 athletes completed Event #198 in icy cold conditions, with snow visible on Mount Kubusie on Saturday.
There were three visitors from Sardinia Bay parkrun in Port Elizabeth. A special thanks must go to the team of 10 volunteers who braved the cold to make this event possible. Congratulations to Lonwabo Adonis who completed his 50th parkrun to join Club 50 and to Ethan Friess who completed his 10th parkrun to join the Junior Club 10. This Saturday, Marion Krause will complete her 50th parkrun. Over the next few weekends there will be quite a few milestones reached.
– The protest action in Dordrecht escalated to a new high last Wednesday when shots were fired and four Sanco members were arrested for violence.
The public action subsided on Thursday. A meeting took place on Monday. Co-operative governance and traditional affairs MEC Fikile Xasa sent a task team to meet with Sanco and business owners
STERKSTROOM – The community was saddened to hear of the passing of Dalene de Wet last week, after an illness bravely borne. Condolences are extended to Petrus, Megan, Jay, Hennie and their extended family. A service took place on Monday afternoon in the NG Church. Dalene played an integral part in the Women’s Association for many years, serving on the committee in the public affairs portfolio. She will be missed.
COLD weather was the order of last week, with daytime temperatures seldom rising above 8°C. On Friday, light snow fell at times during the day, but settled on the mountains. of Dordrecht. Pieter Greyling reported that the MEC task team would start investigating the allegations brought against the municipality. Sanco will delegate three members to work on alternative plans to put pressure on the Emalahleni Municipality. This could see rate payers withholding their taxes.
There should be no protest action before August 30.
The recorded midday temperature on Friday was 3°C.
A FIRE broke out at Blenheim on Monday, destroying many hectares of grazing which had been spared by farmers. Farmers spare their veld for the drier months and it grows longer than usual, due to non-grazing.
Motorists are urged not to throw cigarette butts from cars or the trains that travel between Komani and Molteno.
Fortunately farmers could contain the fire before it spread to the N6. According to the Fire Prevention Act, a person has to have sufficient equipment to contain fires.