PLANTS ON AUCTION
THE DAY THE PRESIDENT CAME TO TOWN
Had President Cyril Ramaphosa deviated just slightly from his pre-arranged route when he visited Makhanda (Grahamstown) last Saturday, he would have had a glimpse of the real Makhanda, not the hastily fixed-up streets along said pre-arranged route, as well as at the Miki Yili Stadium where he delivered his Freedom Day message.
There had been frantic activity in the days leading up to the President’s visit, with municipal crews out in force filling in potholes, cutting grass on verges and in the stadium, removing rubbish from the streets along the route, and repairing stadium structures and walls.
Residents complained bitterly about the waste of money in sending jets from Limpopo Province, as well as bringing the Silver Falcons aerobatics team from the West Coast for flypasts and a six-minute air display.
Also appreciated by the crowd in the stadium and those gathered in surrounding neighbourhoods was the flypast by two helicopters.
When the action in the sky was over, the aircraft disappeared into the distant clouds, and the speeches began.
Besides the massive presence of residents who flocked to Miki Yili Stadium to see and hear the President, there was a string of high-ranking and smartly-attired military officers from the navy, army and air force, many of them with medals pinned to their chests.
FESTIVAL OPTIMISM
In his latest newsletter to prospective National Arts Festival visitors from across SA and indeed the world, CEO Tony Lankester was upbeat about ‘Fest 45’.
He said: “A few weeks ago I wrote to you to let you know how we were progressing on the water issues our city is facing, and I’m happy to confirm that all is still on track and we’re confident that we will achieve our aim of making sure you’re safe and comfortable when you visit us.”
Lankester continued by conceding that Makhanda (Grahamstown) had some big challenges ahead of it, but that issues of service delivery were receiving the attention they deserved.
Lankester concluded his message by saying: “Meanwhile, we’re seeing an amazing ‘all hands on deck” attitude from our 70,000 residents as we work together to make sure we’re ready for the festival influx.”
REACH FOR THE SKY
Makhanda (Grahamstown) residents were treated to some thrilling antics above the city on Saturday during the visit by President Cyril Ramaphosa or, as one local put it, “shenanigans in the sky”.
While security staff were keeping a watchful eye on the President and his surroundings wherever he went, members of the South African Air Force (SAAF) were ‘doing their thing’ in the blue sky on a bright and sunny day.
Somebody in the know told me a dozen aircraft had been despatched to Makhanda for the occasion – these included Gripen and Hawk Mk 120 fighter jets, Lynx and BK117 helicopters, as well as the Silver Falcons aerobatics team in Pilatus training aircraft.
The jets flew in from as far north as Air Force Base Makhado in northern Limpopo, while the Silver Falcons came from Air Force Base Langebaanweg on the West Coast. The aircraft and crews slept over in Port Elizabeth on Friday night and flew to the Makhanda action on Saturday morning.
Of course, I was most interested and excited, seeing and hearing all those aircraft in the sky. As excited as a little boy, I suppose.
My childhood and teenage years were spent living on the southern edge of the Cape Town suburb of Milnerton, just 300m from the end of the runway of Air Force Base Ysterplaat.
I remember, quite clearly, a massive air show hosted by Ysterplaat in the early 1960s, which even saw aircraft being brought in from Pretoria and other bases. The base was opened to the public that Saturday, and it seemed the whole of Cape Town was at Ysterplaat checking out the aircraft and the hangars, and watching the myriad air displays.
BAZAAR IN HUNTLEY STREET
For the first time in several years, Good Shepherd Primary School holds a mini-bazaar on its grounds in Huntley Street from 11am to 2pm on Friday May 3.
On offer will be cakes, boerewors rolls, curry bunnies, books, savoury eats, refreshments and a sweets table.
Good Shepherd principal Manie Cronje said: “We invite the public to Huntley Street for three hours of enjoyment, and there will be games and a jumping castle for the younger ones.”
All profits will be used to purchase educational equipment for the school
UNBEATEN AFTER FOUR DAYS
The Kingswood College jubilee co-ed hockey festival last week attracted boys’ and girls’ 1st teams from George, Somerset West, Thornhill, East London, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Windhoek, Pretoria and Makhanda (Grahamstown), and saw 69 matches played over four days.
The tournament formed part of Kingswood’s 125th Jubilee Year celebrations and saw matches being played on Kingswood’s City Lords astro and the Webster astro at St Andrew’s College/Diocesan School for Girls. A total of 15 schools were represented.
The host school’s girls’ team enjoyed a particularly successful tournament, winning five of its six matches and drawing one.
The team, captained by Ciana Daniels, beat Glenwood House 4-0, beat Reddam House 2-0, beat York High 2-0, beat Somerset College 4-2, drew 2-2 with Parel Vallei High, and beat Stirling High 3-0.
The Kingswood team comprised Lushana van Heerden, Amy Howard, Bridget Mildenhall, Taya Trivella, Kirsti Wicks, Robyn Koch, Zinathi Mbenyana, Lukho Mbenyana, Ciana Daniels (captain), Amy Mills, Megan du Preez, Olivia Walker, Qayiya Noguduka and Naledi Mabusela.
The coach is Bevan Bennett, assistant coach is Cassie Lister and the manager Carey de Coning. A public auction of plants and pot plants will be held at Rhodes University’s grounds and gardens department from 10am to 1pm on Friday May 3. Public viewing is from 9am to 10am, and the venue is on the corner of Prince Alfred Street and South Street.
AWARD FOR TEAM E-SMART
Four Rhodes University PhD chemistry students have been awarded top position in the 2019 Hult Prize Challenge for their electronic and electrical waste management system.
Team E-Smart, comprising Nobuhle Ndebele, Lindokuhle Nene, Reitumetse Nkahle and Gauta Matlou, took part in the 2019 Hult Prize Regional Summit held at the Brookhouse International School in Nairobi, Kenya last month.
GOOD TIMES IN THE GARDENS
Teenager Cee-Jay Porthen is something of a ‘veteran’ as far as parkrun is concerned, and on Saturday he completed his 137th parkrun in Makana botanical gardens, not bad for so young a runner.
But that’s not all – Porthen also recorded a personal best time on the day when there were 134 participants.
First three finishers were Thoko Sipungu (20 minutes 27 seconds), Cee-Jay Porthen (20 mins 49 secs) and Sylvester Jeffries (21 mins 51 secs). First three ladies were Shimone Prince (28 mins 06 secs), Tosca Stoloff (29 mins 03 secs) and Jeanne du Toit (29 mins 52 secs, personal best).
Parkrunners who are approaching personal milestones are: Cee-Jay Porthen (13 to go to 150), Ingrid Ford (6 to go to 100), Hilton Adonis (9 to go to 100), Desiree Philipson (8 to go to 100), Val Varela (5 to go to 50) and Pearl Chuma Harwood (6 to go to 50).
THANKS FROM THE PETS
Grahamstown SPCA has extended its thanks and appreciation to the volunteers and the public who gave up their time and money at its collection in Pepper Grove Mall on Saturday, when a little over R2,100 was collected.
RUNNING AND GLOWING
Grahamstown SPCA’s “Glow in the Dark” fun run/walk (2km or 5km) on Tuesda, May 7 will offer prizes to those who “glow the extra mile”, and participants are encouraged to dress as brightly as they can.
The event gets underway at 5.30pm, and registration is from 4pm. Entry fees are R20 for adults (or R35 which includes a boerewors roll), R10 for children under-12, and R10 for dogs (includes a ‘doggie’ cupcake).
For more info e-mail
OPEN CAMPUS
Rhodes University holds an Open Day for Grade 11 and 12 pupils and their teachers from 8am to 3pm on Friday May 10.
Those attending will find out what courses they can enrol for, what life is like as a Rhodes student, participate in workshops and demonstrations, attend lectures, visit sports facilities and check out residences.
For more information phone (046) 603-8218.
CATS AND BOOKS
A reminder of the Grahamstown Feral Cat Project’s book sale on the verandah outside Wallace’s Pharmacy in Pepper Grove Mall from 8am to 1pm on Saturday May 18.
The annual book sale forms a major part of the fund-raising for the project.
TALKING ABOUT HIKING
Oldenburgia Hiking Club’s next social evening on Wednesday May 15 (5.30pm for 6pm) will feature a talk by Jono and Marna Oettle on their hiking-related travels in Asia.
They have completed hikes in the Yunnan and Sichuan provinces in China, which are close to the border with Tibet.
The venue for the social is the Faculty of Humanities seminar room at 1 Prince Alfred Street (opposite Debonair’s on the campus side). The cost is R50 per person, and food platters and juice will be available (bring your own wine if you wish).
Club members and friends wishing to attend should book with Karen Kouari at
by May 10.
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
A Grahamstown Building Society (now GBS Mutual Bank) advertisement in a local publication of 1981 caught my eye the other day.
Not only were father and son KEM Stone (Kyle) and CKM Stone (Chris) chairman and vice-chairman respectively of the then GBS board of directors, they were also senior partners of well-known local law firm, Dold & Stone Attorneys.
Other directors on the GBS board back then were PG Mansfield, LJ Denison-Clark and DR Butler, while the general manager was JVB (Joe) Keeton.
WATERY ISSUES
With water apparently the main topic of discussion in Makhanda (Grahamstown) these days, I thought this snippet might be appropriate.
Some years ago I acquired a photocopy of the “Plan of the City of Grahamstown”. This street map is very old – as in ancient - and over the next few weeks I’ll be taking a look at its contents and sharing them with you, if you don’t mind, that is.
Almost immediately I noticed the three dams on the south-western fringes of the city, called reservoirs on the map. There was Hamilton Reservoir on the western side of Gunfire Hill (as we know it today), Douglas Reservoir (commonly known as Dog’s Dam these days) and Grey Reservoir (at the foot of Mountain Drive).
So, you may well exclaim, we know all about them.
I’m pretty sure, however, you did not know about Hope Reservoir which was situated on the southern side of Hillsview Road (as it is called today) just off the bend a couple of hundred metres past Darling Street.
Another local history lesson next week!
ALL AT HOME
Whether you are a supporter of Graeme College, Kingswood College or St Andrew’s College, May 11 is a date to diarise.
On that day, Graeme’s senior and junior rugby teams will be at home to St Andrew’s (College and Prep), while Kingswood’s senior teams will host Daniel Pienaar Technical High from Uitenhage.
PRETTY
According to an advertisement in a local publication in 1995, Fleur Petite Florist stocked “flowers of quality for all occasions”. No doubt the flowers were pretty, as was the pretty-sounding name of the business which was owned by Marlene Thompson.
BOOKINGS OPEN SOON
The 2019 National Arts Festival will offer world-class theatre, dance, music, performance and public art, visual art and comedy.
Bookings to all shows open on May 7, and tickets can be purchased online at
or by phone on 0860-00-004.