GADRA ALUMNI GRADUATE

For the second year in a row, more than 50 GADRA Matric School (GMS) alumni graduated from Rhodes University in a single graduation ceremony.

GMS is a second-chance school for those who seek to improve their marks in selected National Senior Certificate subjects with the goal of accumulating the required points to gain access to universities.

GADRA Education’s manager, Dr Ashley Westaway, said GMS had become Rhodes’s biggest feeder school in 2015 and has recently emerged as the biggest producer of Rhodes graduates. Reflecting on all that GADRA has achieved over the past couple of years, Westaway said: “It is a fantastic achievement.

We are a community organisation, and we exist for the sake of the community.” Rhodes Vice-Chancellor, Dr Sizwe Mabizela, expressed pride in the young people who “have taken full advantage of the opportunity presented to them”. He said: “I honour, commend and salute GADRA for the tremendous work they are doing in assisting them to regain their confidence and dignity after having struggled with their matric year.”

BROOKSHAW BONANZA

The organising committee of last week’s Brookshaw Home for the Aged fete in Makhanda (Grahamstown) appeared to have got it spot on by holding it on a public holiday instead of a Saturday as in the past.

Locals flocked to Brookshaw and its expansive gardens where there were stalls galore, a jumping castle for children sponsored by 3 Wishes jumping castles, tea garden, coffee kiosk and the everpopular white elephant tables.

Live entertainment was provided by Makhanda keyboardist Markus Mostert at the piano and the highly-talented Victoria Girls’ High School (VG) choir conducted by Sibusiso Mkhize.

The VG choir members stood on the steps below the semi-circular Trafalgar balcony of the building that once housed Woodville Orphanage. The balcony is among SA’s architectural gems, wrote Emily O’Meara in “Grahamstown Reflected” published in 1995.

VETS ON THE MOVE

With the kennels built, painting completed and all the other tasks done and dusted, Grahamstown Veterinary Clinic moved into its new premises at 18 Park Road on Tuesday. It’s a case of down Fitzroy Street from their former premises, through the dip, over the once-busy railway line, sharp right and you’re there!

DARKENED

We’ve got so used to it in Makhanda that the writer hasn’t mentioned it in this column for what seems many years. That’s the almost non-existent street lighting in many suburban streets, resulting in dark thoroughfares where pedestrians walk in fear and motorists spot lurking potholes only at the last second. Really, something should be done about it, not so?

NEW DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON

Rhodes University Council has elected the executive director at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, Ms Gugu Ndebele, its new deputy chairperson. She succeeds Reverend Canon Dr Vincentia Kgabe, who became the first woman deputy chairperson of the council in 2020.

Ndebele has more than 30 years’ experience in education and social development.

Chair of Council, Judge Gerald Bloem, said: “We are delighted that Ms Ndebele accepted the role as deputy chairperson of Rhodes Council. Her extensive experience in education and passion for guiding young women to become successful leaders is perfectly in line with the university’s vision and values.”