…and a treat in store this weekend. President Ramaphosa is comin’ to town. Reminds me of the Christmas jingle.
Santa Claus is comin’ to town
He’s making a list and checking it twice
Gonna find out who’s naughty and nice
Santa Claus is comin’ to town.
Municipal workers furiously cleaning up and Facebook alive with ridicule. Our tight-rope walking President is no fool. He’ll see for himself how his party has presided over the near-collapse of Grahamstown. Negligence has a dastardly stench. Corruption too. I’m excited to see the Pres tomorrow. Not sure I’ll get any sleep tonight!
My friend Charles Stephen Young and I enjoyed our visit to the sites of the Battle of Grahamstown / Egaizini (1819) on the occasion of the 200-year anniversary of that tragic day. Refer previous post. Sad that only 2 of us braved the rain but we had a fabulous time. Dropped in at the 1820 Settlers Monument to take in the view over Grahamstown and in an ironic twist we joined a small herd of cattle seeking shelter from the rain at the doors of the monument.
We ended at the Egazini Battle Memorial Garden and were warmly welcomed in the commemoration activities. Thank you to all, particularly Bongani Diko who organised the event. All speakers – I was invited on the spur to say a few words – spoke of the tragedy of the AmaXhosa warriors defeated by superior weapons (Spears vs Canons) and the importance of commemorating the fallen but also moving forward together in peace. It was deeply moving to observe and listen to various clan chiefs (incl Khoisan) and others commemorating Makhanda as one of the first to fight against oppression. For those that don’t know, Makhanda gave himself up in the hope of saving his compatriots and was dispatched to Robben Island where he drowned while attempting an escape on Christmas Day 1819. Pity the British government weren’t present to commemorate their tragic victory. Perhaps next year.
In other breaking news, I eventually received a letter from the Municipal Manager, Mr Mene, to the effect that Rotary Grahamstown Sunset may install two Portaloos in town on Pension Payout days. We have no public toilets. Clearly an oversight by generations of municipal officials and town-planners. This Rotary / PG Glass sponsored initiative seeks to preserve the dignity of people as enshrined in our constitution. I’m sure, too, the banks will appreciate their clients having somewhere respectable to relieve themselves.
Returning to the local herd. They’re spending a great deal of time in the Oatlands Park. A joy the park is being appreciated but boy, do they make a mess! Fortunately Given Faxa and his team were diligently cleaning up and enriching the compost heaps.
Happy Friday to all, wherever you may be. Please note that Grahamstown is in distress. I hope President Ramaphosa makes his list, checks it twice and sends us a few gifts. His influence to rectify matters would be most welcome. Similarly I hope other interest groups redouble their efforts. Would be pleasing to see Corporate South Africa wake up to our plight and our potential. Seems odd they’re asleep at the wheel given a fair fraction of business leaders were educated here. Going to feel (and look) like proper Charlie’s when their old school / university no longer exists. And if you think I’m exaggerating come and have a look for yourself. As fine a school as Kingswood (as example) is, I’m reminded of that quote, “I love your school Mr Headmaster, but I can’t do Grahamstown.”
To conclude. There are still places available on my Rhodes Business School Communication Intelligence course on 2nd & 3rd May. The blind auction process offers great value. Quite a few attending at zero cost. Refer photo of last cohort of happy Communication Intelligence experts. Fitting for a city that could be – and should be – the Education Capital of Africa. Hamba kahle.
GRAEME HOLMES
Before moving back to Grahamstown in Oct 2017, Graeme was a bank executive based in the big smoke and craziness of Joburg. He has 20 years’ experience in the Payments Industry. He is a Chartered Accountant, has a Masters in Management by Research (MMR) from Wits Business School, and attended an Advanced Management Programme (AMP) offered by INSEAD (The Business School for the World!) in France.
Graeme is the founder of The Grahamstown Project. It’s simple. He says, “Grahamstown is a microcosm of South Africa. If we can’t get this place to function properly then the whole country is stuffed. Many of the troubles we experience as a country today have their roots here in Grahamstown. it is here where black and white people first engaged in conflict on the African continent. It is here where 9 wars of dispossession over 100 years took place and virtually destroyed the amaXhosa nation. But we are where we are. I don’t have a British passport and the boat-trip back to where my ancestors came from is exorbitantly expensive. Furthermore, this is my home. I am a son of Africa. We must work together to redress the injustices of the past and move as one into a brighter future.”
Graeme is an avid historian, writer, vlogger and public speaker. Like and follow the Facebook page. Join him on a tour. Contact him. He would love that.