The Imbizo (30 July) was hosted by Dr Sizwe Mabizela (VC Rhodes) and co-chaired by Prof Owen Skae and Rev Dr Vicentia Kgabo. Mayor Mzukisi Mpahlwa’s talk one of the highlights. I met with him recently. A heart-warming conversation. He’s committed to the process and working as a team for the benefit of all in Makhanda.
The comprehensive pack of feedback and planning documents testament to the serious approach for this important initiative. Now known as the Makhanda Circle of Unity, I encourage all to rally behind and support the process. Refer TGP posts of 2/3 August for further background.
The feedback session will continue on the theme “Exploring working partnerships amongst Makhanda stakeholders” and features all important stakeholders and topics. Paul Smith will provide feedback on the Kagiso Trust municipal support initiative and the day – yes, a full day – includes cluster break-away sessions.
The process is being shepherded by Rhodes Business School and the Action Network (I like the framework) has been split into 7 Clusters. Includes the vital hygiene factors and the visionary, employment-generating projects. Makhanda as a Special Education Zone and the Tourism opportunity feature, as does Marketing/PR of our city. The latter crucial. We need a platform to ensure broad communication reach and positive messaging to change the narrative of our city.
Unfortunately I have a prior commitment in Jhb so unable to be at the feedback session. To those attending, thank you and best wishes for a constructive day. The future prosperity of all in Makhanda very much tied to this groundbreaking, fully-inclusive initiative.
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.