Your newspaper, FREE OF CHARGE Grocott’s visits ‘horror’ hospital Page 3 Schools rugby action Page 15 23 March 2018 • Vol. 148 Issue: 011 Serious about Science Director of the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity Dr Angus Paterson and Nombulelo Secondary School pupil Alizwa Xonxa flank new Minister of Science and echnologyT Mmamoloko Kubayi- Ngubane at the Waterworld exhibition during Scifest recently. Read ’Makana’s water-scarce future’ in the 16 March edition here: www.grocotts.co.za/print-edition. National Water Week ends on Saturday 24 March. Photo: Steven Lang FREE Easter Holiday Safety Inspection at Hyundai Grahamstown Book now to avoid We service and repair all types of disappointment vehicles and we are RMI approved! and stand a chance of Offer valid from 26/03/2018 until 06/04/2018 winning a Hyundai Hamper GRAHAMSTOWN 046 622 3914 [email protected] ANNETTE 082 267 7755 TRYING TO CUT COSTS WITH GLASS TEL: 046 622 2950 TEL: 046 622 8700 TIM 082 800 9276 IS LIKE DRIVING WITHOUT YOUR SEATBELT ON KEVIN 082 772 0400 2 NEWS Grocott’s Mail 23 MARCH 2018 DRIVEN BY PEOPLE POWERED BY TECHNOLOGY Securing t h e c i t y f o r o v e r 25 years SAFETY TIPS FROM ANDRE WILLE VEHICLE CRIMES: * Try to park your car in a well lighted area, and if possible, avoid parking next to large vehicles, these vehicles can block the view of your car and make it harder to detect someone breaking in. * Do not leave items of value in the car in plan sight. * When leaving your car for any amount of time lock it. Not only A team from the Provincial Roads and Public Works Department repairs dangerous potholes on the R67 between Grahamstown and Stones Hill. Last week a vehicle does this assist in preventing theft, overturned when a driver tried to avoid a large pothole. Photo: Dominic Thorburn but it is required by regulation. * If the vehicle is equipped with a gear lock, immobiliser or other type of anti-theft equipment, USE IT Relief as Roads tackles R67 RESPONSES THIS WEEK IN GRAHAMSTOWN STAFF REPORTER trol of the vehicle and that no injuries “The general condition of the road Thorburn said it was time for traf- • Stolen Goods - 5 Arrests he Eastern Cape’s Department were reported. is appalling despite signs that a con- fic-calming measures in the area. of Roads and Public Works has The incident and subsequent re- tractor (tenderpreneur?) was ap- “We are also regularly almost tak- • 2 Vehicles were broken into - undertaken to repair dangerous pairs follow long-running concern pointed more than a year ago. en out by cars speeding round the battery stolen Tpotholes on the R67 between Gra- about the hazardous section by resi- “Very poor to non-existent road corner on the other side of Stones • 4 Break-ins - no suspects hamstown and Stones Hill, accord- dents who commute on the route markings and speeding through Hill,” he said. arrested ing to Chief Traffic Officer and acting daily. Stones Hill continue to be an issue – Another resident said cars came manager of social services in Makana Suzanne Wille, who owns a B&B with a serious accident last week at around the corner towards Port Al- WE OFFER Municipality, Coenraad Hanekom. in Stones Hill, this week expressed Fairburn and the Southwell turnoff. fred so fast that often the wheels on • 24hr Monitoring This comes after a vehicle over- concern in a Facebook post that the “Some years back we organised the right side lifted off the ground. • Alarm Installations turned after the driver tried to avoid “crater” opening up on the road a meeting with the local author- Hanekom confirmed that the road • Services and repairs to all a large pothole in wet and misty con- needed urgent attention. Also com- ity to discuss these issues and some falls under the authority of the Pro- makes of alarm systems ditions early last Friday. menting on social media, Stones Hill new signage and speed limits were vincial Roads and Public Works De- • Armed Response Hanekom said the driver lost con- resident Dominic Thorburn said, changed (later reversed).” partment. • Guards • Access control (gate automation, intercoms and No holiday stop-and-go on R72 between Port Alfred and Great Fish River cameras) STAFF REPORTER with auxiliary (climbing) lanes, and is also currently underway and only The contractor is planning to start • Electric Fencing Work on the rural section is in pro- a surfaced shoulder on both sides of two intersections will be constructed with a 24-hour stop and go asphalt- Securing Kenton on Sea/ gress with the completion of new the new road. at any time, weather permitting. ing of sections in the period after the Bushman's River/Cannon Rocks/ storm water culverts and the con- “The new geometric design of the The intersections will be closed to Easter weekend. The old surface will Boknes Areas struction of the seaward side of the road has made the upgraded road traffic for the duration of the con- be removed and replaced with a new For advice or a free quote R72 from Port Alfred to the Fish safer for motorists” Mbulelo Peter- struction. bitumen treated base layer, followed River the most prominent. Ancillary son, SANRAL Southern Region Man- The completed works will include with an asphalt layer,” Peterson said. contact André Wille work like the concrete side drains ager said. climbing lanes to ease slow moving “Residents of Port Alfred and mo- Tel: 046 636 1667 and other minor storm water struc- Current roadworks in Port Alfred’s traffic, an underground storm water torists are requested to be patient tures has started, according to San- urban area include widening climb- system, sidewalks, kerbing, traffic and obey road signs, observe speed ral. ing lanes, constructing new kerbs lights and street lights. restrictions and other safety meas- “This upgrade includes the con- and walkways. “Activities in the urban area of ures while construction takes place EMERGENCY struction of two 3.7m driving lanes, The construction of intersections Port Alfred will start to increase. in town.” NUMBERS • Ambulance 10177 WEATHER AND • Aids Helpline 0800 012322 046 603 6300 • AA Rescue 0800 111997 WEATHER & TIDES • Medical Rescue 0800 033007 • GHT Child Welfare 046 636 1355 TIDES FRIDAY 23 March MONDAY THURSDAY • Electricity 046 603 6036 Sunny. Light north-easterly breeze. Partly cloudy. Light easterly breeze. Rain. Light southerly breeze. A/H 046 603 6000 Temperature: Min 14°C Max 27°C Temperature: Min 16°C Max 24°C Temperature: Min 17°C Max 32°C • Eskom 086 014 00014 Low 00:49 13:28 Low 05:40 18:29 Low 08:44 20:57 • Fire Brigade 046 622 4444 Tides: Tides: Tides: High 07:20 19:39 High 11:58 High 02:32 14:51 • Ght Police Station 046 603 9152 • Hi-Tec 046 636 1660 • Raphael Centre 046 622 8831 SATURDAY TUESDAY FRIDAY • SPCA 046 622 3233 Partly cloudy. Moderate SSW breeze. Partly cloudy. Light easterly breeze. Cloudy. Light easterly breeze. • Traffic Services 046 603 6067 Temperature: Min 14°C Max 24°C Temperature: Min 17°C Max 28°C Temperature: Min 16°C Max 25°C • Water 046 603 6136 Tides: Low 01:38 14:29 Tides: Low 07:10 19:35 Tides: Low 09:21 21:31 • Hospice 046 622 9661 High 08:20 20:52 High 00:50 13:16 High 03:10 15:28 • Settlers Hospital 046 602 5000 • Day Hospital 046 622 3033 SUNDAY WEDNESDAY • Fort England 046 602 2300 Partly cloudy. Light SSW breeze. Partly cloudy. Light WNW breeze. • Legal Aid SA 046 622 9350 Temperature: Min 12°C Max 19°C Temperature: Min 17°C Max 32°C Temperatures and tides were correct • Locksmith (Sean Butterworth) Tides: Low 03:00 16:21 Tides: Low 08:03 20:20 at the time of going to press 082 556 9975 or High 09:59 23:04 High 01:48 14:09 046 622 4592 • Guardmed 073 065 6660 FOR WINDOWEASY AND ON THE DOOR EYE. SECURITY, PORTPORT ALFREDALFREDGRAHAMSTOWN 046046 624 624 4131 4131 046 • • 88 88 622 Albany Albany 9938 Road, •4Road, Hill Port PortStreet, Alfred Alfred GHT GRAHAMSTOWNGRAHAMSTOWNPORT ALFRED 046 046 046 622 622624 993841319938 •• • 8812C 12C Albany Dundas Dundas Road, Street, Street, Port Alfred GHT GHT TOUGHGIVE TO USGET A THROUGH.CALL www.trellidor.co.zawww.trellidor.co.zawww.trellidor.co.za • • www.trellidor.mobi• www.trellidor.mobi www.trellidor.mobi Grocott’s Mail 23 MARCH 2018 NEWS 3 Tower managers respond By KATHRYN CLEARY stated this was due to lights there are “so few psychia- ollowing recent claims being on at the facility the trists” in the Eastern Cape, so about Tower Psychiatric night before because staff and this was a challenge. Hospital in Fort Beaufort, management were cleaning Ngcume claimed Sukeri Grocott’sF Mail approached the and fixing. was angry about this news. Eastern Cape Department of Nehawu branch chairper- “I am still wondering why Health to request permission son Lawrence Mtsila con- was he angry when we said to visit the facility. Spokesper- firmed this week to Grocott’s we were getting a new psy- son Sizwe Kupelo arranged Mail, “Lights were really on, chiatrist. I really do not un- permission for Grocott’s Mail seen by me. Doing what is derstand, but in any case he to visit the facility, encourag- called preparation or clean- seemed to be angry,” she said. ing our journalists to “see eve- ing up dirty things. They did rything”. This followed claims that until midnight, even The cover-up of a clean-up and cover-up seen by night staff.