OurNews

30/05/2026

Watch live the funeral service of the late Yamkela Fana

Funeral Service of the Late Yamkela Fana

28/05/2026

💛 SOME MOMENTS ONLY HAPPEN ONCE. MAKE SURE THEY’RE NEVER FORGOTTEN. 🕊️📸

Whether you’re saying a heartfelt goodbye to a loved one, celebrating a beautiful wedding, or gathering family together for a special occasion — OurNews is there to capture every meaningful moment with care, dignity and professionalism. 🎥✨

From emotional memorial services to joyful wedding celebrations, we help families preserve memories that will live forever. ❤️

🔥 OUR JUNE 2026 SPECIALS 🔥

🎥 Funeral / Memorial Video — from R2 450
📸 Video + Photos — from R3 450
💒 Wedding Photography — from R3 950
👰🏾‍♀️ Full Wedding Package — from R7 950
🎙️ Audio Obituary — from just R550

We also offer:
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At OurNews, we understand that some days are emotional, once-in-a-lifetime moments. That’s why we focus on quality, professionalism and treating every family with respect and compassion. 🤍

⏳ SPECIAL PRICES END 30 JUNE 2026
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Tag someone planning a wedding, memorial service or family event this year. 📌

27/05/2026

🕊️🤍 PRAYER SERVICE FOR uSPHEHILE “VRENTSH” NAMBA 🤍🕊️

The Bofolo Lethu Pool Association Committee, together with all teams under the association and the Liquor Traders Association Exco, invite friends, family and the community to join them this evening for a special prayer service in honour of uSphehihle “Vrentsh” Namba. 🙏🏾💙

Let us come together in prayer, love and support as we stand with the family during this difficult time. 🌸🕯️

📍 Ngakwa Nodyu, Mpolweni Location
📅 Today — Wednesday, 27 May 2026
⏰ 17:30

“Kudityanwa ngaka Nodyu.” 🤍

Rest Easy Vrentsh. You will always be remembered. 🕊️

26/05/2026

🤔✈️ “Why do Sokudela Funeral Directors’ staff dress like flight attendants?”

Because their service standards are always HIGH! 🚀🕊️

But jokes aside — what a beautiful sight it was witnessing the professionalism, dignity and care shown by the Sokudela Funeral Directors team this past weekend in Rabula, Qoboqobo. 🙌🏾🖤

From presentation to service delivery, the team once again showed why so many families continue to trust them during important moments. 🤍

📞 Sokudela Funeral Directors: 082 976 8376

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22/05/2026

🎱 KWAMAQOMA TAKES ON THE WORLD — LOCAL POOL ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES SQUAD FOR HISTORIC FIRST INTER-TOWN TOURNAMENT

By Lebo Mothlabane | OurNews

This Saturday, KwaMaqoma stops being just a community that loves pool. It becomes a destination.

For the first time ever, the KwaMaqoma Pool Association will host a formal inter-town pool tournament — and the opponents travelling to face them are no ordinary visitors. Coming to Eyethu Sport Bar on Saturday, 23 May 2026 at 14:00 are the Grahamstown Pool Association, the Rhodes University Pool Team, and the University of Fort Hare Super Pool team.

Universities. Neighbouring towns. Coming to us.

That is not just sport. That is tourism. That is KwaMaqoma on the map.

The KwaMaqoma Pool Association has selected a proud 24-player squad to represent the community — drawn from across our local venues, from Morris to Pandarosa, Weylors to Eyethu, Mhinkana to SSK, Lulama to Monwabisi and 7de Laan. Every corner of KwaMaqoma is in that squad.

The KwaMaqoma Pool Association Squad 2026:

1. Luyanda "Morris"
2. Zolani "Pandarosa" ©
3. Bakkies "Weylors"
4. Sdira "Eyethu"
5. Lala "Mhinkana"
6. Squmbu "Mhinkana"
7. Stiga "Mhinkana" ©
8. Kalawa "Pandarosa"
9. Kliwalo "Weylors"
10. Xhanti "Pandarosa"
11. Chumani "Weylors"
12. Mpiwo "Pandarosa"
13. Skhara "Lulama"
14. Thami "Pandarosa"
15. Malumz "Monwabisi/7de Laan"
16. Cingisizwe "Morris"
17. Sinawe "Weylors"
18. Carter "SSK"
19. Uviwe "SSK"
20. Sive "Monwabisi"
21. Monde "Morris"
22. Rama "Weylors"
23. Gedion "7de Laan"
24. Bash "SSK"

The format is Race to 11 under World 8 Rules — professional, competitive, and serious. This is not a casual Sunday game anymore. This is KwaMaqoma stepping into a bigger arena.

What started with a pool table and a Sunday afternoon has grown into something nobody expected this quickly. Months ago, we watched food vendors sell out before midnight and taverns fill with people from Alice and Seymour. Now we are welcoming teams from Rhodes University and Fort Hare — institutions that have produced leaders, doctors and champions.

They are coming to our turf. To our tables. To our community.

This is what happens when a community believes in itself and builds something real. The KwaMaqoma Liquor Traders Association, local venues and ordinary residents all played a part in growing this movement — and Saturday is the first time the world gets to see what KwaMaqoma is truly made of.

Show up. Make noise. Back your team. 🖤🎱

📍 Eyethu Sport Bar
📅 Saturday, 23 May 2026
⏰ 14:00
🏆 1st & 2nd Prize on the line

Play Hard. Stay Focused. Win Together.

17/05/2026

Renaming of Fort Beaufort Congregational Church to D I L LUPHONDWANA MEMORIAL | KwaMaqoma |

16/05/2026

📍 Mavuso Great Place, KwaMavuso, eDikeni ✨

For all your photography, videography and live streaming needs (including drone content) 🎥🚁📸, contact OurNews at:

📞 063 145 2504

Professional. Reliable. Quality content every time 🤝🔥

14/05/2026

🎱 POOL TABLES ARE CHANGING KWAMAQOMA — AND LIQUOR TRADERS ARE SEEING THE DIFFERENCE 🎱

By Lebo Mothlabane | OurNews

Something powerful is happening in KwaMaqoma every Sunday — and it starts around a pool table. But liquor traders also have a serious concern that these tournaments could be used to promote illegally operated establishments.

What began as simple Sunday pool tournaments has quickly grown into a movement that is changing local businesses, creating jobs and bringing communities together.

The newly revived KwaMaqoma Liquor Traders Association says the impact has been impossible to ignore.

Speaking to OurNews, Association Chairperson Mr. Monwabisi Ntaka of TK Lounge (Mhinkana) said pool is making a real difference in KwaMaqoma.

“It’s amazing that pool can have this much impact on a community,” said Ntaka. “KwaMaqoma is known as a rugby community, but this year pool is proving to be even more impactful. Businesses are seeing the difference, customers are enjoying themselves and the community atmosphere has improved.”

Every Sunday, tournaments move from venue to venue, attracting supporters from across KwaMaqoma and nearby towns like Alice and Seymour. Taverns become full of music, laughter, competition and social activity. Food vendors also benefit, with many selling out before the night ends.

The impact has also been seen online. After tournament photographs were shared from Morris Tavern earlier this year, the venue’s page reportedly grew from around 149 followers to more than 1,000 within a week.

Liquor trader Mr. Mzwandile “Tanci” Kameni says the tournaments are also helping promote responsible drinking.

“When we host these tournaments, we often hire extra staff for the day, and that means job creation,” said Kameni. “But what stands out most is how controlled the environment becomes. Players focus on the game and supporters also drink responsibly while watching. Since these tournaments started, we have not even had fights on Sundays.”

According to the Association, this is exactly the kind of entertainment they want to encourage — safe fun, business growth and responsible socialising.

The organisation also praised the growing unity among local business owners. In recent weeks, tavern owners have been seen supporting tournaments hosted by other venues, something many community members say is helping build respect and cooperation in KwaMaqoma.

However, the Association stressed that all tournaments and establishments must operate within the law.

The traders warned against the use of pool tournaments to promote businesses operating illegally, especially establishments involved in hiring out liquor licences, which is prohibited under Eastern Cape Liquor Board regulations.

“The law is clear,” said Ntaka. “Liquor licences cannot be hired out.”

Despite these concerns, the KwaMaqoma Liquor Traders Association says it remains fully committed to supporting the pool movement and hopes to eventually challenge liquor traders from outside KwaMaqoma through future tournaments.

For many residents, Sunday pool is no longer just a game. It is becoming a symbol of unity, opportunity and positive change in KwaMaqoma.

10/05/2026

Please note that if you didn't hire us to take pictures, you don't have the right to ask for them. If we photographed you at Morris Tavern, we will upload the images for you to access.

09/05/2026

Why We Say KwaMaqoma — Not Fort Beaufort, Not Bofolo

An opinion piece by Lebo Mothlabane

Before there was ever a fort in our town, there was a great African leader.

Maqoma was one of the greatest Xhosa warriors and leaders in South African history. Long before the British arrived, the valley we know today was called Ngxwengxa. This land belonged to Maqoma and his people. They even called it Isingqengqe sikaMaqoma — meaning Maqoma’s grazing lands.

Then came colonialism.

In 1822, British soldiers built a military fort here to fight against Maqoma and the amaXhosa. Instead of respecting the people who already lived on the land, they named the fort after a British duke called Beaufort — a man who never even set foot in the Eastern Cape.

That is how the name “Fort Beaufort” was born.

Think about that for a moment.

A foreign name was placed over African land, while the name of the man who defended this land was pushed aside.

But who exactly was Maqoma?

He was brave, intelligent and highly respected. He fought in several Frontier Wars and became famous for his military strategy in the Amathole mountains. Even British forces struggled to defeat him. He fought to protect his people, their dignity and their land — the very same land we walk on today.

Eventually, Maqoma was imprisoned on Robben Island, where he died in 1873. Long before Nelson Mandela was imprisoned there, Maqoma was already one of the first political prisoners on that island.

Now let’s talk about the word “Bofolo.”

Many people think it is an African name. But the truth is, iBhofolo comes directly from “Beaufort.” It is simply the British colonial name pronounced in isiXhosa. In other words, it still carries the same colonial meaning.

Even the name “Kat River” is not truly ours. The word “Kat” came from a colonial translation of an older Khoekhoen word linked to wildcats found in the area. But the original African name of this valley is Ngxwengxa.

That is why the renaming of the town matters.

In 2023, Fort Beaufort was officially renamed KwaMaqoma — meaning the place of Maqoma. The change came exactly 150 years after Maqoma’s death. It was not random. It was history finally correcting itself.

And no, changing the name does not erase history.

The old buildings are still here. The museums are still here. The history of the Frontier Wars is still taught. But now the name of the town honours the man who belonged to this land — not the empire that invaded it.

This is bigger than politics.

It is about identity. Pride. Truth.

Young people in KwaMaqoma should know that they come from a place connected to one of the greatest African leaders of the 19th century. We should say these names proudly because they belong to us.

The valley is Ngxwengxa.
The town is KwaMaqoma.

And that name carries the spirit of a warrior who refused to surrender.