These were some of the local stories making headlines in years gone by. This week we look back at the Herald of March 14, 1947:
• Miners resume work
At a well-attended meeting of strikers in Hosking Park on Tuesday, it was decided to return to work on Thursday.
The general feeling was that the negotiations in Johannesburg with the Mining Unions’ Joint Committee were not proceeding satisfactorily and that the terms of the proposed settlement were not acceptable.
They should resume work, it was said, and take other steps to gain their objective.
On Wednesday, a thanksgiving service was held at the Park.
Although a few men returned to work, the strike position on mines in the Brakpan area on Monday remained virtually unchanged.
Picketing took place on main roads leading to some of the mines, but the men concerned left when requested by the police to disperse.
On several occasions, the names and addresses of the pickets were taken.
SA Lands was picketed on Friday while the same procedure was followed at State Mines, Witpoort and van Dyk on Monday.
In each case, the pickets numbered from five to eight.
Six pickets also appeared at State Mines plantation.
• Fears that Royal Family may not be seen
Hopes than when the Royal Family passes through Brakpan on April 2, the procession will travel slowly enough to enable all sections of the community to have a good view of the King, Queen and Princesses, were expressed by a local businessman who has just returned from Cape Town.
He was on the route which the Royal party took when they visited Simons Town from Cape Town, he said yesterday.
Although people lined the streets, and the procession was scheduled to pass through intervening townships, the cars moved so quickly that the Royal visitors could not be seen.
In addition, closed cars were used.
Great disappointment had been caused.
Criticism of the arrangements also appeared in the Cape press.
The same hurried travel had followed the State Banquet in the Cape Town City Hall.
Thousands of people, who had waited in the streets for the Royal Family, hardly got a glimpse of them.
• Goods valued at £1 000 were stolen in burglaries which occurred in Brakpan last weekend
The biggest loss was sustained by Mr J Schafer, of the Government Areas Trading Store, when premises were entered on Sunday night and clothing and blankets worth £790 taken.
The watchman employed by Mr Schafer was confronted by three men.
One of them, who produced a revolver, warned him to keep still.
The gunman’s two colleagues then tied up the watchman by the feet and hands.
They carried him into the store after opening the front door and covered his head with a blanket.
For some time they walked in and out of the shop carrying away goods.
Although the watchman did not see any vehicle when he was set upon, it is considered that a motor car or lorry must have been used to remove so large a quantity of articles.
The watchman succeeded in freeing his feet after they had left and found a companion who loosened his hands.
On the previous night, the home of Mr JMG Swarts in Hastings Avenue was entered while the occupants were out.
Clothing worth £130 was stolen.
The burglars had broken the dining room window.
The same method of entry was employed at the house of Mr FH Knoetze at Witpoort on Saturday night.
Clothing valued at £100 was stolen.
There was nobody in the house when the thieves made their raid.
• Snake as mouser
A Kempton Park storekeeper has at last found what he terms “a sure method” of keeping rats and mice away from his produce.
When his cats failed to suppress the rats be bought a young python for £1.
The snake is let out of its box each evening when the store is being locked up.
• SA diamonds for Princess
A gift of diamonds chosen from the pick of the production of the State diggings at Alexander Bay in Namaqualand will be presented to Princess Elizabeth by the Union Government on her 21st birthday on April 21 during the Royal tour of the Union.
• Twenty-three thousand phones wanted
There are 23 000 people on the Witwatersrand awaiting to become telephone subscribers.
Owing to shortages of equipment, it will be at least five years before this number is substantially reduced.
• Bigger wheat crop
The final wheat crop estimate for the Union for the 1946/47 season is 4, 428 000 bags, as compared with 2, 848 000 bags last season, says the Department of Agriculture and Forestry.
• In and about Brakpan
Miss JM Coombs has been appointed Lady Health Visitor for Brakpan.
Mr PL Vergottini has been appointed assistant municipal electrical engineer.
The Mayor’s Parlour at the Town Hall is being extended at a cost of £750.
Have a story?
Contact the newsroom by emailing: Thelma Koorts (editor) brakpanherald@caxton.co.za
or Stacy Slatter (news editor) stacys@caxton.co.za
or Miné Fourie (journalist) minev@caxton.co.za
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