We’re dusting off the Brakpan Herald of January 17, 1997, and diving into the headlines that once had everyone talking.

• Storm causes major damage in Brakpan
A powerful storm on Friday afternoon caused chaos when both the subways had to be closed and several businesses and homes were flooded.

After just a few minutes of heavy rain, the subways turned into dangerous water traps and at least one man had to be rescued from his vehicle.

A member of the Brakpan Fire Department, Herman Meyer, swam to the bakkie which was floating in the subway to help the fear-stricken driver to safety.

Members of the traffic department faced the mammoth task of regulating the Friday afternoon peak-hour traffic.
Acting chief traffic officer Arnold Fillies said although the situation was rather frightening, no serious incidents were reported.

The roof of a business in Voortrekker Road was ripped off by strong winds and landed on the adjacent buildings.
The owner of the shop said he heard a tremendous noise and within seconds the entire roof was lifted “like a piece of paper” by the wind.

• Rain is to blame for conditions at the dam
Heavy rains during the last few weeks of 1996 seem to be the main reason for the unsightly long grass around the Brakpan Dam.

Frans Marais, heads of the parks, sport and recreation department, explained that the grass at the dam is cut on a regular basis, according to programmes worked out beforehand.

“Normally the dam surroundings would have been cleaned before the festive season, but heavy rains prevented the tractors and heavy machinery entering the area, ” he said.

“It needs to be mentioned that Brakpan received a total of 140mm of rain during December 1996.”

• Reward for missing bird
Two young children whose Goffin cockatoo flew away while they were on holiday with their parents are heartbroken. Tammy (2) and Drélind (3) Smit, of Germains Avenue, can’t understand why the cage is empty.

André Smit said the cage was on the patio of their home when the cockatoo escaped during the third week of December.

“We came home from holiday to look for the bird, and saw it in a nearby tree. We could not, however, catch it,” he said.

“My children miss the bird and we would very much like to have it back.”

Smit is offering a reward.

• Kapers jaag weg met twee vragmotors
Twee vragmotors is Vrydagmiddag in afsonderlike voorvalle deur gewapende rowers gekaap. In die eerste voorval was TS Mkhwanazi op die N17, naby die Dalpark Tolhek, toe hy ‘n slagoffer geword het.

n’ Wit voertuig met drie insittendes het voor hom ingeswaai en hom gedwing om stil te hou. Twee van die rowers het uitgeklim en hom bevel om in hulle voertuig te klim.

Een kaper het met die vragmotor wiggery. In die ander voorval was PM Phakathi langs die Heidelbergpad besig om sand op te laai.

‘n Wit Mercedes 280S het agter sy vragmotor stilgehou en twee persone het uitgeklim en padaanwysings gevra.

Die mans het wapens to voorskyn gebring en Phakathi bevel om in hulle voertuig in te klim. Een van die kapers het, soos in die eerste voorval, met die vragmotor wiggery en Phakathi is later deur die ander kapers afgelaai.

• Hat trick after 49 years
The Brakpan Bowling Club has snatched a major tournament after winning it previously in 1946. A total of 19 teams from around the country competed for the prestigious Schlesinger Trophy at the Killarney Bowling Club a fortnight ago.

Brakpan’s team consisted of Brian Dixon (junior, skip and captain), Ian Henry, Ernie Fisher, Thys Pretorius and Eddie Williams.

They warded off strong competition from the Italian Sports Club and Jewish Guild in the semi-finals and final respectively, to take top honours in what is considered to be the greatest tournament in Gauteng.

Brakpan won the event in 1924 and 1946, with their latest win bagging them a hat trick after 49 years. Brakpan’s major scoop also came with a little disappointment.

The Schlesinger Trophy – one metre high and made of solid silver – couldn’t be brought home unfortunately. The precious artifact’s assurance premium would have cost the club R2 500 a month.