Looking back on South Coast history: May 15 to 18
Developments were planned, budgets were balanced and one man had a big win.
AIR travel was on its way.
May 15
1936
“CONGRATULATIONS to Margate on having received its first visitors ‘from the blue’. On Wednesday last an aeroplane arrived and had no difficulty in finding the ‘magnet of the South Coast’.”
1953
THOSE lobbying for a harbour at Port Shepstone quoted the summary of conclusions and recommendations in a white paper compiled by the Board of Trade and Industry in 1934. “The following harbours of refuge should be surveyed and constructed without delay: Hermanus, Hout Bay, Gordon’s Bay, Port Shepstone.”
1987
“IT’S here at last – a black newspaper, written by blacks for blacks. Ogwini will deal with the aspirations and activities of blacks in the Lower South Coast region. The first issue is due to hit the streets on Friday, May 22.”
AND a Port Shepstone man won R625 327 at the Wild Coat Sun.
May 16
1958
“THE amalgamation of Baven-on-Sea and Ramsgate into one Town Board area which will take the name of Ramsgate was approved by the Administrator-in-Executive this week.”
AND the hero of a local shark incident was recognised. “The surf lifesavers’ VC – the silver medallion of the Surf Lifesaving Association of South Africa – is to be awarded to Paul Brokensha, the Rhodesian garage proprietor who rescued Julia Painting in a shark attack at Margate five months ago.”
MEANWHILE between 2 500 and 3 000 people watched 37 pretty girls parade along the 40-metre long wall at the western end of Margate beach in the preliminaries of the South African May Queen contest.
1969
“DESPITE rainy conditions, over 200 people attended the opening of the new Scout Hall in Port Shepstone on Saturday.”
1975
“PORT Shepstone’s television tower may be brought into service at the end of this year.”
1980
“FOUR million rand will flow from the provincial coffers into the South Coast constituency during the 1980/81 financial year.”
May 17
1957
“MR AT Inglesby, director of the South African Tourist Corporation, considers that the time is now ripe for Margate to consolidate the huge gains made in recent years by the erection of a pier extending well out to sea and accommodating all the amenities so dear to the hearts of seaside holidaymakers.”
IT was a good time to invest in a holiday cottage, as a local builder was offering to construct two bedrooms, living room, bathroom and kitchen with hot and cold running water and a garage for only £1 650. “If you haven’t a plot we will find one for you.”
1974
AMALGAMATION was an ongoing cause of dispute. “Intensive in-fighting is already taking place in the four towns that will make up Greater Margate.”
1985
“PROVINCE may develop multiracial holiday resorts in both Palm Beach and Port Edward.”
May 18
1956
“FIFTY years ago the Mzimkhulu river basin was a fisherman’s paradise. According to Mr ACF Sinclair, a pioneer of the area and former Mayor of Shepstone, these conditions could be restored.”
1973
IRREGULAR expenditure is nothing new. “Water Corportation has illegally spent R80 000.”
1979
“OF those who voted in Margate’s referendum, 64,99 percent have opted for de-amalgamation.”
1982
THERE’S nothing new about vandalism. “Vandals abuse graveyard.”
1990
“DUE to a cut in the provincial budget, there would be a cut-back in its roads maintenance programme, particularly in respect of gravel roads.”
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