Looking back on South Coast history: June 2 to 5

AIR transport was seen to be the way forward.

June 2

1950
“THE De Havilland Dove aircraft will fly a regular, twice-weekly schedule between the Rand and Margate, cutting down travelling time to two hours. The return fare will be only fractionally higher than the first class rail fare.”

1950
Members of the Lower South Coast Regional Water Supply Corporation and representatives of the local authorities in the proclaimed area made an exhaustive inspection of the works now in progress and were impressed by its magnitude.

1989
Local politics were in such a state that the province found it necessary to investigate Bendigo.

June 3

1977
“THERE were unparalleled scenes of excitement in Gamalakhe township on Saturday afternoon, when 4 000 people gave Chief Gatsha Buthelezi a tumultuous welcome.”

And, from the sublime to the ridiculous… “A very successful jumble sale took place last Saturday at the SPCA. Perhaps the most unusual item to be sold was a complete set of dentures.”

June 4

1965

IT was announced that the much-missed little buses between St Michael’s, Margate and Ramsgate would run again
as from Tuesday, June 8, thanks to private enterprise.

1976
“A MAJOR row is brewing over Margate’s Olympic-sized pool. Maintenance could cost the taxpayer more than R30 000 annually.”

June 5

1953
“HOW many of us in Port Shepstone, Margate and a number of other South Coast centres where the Provincial Library Scheme is in operation, appreciate the immense educational opportunity now available to us?” (WT Jackson, in an address to Port Shepstone Rotary)

“NEVER before in the history of the Lower South Coast have so many joyous celebrations been held as during this past coronation week.”

1959
IT had taken a while to fix up the flood damage. “Except for the road deviation at Illovo, road and rail communications on the main South Coast route to Durban are expected to be restored by the end of next week.”

“THE sea is clearing rapidly and anglers have every reason to be hopeful that, by the time the migratory shoals of sardines enter our waters, conditions will have been restored to normal.”

1964
MARGATE scored another hit. “The 16th Annual General Council Meeting of the Federated Hotels Association of Southern Africa is scheduled to be held at Margate next year in spite of keen competition from major cities in South Africa for the privilege.”

BUT there were false hopes in the fight against alien vegetation. “Mr Reineke, a member of the department of Agriculture and Technical Services, attended the monthly meeting of the executive committee of the Southern Natal Public Bodies’ Association in connection with the third and final stage to be completed this winter in the campaign against the noxious weed, lantana camara, on the Lower South Coast.”

1987
SUCCESS could have its drawbacks. “Nobody had anticipated that 75 percent more people would attend the air show than did on the same day last year, thus chaos reigned.”

And a landmark was threatened. “Margate Round Table’s famous clubhouse is in danger of being demolished.”

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