Looking back on South Coast history: June 23 to 25
Water featured strongly this week - whether it was for fishing, swimming, drinking, putting out fires or keeping down the dust.
AMALGAMATION was the main topic of discussion.
June 23
1972
“THE Administrator-in-Executive Committee is going ahead with plans for amalgamation of Lower South Coast local authorities.”
BUT some of the lines were drawn in strange places. “In terms of the recent shock KwaZulu consolidation announcement by the government, Location No 5 – of which Gamalakhe forms part – is scheduled to go white.”
1978
“EARLY last week Margate’s Olympic size pool sprung a leak.”
June 24
1949
“FOLLOWING a remarkable wave of public determination to provide, without any further delay, infectious diseases accommodation at the Port Shepstone Hospital, the hospital board and the borough council have pledged their support to the mayor, Mr N Inman-Bamber, in his efforts to translate some of this zeal into solid bricks and mortar.” (The Union Health Department had forbidden the province to contribute the 25 percent it had offered towards the costs.)
MEANWHILE the Lower South Coast Water Board had called for tenders to construct a waterworks scheme on the Umzimkulwana river.
1955
“LAST Sunday morning South Coast soccer fans witnessed the most sordid exhibition of ‘football’ and foul play ever seen on this coast. The occasion was the final of the Herald Cup at Port Shepstone between Shepstone Railway and the Saiccor team from Umkomaas.”
1966
“A MEETING was held for the people of Marburg to voice their objections to the proposed amalgamation of Marburg with Port Shepstone. It was found unnecessary to call a vote as feeling on the rejection of amalgamation was unanimous.”
1983
“AN abattoir is to be built on the Lower South Coast. A local butcher and a local farmer have been given the go-ahead by the Abattoir Commission.”
June 25
1937
“SHEPSTONE’S amateur fire brigade is getting plenty of practice in hose drill. At various points of the town nowadays, hours are spent in watering the streets to keep down the dust.”
BUT there was still some left to drink. “Upcountry visitors need have no fears in visiting the Lower South Coast that water can only be rationed out in meagre quantities, the plain fact being that all needs can be met at the present time and also during the next month or two – rain or no rain.”
1954
“ANGLERS are still talking and thinking in terms of sardines and, for those who still retain their optimism, the radio news today that a shoal one mile long has passed Port St John’s, will be encouraging.”
1971
SOME things never change… “The Port Shepstone Town Council has decided to complain to Escom about the frequent interruptions in the supply of electricity in this area.”
1976
“BY the end of July Margate telephone subscribers will be able to dial direct to anywhere in South Africa.”
BUT another innovation came to a sticky end. “The recovery of the electric anti-shark cable from Margate’s bathing beach has had to be postponed – indefinitely.”
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