Looking back on South Coast history: July 18 to 22
A varied week, which featured a 'gogo' with an AK47 and 'bandits' armed with bananas.
There were some serious problems for South Coasters.
July 16
1993
“With South Coast cane farms devastated by the second year of drought, the future for farmers is grim.”
While townsfolk faced a different kind of crisis. “The Margate Council considered a number of objections to the 52 percent refuse removal tariff increase, but resolved to proceed with the implementation of the new tariffs from July 1.”
And the former Aiken Park school had a new identity. “Last week the Herald had a preview tour of what is now the St Martin de Porres Comprehensive School for the Handicapped.”
1999
There were some unlikely criminals around. “An elderly woman was convicted for the illegal possession of an AK47 rifle.”
And some pretty ambitious ideas. “The Ugu Regional Council’s Executive Committee has approved R100 000 for two tourism feasibility studies – for a game ranch at Izingolweni and a mountain cable car.”
“The first ever flower festival on the coast attracted 71 335 visitors over the weekend,” but a familiar problem arose yet again. “The water supply at both KwaNzimakwe and Bhobhoyi has been interrupted due to vandalism of pipelines.”
July 17
1992
“An awaiting trial prisoner was shot dead when he tried to escape from police while being taken back to a cell at the Port Shepstone prison.”
1998
“A young male bottle-nosed dolphin died in Port Shepstone’s tidal pool on Wednesday morning, despite 24 hours of care and attention from Sea World.”
July 18
1997
It was reported that construction of the Wild Coast corridor road between Port St Johns and southern KwaZulu-Natal would start in 1999.
July 19
1991
“Innocent bystanders in Hibberdene were caught in heavy crossfire when police and four suspects armed with AK47 rifles fired at each other during a high-speed car chase early on Wednesday morning. A 65-year-old woman was wounded, two cars and a truck were hit by bullets and the Flying Fish building was pockmarked with bullet holes.”
“Fifty collisions have occurred at ‘Confusion Junction’ on the main South Coast road at Rathboneville since April 1 this year, an average of one every other day, according to SAP statistics.”
A suspicious trawler was spotted off Ramsgate and… “Commercial fishermen battled for five hours on Monday to recover illegal long-line fishing line which they had spotted off the Transkei coast, before being forced by bad sea conditions to cut the mainline near the Umtamvuna river mouth.
“This year’s great Hibiscus Train Race from Shelly Beach to Paddock took a different turn last Sunday when the favourite for the race, the Banana Express, was held up by a band of banana-toting bandits. These ruthless Gringos showed no compassion as they stopped the train, tied the driver and stoker to the engine and handed bananas to those aboard. Their mission: To give the runners a chance to beat the train for a change.”
1991
“The Great Mzimkhulu Regatta, the first to be held on the river for many years, will bring life back to the Mzimkhulu river this Saturday, with racing, fishing and a Miss regatta competition.”
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