Looking back on South Coast history: October 22 to 24
The first half of the week was pretty disastrous.
A department store went up in flames.
October 22
1999
“Police have opened an arson docket following the devastating fire which burned down The Hub department store in Port Shepstone.”
And another landmark was about to disappear. “The Margate Town Hall and library are to be demolished… to provide parking in the central business district.”
October 23
1992
“Children are abandoned each month and foster and adoptive parents are urgently needed. Presently there are three baby boys being cared for in the Port Shepstone Hospital, one of whom has been languishing there for more than five months.”
And violence hit the headlines again. “Six people – four from the same family – were killed in an attack on their kraal at Oshabeni last Wednesday night.”
The United Nations tried to help. “International monitor [UN] Karl Schmidt arrived in Port Shepstone this week to visit trouble spots and devise strategies to counter violence.”
And not everyone was happy with the march of progress. “Umtentweni will get a new library, despite the wishes of the majority. Most ratepayers do not consider a new library necessary and many feel the library is a convenient subsidised key to open up the whole site for major further development.”
1998
“A shooting incident at Leisure Bay last weekend could have a detrimental effect on tourism. All three families involved in the incident were so traumatised they have said they will not be returning.”
October 24
1997
“Eight people have died and 94 people have been injured in the past few days on the Lower South Coast.”
But ratepayers were happy… “Port Shepstone councillors have opted, by nine votes to seven, not to take an increase in their allowances this year.”
And shoppers had something to look forward to. “The eyes of the retail world will be on Shelly Beach when the first SuperSpar in KwaZulu-Natal opens its doors within the next few weeks.”
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