Looking back on South Coast history: December 3 to 9
A mixed bag this week, with two bomb blasts and international acclaim for a local surfer.
The peace of Port Edward was shattered.
December 3
1993
“The South Coast community was still reeling with shock yesterday following the bomb blast which rocked the Port Edward Hotel on Tuesday evening, less than nine hours after a bus blew up in the centre of Durban.”
December 4
1992
An announcement was made that there were big plans afoot for Margate beachfront.
December 6
1991
Help was on its way. “The offer of a grant of up to R4-million in food aid for the Southern Natal region and a promise of further funds being made available next year have boosted morale in this poverty-ravaged area. The grant, from the Department of Health and Population Development, is part of a R220-million food aid programme for South Africa.”
And… “After two-and-a-half years of planning and ‘lots of red tape’, Margate’s R10-million bus and taxi terminus and shopping centre development is going ‘full steam ahead’ spokesman and project director, Mike Lee, said this week.”
But… “Violence is continuing unabated in Murchison, Gamalakhe and Betania, with at least 12 dead during November, according to Selvan Chetty of Practical Ministries, Port Shepstone, which is monitoring the violence on the Lower South Coast.”
1996
“It will not be a happy Christmas for 113 of the ‘commercially insolvent’ Umtamvuna/Port Edward Transitional Local Council’s employees who face possible retrenchment next February.”
And… “The Ugu Regional Council agreed that affirmative action needed to be taken into account when filling staff vacancies.”
December 8
1995
Visitors to Margate beachfront welcomed the vigilance of the new Margate Task Force, part of the Protection Services department, which was making the area safer and more pleasant, day and night.
2000
“A voting station in Albersville was petrol bombed during the early hours of Tuesday morning, shortly before voting was due to start.”
But a local sporting heroine tasted victory overseas.
December 9
1994
“The development and upliftment of the South Coast came under the spotlight when Jacob Zuma, KwaZulu-Natal Minister of Tourism and Economic Affairs, met with a wide variety of local leaders last Friday. But he warned that no international or domestic investor would bring business to an area that was still susceptible to violence.”
And Father Christmas took a tumble. “Instead of arriving in style in a horse-drawn carriage, Santa, aka Colin Lee, decided to make an entrance on horseback because the carriage was unserviceable. As he dismounted, his gumboot-clad right foot caught in the stirrup and he fell to the ground, breaking his leg.”
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