Looking back on South Coast history, 1991 to 2000, January 8 to 14
Once the clean-up after the New Year parties was done, the coast settled down to some sort of routine.
The season wasn’t quite over.
January 8
1993
“Two men who work at Margate beach were assaulted by a group of revellers after the concert last Wednesday night.”
The good will didn’t last far into the new year. “Three people, one a 10-year-old girl, were wounded when shots were fired at them while they were standing in taxi queues in Bhobhoyi on New Year’s Eve.”
1999
“Two men appeared in court this week to face charges of rape, child pornography and kidnapping.”
But there was some good news. “World renowned tea-taster, Arnold Adihetty, rated Paddock tea as the finest produced anywhere in the world this season.”
January 9
1998
“Danny Fisher joins the Blarneys.”
January 10
1992
“A huge crowd of more than 10 000 merrymakers flocked to Margate’s beachfront to welcome 1992.”
1997
But the crowds were not always so welcome. “An estimated 12 000 to 15 000 people descended on Southbroom’s beachfront on New Year’s Eve, leaving behind them a trail of broken bottles, smashed beach toilets and tons of litter.”
January 11
After several years with no permanent home, Port Shepstone Museum will soon be in new premises near the beach terminus of the Banana Express.
January 12
1996
“A three-hour hostage drama, involving a security guard who went berserk at Port Shepstone beachfront last Saturday, taking a policeman hostage, ended when a marksman shot the gun out of his hand.”
Against all odds, peace prevailed in Shobashobane. “Despite threats of disruption and attempts by Premier Frank Mdlalose to persuade the ANC to postpone the funeral, 18 of the 19 Shobashobane Christmas Day massacre victims were buried peacefully last Saturday.”
January 13
1995
“Port Shepstone business owners are furious about a major electricity cut which plunged some parts of the town into darkness for 27 hours this week’. Technicians could not work through the night ‘because it was too dark’.”
And the State Veterinary Department warned that rabies was out of control in Natal, where over 70 percent of all reported cases in South Africa occurred.
January 14
1994
“Plans are in the pipeline to develop Margate North beach, including converting the Round Table clubhouse earmarked at Lucien Point.”
2000
Six years later, it looked as if the Tablers had lost their fight to keep their clubhouse. “Time is running out For Margate Round Table which, given notice on October 25 to vacate its unique seaside clubhouse at Lucien Point, must do so on January 25.”
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