Looking back on South Coast history, 1991 to 2000: February 12 to 18
A week of repetitive news, plus a political killing and a shipwreck.
It seems two criminals were not interested in liquid assets.
February 12
1999
“Two gunmen held up a beer depot in Marburg and escaped with cash and a handbag.”
But there was too much liquid in Shelly Beach. “Up to 250mm of rain fell in the Paddock area, the catchment for the Izotsha River, in less than seven hours, causing a flash flood which devastated Old Macdonald’s Farm.”
February 13
1998
The new school year had more problems than usual. “Three weeks into the new school year, some 70 pupils who expected to start high school this year are still sitting at home, waiting for education authorities to accommodate them.”
And one sailor’s dream hit rock bottom. “Lone yachtsman Donald Bransby (73) stepped over the side of his yacht ‘Pestrel’ after it hit a reef off Palm Beach tidal pool and waded ashore after midnight last Thursday.”
February 14
1992
Red tape delayed the opening of the new road. “This week road engineers said the road would be complete by April 1. Contacted for comment, the Chief Director, National Roads, said the road would not be opened until the new toll structure was gazetted, probably mid-April.”
1997
Someone was cultivating a fortune in the St Faith’s area. “Police find R5-million dagga plantation.”
February 15
1991
“On the very day (February 1) that the State President FW de Klerk announced the scrapping of the last of the remaining apartheid acts on the statute books, during his Opening of Parliament Address, a local Indian family found that at grass-roots level nothing had changed.”
February 16
1996
Somethings never change. “Disgruntled shopowners in the Margate Central Business District want the TLC to clean up the town, enforce bylaws, provide ablutions, get rid of professional hawkers and timeshare vendors and give the town a face-lift.”
February 17
1995
“The behaviour of certain councillors and a section of invited guests at the Margate Transitional Local Council’s Statutory Meeting on Tuesday was slammed this week by one of the incoming councillors.”
And some great ideas take a long time to come to fruition. “The Provincial Housing Board has allocated R7,5-million to the Port Shepstone Local Government Negotiating Forum to build 525 low cost houses adjacent to Merlewood.”
And an accident black spot came under the spotlight. “Traffic lights are needed now at the Port Edward crossroads according to those who attended a public meeting.”
February 18
1994
“The chairman of the South Coast branch of the African National Congress, George Mbele, was gunned down at Umzumbe’s Inala School, where he was principal, at midday on Wednesday. He was also an executive member of the Port Shepstone Peace Committee.”
2000
Some good news… “Accommodation bookings on the South Coast in January were 10 percent higher than for the same time last year.”
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