Looking back on South Coast history, 1991 to 2000: April 30 to May 6
An oil slick and chaos in the court house were two of the more unusual news items this week.
Housing – or the lack of it – was in the news again.
“A R17,5-million Provincial Housing Board boost will provide 1 000 houses between Port Shepstone and Bhobhoyi.”
The beaches were threatened. “The oil slick from the Katina P, which sank off Mozambique at the weekend, could drift onto Lower South Coast beaches if the wind changes from its present southerly direction to a strong easterly or north-easterly.”And local jobs… “The Umzimkulu Sugar Mill will not open this season and all the cane will be transported to the Sezela Mill.”
1998
“The Margate Local Council hopes to open a school in Ramsgate to accommodate 250 unplaced children, yet 19 of a Gamalakhe school’s 24 classrooms are not being used.”
May 2
1997
“Two school buses were taken off the road last week, one for defects in brakes and steering and the other for being unlicensed.”
May 3
1991
“A major manhunt has been launched by police following the killing of a young Margate constable by an armed gang in the early hours of Tuesday morning this week. The men, who were heavily armed, were desperately trying to escape a police dragnet that was closing in on them. The five men had earlier robbed and shot a security guard, seriously wounding him, kidnapped his son, stolen his vehicle and held up a service station in Paddock.”
“A new R10-million shopping centre comprising 32 shops is to be built at Margate’s bus and taxi rank.”
“The reconstructed road from the south end of the Mzimkhulu river bridge to ‘Confusion junction’ at Rathboneville is considered dangerous by the Port Shepstone borough. Over 60 minor accidents were recorded at the three sets of traffic lights on this stretch of road between November and April. These did not include ‘fender benders’ and near misses.”
1996
“Oatlands landfill now up and running.”
And… “Shelter for street children opens in Munster.”
May 5
1995
“When the engine of his home-built aircraft stopped and Dave King looked down for a place to land, he thought himself lucky to be over Southbroom Golf Course. When he landed and the aircraft flipped onto its back, he thought himself even luckier because he landed in the middle of 30 doctors down for a golfing weekend.”
2000
The small harbour project popped up again. “Funding to cover the infrastructure costs is the biggest obstacle to moving the Mzimkhulu River marina development forward. The infrastructure cost was to be included in the proposed new road between Port Edward and East London, however the South African National Roads Agency had not yet agreed to the proposal.”
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