Looking back on South Coast history: September 2 to 4
Non-delivery of electricity and delays in road construction are ongoing gripes, but an international cricket match and the possibility of a regatta brighten up the news.
September 2
IN September 1938 there was hope of a literally brighter future for the South Coast.
1938
“WE understand that big electrical developments for the South Coast are under consideration by the Electricity Supply Commission.”
BUT construction of the Port Shepstone – Umzumbe stretch of the national road had been delayed yet again.
1949
“NEGOTIATIONS, opened 18 months ago and strongly supported by local authorities, businessmen and even the Civil Aviation Council, for an airmail contract between Durban and Margate, culminated last week in flat rejection of the proposal by the divisional controller of Posts and Telegraphs.”
AND Scottburgh residents were being kept in the dark. “Residents are complaining bitterly of the electricity supply in Scottburgh. Whether the irregularity of supply is due to factors outside the control of the veritable army of workmen stationed here is not known, but the breaks appear to be becoming more frequent. People do not mind failures lasting a short while because, to the layman, the incomprehensibility of electricity seems to allow that as reasonable.”
1955
THE news was that Port Shepstone might stage a national speedboat regatta. Mr EJ Hancock, commodore of the Natal Outboard Boating Club, described the venue as: “Perfect. I only wish it were in Durban.”
BUT 11 years later the estuary was anything but perfect.
1966
“THE fishing correspondent writes of: ‘Full and completely fatal pollution with every living thing over three miles from the river mouth – dead.’ It would be no wonder if fishermen were weeping over the weekend at the great Mzimkhulu river tragedy.”
ANOTHER 11 years down the line, we find another familiar issue.
1977
“CHIEF Gatsha Buthelezzi called on the black youth of KwaZulu not to give vent to their anger by burning down their schools.”
1983
THE housing situation showed an improvement. “Lions Grove is to be sub-divided into residential plots and made available for sale to the Indian community.”
AND… “The Marburg Town Board has allocated the first 50 sub-economic homes in the first phase of the Marburg Housing Scheme.”
September 3
1954
“MR JW McKenzie, an executive member of the Port Shepstone Country Club and distinguished cricketer of the past, has been asked to organise a match at the Country Club against the touring Kenya side for Tuesday and Wednesday, March 15 and 16, 1955.”
1965
“OFFICIALLY the southernmost area of Natal, lying between the Mzimkhulu and Umtamvuna rivers will be 100 years old on Monday, September 13. The date on which the proclamation of the annexation of this area took place was January 1, 1866. The annexation was backdated to September 13, 1865.”
1976
“A TELEVISION team from SATV will fly to Margate today to televise Saturday’s first ever Beach Olympics at Margate.”
September 4
1959
“AMONG the causes of the recent Native unrest in this area, hunger and frustration as a result of the flood in May must indeed rank high. The time is therefore opportune that the Port Shepstone District Flood Relief Committee, after intensive research and organisation, should now be in a position to be able to commence the distribution of food and other relief measures in the hardest-hit surrounding Native areas.”
1970
“STILL 10 years until the national road reaches Port Edward.”
1987
“THERE were scenes of jubilation at the South Coast Herald on Wednesday when we learnt we had won the coveted Cronwright Trophy for regional newspapers.”
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