Looking back on South Coast history: October 27 to 30
Street lights were much appreciated but the state of the roads was never far from the top of South Coasters' 'gripe list'.
THE South Coast did not always lag behind the rest of the country.
October 27
1972
“PORT Shepstone is to have a TV transmitter by the time the SABC launches its service in January 1976.”
October 28
1960
“MARGATE’S new lighting scheme, recently put into operation, has been commented on favourably by visitors and residents alike.”
1966
BUT some problems are perennial. “At the first borough council meeting in Port Shepstone for the 1966/67 year a report from the borough engineer on the lack of parking space in the borough was discussed.”
1983
“ANOTHER milestone in the development of rapidly expanding Port Shepstone was reached this week with the opening of the new OK superstore.”
BUT the housing situation lagged behind other facilities. “Fifteen flats for the Indian staff of the cement clinker factory are being built in Albersville Road. There is a problem in the housing of black employees. A number of stands in Gamalakhe have been allocated but the company has not yet embarked on a building scheme there.”
October 29
1971
“PROTEA Airways may drop its Johannesburg – Margate air link plans because of apathy on the part of South Coast public bodies.
MEANWHILE, the public bodies had other things on their minds. “The Bendigo Health Committee this week discussed a possible amalgamation move with Port Shepstone, but the idea was turned down.”
“OWING to the town clerk of Shelly Beach being indisposed, the town board has asked if the Uvongo town clerk can assist the board where necessary.”
October 30
1953
“AFTER a delegate had suggested that there were possibilities for the use of the Mzimkhulu river estuary as a take-off and landing point for seaplanes, the chairman, Mr AE Mitchell, said: ‘Judging by the present rate of silting, I don’t think it will be necessary to think in terms of seaplanes. Conventional aircraft will soon be able to land there’.”
PERHAPS an alternative form of transport was needed, as parts of the South Coast road were likened to a skating rink. “The condition of the untarred section of the coast road between Melville and Umzumbe was the subject of much indignant comment at the last quarterly general meeting of the Southern Natal Public Bodies’ Association.”
AND no one liked the new legislation that soured the relationship between whites and Indians. “WHILE the council wishes to co-operate with all sections of the community, it is now bound by the provisions of the Group Areas Act, which has superseded the Land Tenure Act, under which the area covered by the ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ was scheduled.”
1959
“MR RB Archibald MPC said he was convinced that local people knew more about practical shark nets than engineers from other parts.”
1964
“AT the annual congress of the association of Chambers of Commerce of South Africa held in Cape Town last week it was agreed that the 1965 congress would be held in Margate.”
AND it was to hoped that the delegates would have better weather at the same time next year. “Owing to the mouth of the river being silted the business premises of Rathboneville suffered severe damage during the heavy downfall of rain a week ago.”
1981
THE voice of doom is never far away. “A great number of fatal accidents are expected on the road between Port Shepstone and Port Edward in December after the opening of the Transkei Casino.”
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