A blast from the past! Journey back in time to 20 years ago, with some of the top stories covered by Southlands Sun in the year 2005.

Airport aids Asia

The Durban International Airport (DIA) and Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) staff helped in the tsunami relief effort. DIA together with ACSA helped bring in 1200 boxes of clothes, weighing almost 10 tons, ready to be distributed to Asia. The food, clothes and supplies were brought to the airport where volunteers sorted, packed and boxed the items. Among the volunteers were children of airport staffers, spending the last days of their school holidays helping the cause.

Also Read: Throwback Thursday – Remembering what we could buy with R100

Close call for pilot 

The pilot of a King Air B90 aircraft had a close call when a failure in the plane’s landing gear forced an emergency landing at Durban International Airport on Sunday, January 23 2005. Despite having no serious injuries, the five occupants on board the aircraft were taken to the hospital as a precaution.

Seven youths arrested for murder

Seven youths aged between 16-20 were arrested for the murder of a man in Reunion on Saturday, July 23 2005. It was alleged that the victim got into a drunken argument with the youngsters at a party. After leaving the house of the party, the man fell asleep outside. It was alleged that the youths approached the man while he was sleeping and beat him to death. His body was then dumped at the railway station.

Bluff author focuses on life in old SA

Gunda Hardeen-Brunner a Bluff Yacht Club Resident, celebrated publishing her novel “Zebra Horizon’’ in June 2005. The novel follows the adventures of a 16 year-old Rotary exchange student Mathilda, who arrived in South Africa from Germany in 1975. The novel was strongly based on Gunda’s own experience as a Rotary exchange student in the 70s.

Blast rocks residents

An explosion at Engen refinery resulted in fire emergency procedures being activated on the night of Tuesday, January 25, 2005. The surrounding community heard a loud bang and felt their windows rattling. In just over an hour, firefighters declared the area safe and gave the all-clear. According to Engen spokesperson at the time, Zama Luthuli, there were no injuries, and the fire did not affect refinery operations.

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