Delving into the past
Several Springs residents are stranded without their telephone service.
This week, we look back at the Advertiser’s November 26, 1993, edition.
• No phones after lightning
Several Springs residents are stranded without their telephone service.
This comes after extensive damage was caused to the major cable that serves Daggafontein, Struisbult and Edelweiss on Tuesday morning.
It is believed that lightning is the cause of the breakdown, and Telkom officials have informed residents that the service will not be rectified before the weekend.
Dr Wikus Nienaber, a doctor in the Edelweiss area, brought the problem to the Advertiser’s attention, pointing out the problems that it has caused his practice.
Other doctors and chemists in these areas are faced with a similar crisis.
“It is chaos out here.
“Fortunately, we have arranged for the use of radios, which should be in use today, but what about other people in the area who might be in trouble?
“What about old people?” said Nienaber.
A spokesperson for Telkom confirmed that major damage had been caused to the cable ‘by a power surge that ran into the line, probably lightning’.
“We don’t know how long it will take to fix but it won’t be before the weekend,” the official verified.
The lines have been out of order since 11:00 on Tuesday morning and are still down.
Also read: Delving into the past
• La Toya’s Springs concert flops
La Toya Jackson’s concert held at the Springs Indoor Springs Centre on Saturday night was a dismal failure and has been salted by critics, saying ‘the only reason to go to the show was to see her figure’.
La Toya’s supporting band, Def Dames Dope, were the stars of the night, according to a review in a daily newspaper following the event.
“La Toya Jackson, performing before a pathetic crowd of about 200 people in this Far East Rand city, gave a 45-minute tribute to Motown music and Michael Jackson – and little else,” the review said.
The review went on to say the show started about 40 minutes late and speculated it was because the promoters were trying to entice more people to the sports centre.
Critics went on to describe her as looking like Michael Jackson and said she spoke in a squeaky voice, which was difficult to understand at times.
Walk this Way, her other supporting group, did not perform much better than she did.
The review went on to say: “Simply put, she was dreadful,” and ended off by saying: “At the end of it all on Saturday night dozens of empty beer cans littered the floor.
“And that just about summed up La Toya Jackson in Springs.”
Also read: Delving into the past
• On the road to success
Son of Springs’ member of Parliament 16-year-old Jaco Gous of Selection Park is the new Transvaal 50cc biking champion.
Jaco was placed second nationally, only three points behind the South African champion, Alf Swanepoel.
“When I was small, my dad always went to the race meetings and took me with him.
“I really enjoyed the races and then when he bought me a scrambler, I started racing seriously.
“That was two and a half years ago,” said Jaco.
Sponsored by a local security company, SA Security Services, Jaco said the sport is quite expensive.
During the recent biking event, the Hugenote High School learner took on the 125cc class as well and was placed fourth in the Transvaal and sixth nationally.
Jaco also put his skills to the 750cc enduro race and was positioned second when mechanical problems set in and his team had to withdraw briefly from the race.
They finished the race only five notches down, in seventh place.
His sights are now set on the long track, racing production bikes, a field which he will be entering next year.
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