Dean McCleland, Author at The Casual Observer

LGE 2016: Will the Ideological Chasm Derail Stable Coalitions?

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs 8 August 2016 0 Comment

The Local Government Elections 2016 – LGE2016 – have irreparably altered the South African political landscape. With three major metros requiring coalition governments, diametrically opposed opponents will be forced to compromise. This requires political maturity which heretofore the EFF has not yet displayed. Instead petulance and disparaging taunting comments, often with racist connotations, have been the order of the day.

What is the likely outcome?

Main picture: The inimitable Zapiro on the 2016 Local Government Elections in South Africa alluding to the fact that Zuma had commented that the ANC would remain in power until Jesus came again

Can Zimbabweans Finally Dare to Dream?

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs, Rhodesia / Zimbabwe 5 August 2016 0 Comment

After countless false dawns and the violent suppression of the democratic wishes of the Zimbabwe people, can they finally dare to dream that the decade’s long evening of darkness will awaken to a fresh new dawn?

In the throes of an insurmountable economic decline with formal employment now only 10% and economic activity at 50% of that 10 years ago, the question on all Zimbabweans’ minds is whether it will be economic dislocation, revolt within the previously submissive ”war veterans” or biological inevitability in Mugabe’s death that will ultimately wrest control from the Zimbabwean president’s hands.

Which of these possibilities will eventuate and, more importantly for the average Zimbabwean, will it be peaceful or will it culminate in further unforeseen dislocation.

Whatever the outcome, Zimbabwe is clearly entering unchartered waters.

Main picture: Recent anti-Mugabe demonstrations

Port Elizabeth of Yore: Allister Miller, an Aviation Pioneer

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 4 August 2016 6 Comments

Allister Miller was not only a war hero but he was instrumental in the creation of a civilian aviation industry in South Africa. By all objective measures, he can claim to be the father of this industry. Due to his record breaking flight from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth, he was accorded recognition in Port Elizabeth by naming the street past the airport, Allister Miller Drive.

Lieutenant-Colonel Allister Miller DSO OBE (1892–1951) was a South African aviation pioneer, who contributed significantly to both military and civil aviation in his country during the first half of the 20th century.

But what did Allister Miller actually do to receive this acclamation?

The original caption on the photograph: The end of an historic flight, Rio de Janeiro II, piloted by Major (later Lieut.-Col) Allister Miller, the pioneer of South African civil aviation, lies upended in a bunker on the old 17^th fairway of the Port Elizabeth Golf Club on Wednesday, 7^th November 1917. Major Miller, accompanied by Sgt-Mechanic Way, took off from Young’s Field Cape Town. Five hours, 18 minutes later flying at an average speed of 70 m.p.h., the plane touched down at the P.E. Golf Club – the first plane ever to land in the City. An estimated 5,000 people were waiting at the Club to witness the arrival, but they pressed so close when the plane touched down that Major Miller was forced to crash his craft into a fairway bunker to avoid the over-eager spectators. His action prevented what could have been a major tragedy. The only damage to the plane, fortunately, was a broken propeller which was presented to the Club as a memento of an historic occasion.

Interesting Old Buildings in Central Port Elizabeth

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 3 August 2016 6 Comments

Forget about the standard fare: the Campanile, the City Hall or the Main library. Every brochure on Port Elizabeth will showcase them. All are iconic. In fact all of them have come to symbolise Port Elizabeth. Instead there are lesser known buildings and structures which are also worthy of inclusion in the pantheon of iconic, unusual or interesting buildings. The Central Area of Port Elizabeth certainly possesses an old world charm unique to South Africa partially due to these buildings. This blog will highlight a selection of them.

Main picture: Restoration in progress in Central Port Elizabeth Continue reading

Port Elizabeth of Yore: Shameful Torching of the German Club in 1915

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 31 July 2016 2 Comments

The torpedoing of the 32,000 ton Cunard Liner, the Lusitania, on the 7^th March 1915 with the loss of 1198 lives so inflamed public opinion against the local German Community that they took the law into their own hands and torched the Liedertafel, the German Club, in Western Road.

This, together with other atrocious acts, forms a dark and an indelible stain on the history of Port Elizabeth.

Main picture: The Liedertafel after it was set ablaze by an enraged mob

Port Elizabeth of Yore: Cora Terrace-Luxury Living on the Hill

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 30 July 2016 1 Comment

Cora Terrace, off Bird Street, is a row of houses which dates back to the years 1858 to 1866. Fortunately house numbers 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 were declared National Monuments under the old NMC Legislation in 1975 and 1976 respectively.

These houses are outstanding examples of Victorian architecture and contribute to the traditional aspect of this particular portion of Port Elizabeth.

Main picture: Cora Terrace circa 1856 with the row of houses visible in the upper middle of the picture

The Sad Demise of the Boet Erasmus Stadium

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 29 July 2016 8 Comments

Whilst growing up in Port Elizabeth, the Boet Erasmus Stadium was the epicentre of Eastern Province Rugby. During the early 1970’s I watched a match there. It was the one and only time that I ever went there. Now this icon is no more.

Main picture: A recent photograph of the decaying stadium, stripped bare of all its fittings, railings and miscellaneous steel.

The Immediate effect of the 1820 Settlers on the Cape Colony

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 29 July 2016 0 Comment

Whilst the long term effect of the English immigrants to South Africa is well documented, their immediate effect is less well known. This related to the language policy and the currency used. What took slightly longer to be changed was the system of weights and measurements. Even though the arrival of these non-Dutch immigrants ultimately had profound, deep and long-term social and political implications, all of these effects have been ignored for the purposes of this blog.

Main picture: The Dutch rix dollar was genuine paper money being made from cardboard which was clearly non-durable

Port Elizabeth of Yore: The Gracious Grand Hotel

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 28 July 2016 0 Comment

Covid-19 was the not only the death knell of millions of people but also the death warrant for many businesses especially those in financial difficulties. Long after its heydays of the 1880s and 1890s this hotel did not possess the cachet of certain of Port Elizabeth’s more popular beach front hotels. Notwithstanding this, the Grand Hotel is historically amongst one of the few remaining original hotels of the 19th century. Nonetheless, it remains an important link to Port Elizabeth’s illustrious past. With the Main Street no longer being either the business centre or the entertainment hub of Port Elizabeth, this could presage the final demise of the hotel. However, the recent conversion of the hotel into student accommodation could stave off the inevitable demolition and enable it to soldier on until the 22^nd century albeit in a difference guise.

Main picture: Scenes during the visit of Lord Loch, 27 January, 1890 with the procession nearing the top of White’s Road. Men of the P.A.G. Regiment formed the procession. Note the decorative archway at the top of the road and the spectators at the Grand Hotel lining the balconies

Port Elizabeth of Yore: Whaling-From Abundance to Near Extinction

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 27 July 2016 1 Comment

Port Elizabeth was never the epicentre of whaling in South Africa. Nonetheless as the Bay afforded the calving whales a relatively tranquil area to calve in, Algoa Bay was used for this purpose.

Main picture: Landing a whale at North End during 1880

The Opinion Pieces are an eclectic bunch on current affairs & history often with a human interest aspect. The Movie/DVDs reviews are mainly on documentaries with a smattering of movie reviews.

Author: Dean McCleland