A different view on current affairs & history
In my mind, there are two notorious tweeters: Donald Trump & Helen Zille. Both use it to vent their frustrations. In neither case has its output been beneficial to the sender. In Helen’s case, it could result in some drastic action shortly.
What is the prognosis?
Main picture: Helen Zille autobiography as portrayed on social media
This is a timely reminder of one of the consequences of the ill-considered land invasion policy of the ZANU-PF in Zimbabwe. It was recently revealed by the Finance Minister of Zimbabwe.
Will the likes of Julius Malema and the EFF take cognaissance of this open admission of this policy’s devastating consequences?
Main picture: Timber plantations in the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe Continue reading
Not only does Fischer’s Jewellers embody the essence of Port Elizabeth but also for many of its citizens, especially in prior generations, Fischer’s was their preferred choice for jewellery. Also, the building is one of the remaining structure built in the Art Nouveau style.
Apart from this obvious connection, my grandmother had another, more obtuse connection, to this iconic store.
Main picture: One of the very earliest photos of the newly opened Fischer & Co building in Main Street circa 1914
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This quaint hamlet on the banks of the Swartkops River is well-known for yachting. This is the rather modest history of this village.
Main picture: The original red house on the Zwartkops River
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One misconception about the Malays in South Africa concerns their ethnic nomenclature “Malay.” In fact they originate from Batavia, today called Indonesia, and not from Malaysia. Instead the word Malay was derived from the language that they spoke. The Malay language is spoken in Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore where it holds official or national status. It is also spoken by communities in other countries, such as the Philippines, Southern Thailand, and East Timor.. Another erroneous notion is that Malay population only arrived after the British settlers.
This chapter rebuts these fallacies. It also reveals the important role the Malays played in the development of Port Elizabeth.
Main picture: The Green or Pier Street Mosque
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Port Elizabeth is fortunate in having somebody who prepared a list of its inhabitants at the inception of the town itself. Without a functioning civil authority, nothing is recorded, let alone a population register.
This blog lists Port Elizabeth’s inhabitants in 1822 together with a biographical sketch of some of them.
Main picture: Port Elizabeth in 1823
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Initially the Presbyterians in Port Elizabeth could not afford their own church so they supported the “New Church,” an Independent Church, from 1853. This church was located at the corner of Main and Donkin Streets. Finally, in 1861 they were able to support their own church.
Accordingly, they built a magnificent Gothic Revival style church in a prominent position on the hill which is visible from Algoa Bay.
Main picture: View of the Hill Presbyterian Church from Donkin Reserve
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The fact that just over a year after Cinématographe was invented in 1895, it was demonstrated commercially first in Joburg and then in Port Elizabeth, is indicative of the pervasive nature of technology. Moving pictures had finally been invented albeit without embedded sound.
In spite of these restrictions, people flocked to witness the latest invention which, like all pioneering devices, would be used both for good and ill. Think of Geobbels, the Communist states and even Donald Trump with his fake news.
Long known as bioscopes but in the modern parlance these places of entertainment with their huge screens are called movie houses or just movies.
Main picture: A little crowd gathering outside the theatre that became the Grand
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In the annuals of history, one of the key criteria for the establishment of a town was a ready water supply. What this meant in reality was that towns were located on a perennial river with a persistent strong flow. Not so Port Elizabeth. This problem was to bedevil its development over the years.
Where did Port Elizabeth obtain its water supply from, especially in the early years?
Main picture: On this puny stream, grandiloquently called Shark River, that supplied Port Elizabeth with its first piped water
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