As 2023 draws to an end we look back at some of the stories that made headlines in the far south this year.
In January several far south beaches were closed to the public due to sewage pollution (“Beach closures hurting tourism, says guide,” False Bay Echo January 12).
Matrics celebrated their matric results despite another difficult year. The Western Cape’s class of 2022 achieved a pass rate of 81.4% in the National Senior Certificate results, an increase of 0.2% from 2021 (“Matrics of 2022 beat the odds,” Echo, January 26).
A memorial service was held for slain Muizenberg policeman Captain Siphumeze Lusasa, 37, who was stabbed to death while on standby duty in Khayelitsha (”Farewell for slain Muizenberg police officer,” Echo, February 2).
The body of Sheila Lewis, 77, was found in her Lavendon Street home on Thursday March 16. Malusi Stimela, who was out on parole, was arrested and faces a charge of murder. The court case is currently ongoing. (“Murder accused’s parole revoked,” Echo, March 28).
On Saturday April 1, planned dredging of approximately 79 000 square metres of the Lower Silvermine Wetlands got under way (“Dredging under way at wetlands,” Echo, April 13).
In May, ten families from Red Hill were given the keys to their new homes as part of the City’s Dido Valley housing project (Beneficiaries get keys to Dido Valley houses,” Echo, May 25).
In June, vandals targeted the dune rehabilitation project at Glencairn Beach, deliberately cutting a section of the wind net on the northern dune (“Vandalism threatens dune project,” Echo June 29).
In July, the Fish Hoek Lions Club, established in 1973, celebrated its 50th anniversary (“Fish Hoek Lions celebrate 50 years of service,” Echo, July 6).
Increasing vandalism and theft of electrical infrastructure led to more frequent and prolonged power outages in Ocean View with residents fearing for their safety (“Electrical vandalism, theft surge in Ocean View,“ Echo, July 20).
In August, the taxi strike disrupted the commute for thousands of pupils and teachers trying to reach schools across the province (“Taxi strike deals blow to schools,” Echo, August 10).
The Simon’s Town Magistrate’s Court found businessman Neel Ramlall guilty of common assault for hitting bee researcher Jenny Cullinan with a stick, and he was sentenced to a R1200 fine or four months in jail (“A slap on the wrist and a slap in the face,” Echo, September 7).
A Fish Hoek couple were left shaken after finding a bullet lodged in the ceiling of their children’s playroom (“Bullet found in playroom ceiling,” Echo, September 7).
Hester Horn, of Laerskool Paul Greyling, was named the province’s best Grade R teacher by the provincial education department (“Fish Hoek has province’s best Grade R teacher,” Echo September 21).
In October, we reported that former Fish Hoek police chief Colonel Jacqui Johnson took over as Muizenberg police chief, while Lieutenant Colonel Rewayne Muller, who was previously stationed at Strandfontein, took over as Ocean View police chief (“New police chiefs for Muizenberg, Ocean View,” Echo, October 11).
The lease for The Galley on Fish Hoek beachfront was sold to the highest bidder at a public auction on Thursday November 23. Restaurateur Michael Townsend, former owner of the Harbour House Group, will take occupation on Friday June 1 (“End of an era for The Galley,” Echo, November 30).
Cheslyn Williams, of Ocean View, is accused of driving drunk and crashing into soccer player, Luke van Rhyn, 26, on Saturday November 25. Mr Williams appeared in Simon’s Town Magistrate’s Court on Monday November 27, and the case has been postponed to March 27 for the blood-alcohol report. He was released on bail (“Man held for drunk driving after soccer player hurt,” Echo, December 7).
