Lying on the shores of Marcus Bay, just north-east of Cape Agulhas, is the tranquil little fishing village of Arniston, also known as Waenhuiskrans - ‘wagon shelter cliff’ - after a large low-tide sea cave, eroded in such a way as to resemble the structures used by settlers to house their oxen and wagons.
The name ‘Arniston’ comes from one of the numerous ship wrecks on the area’s jagged coastline.
The day that the Berlin wall fell and borders between West and East Germany were opened. Image source Time.com
Additional Date: November 9, 1989
In the aftermath of World War 2 Germany was partitioned into East and West Germany. The East was placed under the control of the Soviet Union while West Germany was under the control of the USA and its allies. The capital city of West Germany, Berlin, was in the heart of the East.
As a result of several East Germans attempting to flee into West Berlin, the East German regime, on the 13th August 1961, started to build a wire fence around the entire West Berlin. This grew into the 45 km Berlin wall and came to symbolise the cold war divide between capitalist and communist forces.
The existence of the wall did not stop attempts by East Germans to reach West Berlin. There were many attempts and estimates are that almost 200 people were killed trying to cross over the wall between the period of its construction to the period when it was torn down.
The election of Gorbachev as head of the Soviet Union in 1988 reflected a growing crisis in the Soviet bloc. He called for 'Perestroika' restructuring, as well as 'Glasnost', openness and reflection. Many of the acts of the previous Soviet regimes, post 1924, were repudiated. The beginnings of free political debate in the Soviet Union gathered momentum until its regime was overthrown by a mass uprising.
In October 1989 many of the East Germans began forcing their way across the Berlin wall. The East German regime was forced to open the border on the 9th Nov 1989. In the hours and days that followed, crowds from both East and West Germany physically broke down the Berlin wall. Germany was re-unified the next year.
In 1968 the youth in former West Germany began questioning their parents about their role in the creation of Nazism. By 2019 East German youth are questioning their parents about the process of re-unification.
After 1989 about 8500 companies in the East were either privatised or liquidated. Most of the housing stock in East Germany is controlled by Westerners. East Germany has the highest unemployment and under-employment rates, from 25% to 50% higher than the average in the country. Only 7% of the top 500 German companies are in the East. There is declining population size, with 4 funerals for every live birth, in the East. On the other hand, productivity in the east has risen from about 50% of the average for the country to just over 80%. There is also an extensive social support network. There is a rise of an 'Eastern' identity, with over 50% of hate crimes against immigrants occurring in the East, despite it only having 20% of the population. Many of the youth from the East had migrated over to the West but currently the currently East-West migration is about neutral.
The political implications of the fall of the Soviet bloc has reverberated around the world. In South Africa Joe Slovo penned 'Has Socialism failed' , which opened up a period of Glasnost in the ranks of the liberation movements. It formed the backdrop for the start of political negotiations in South Africa. Joe Slovo also penned 'Negotiations: What room for compromise?'. This was hotly debated with many contributions coming from Pallo Jordan, Blade Nzimande, Harry Gwala, Raymond Suttner, Jeremy Cronin, the ANC Youth League and the ANC NEC. These were contained in the special issue of the African Communist: 'Riding into the Sunset?'. Alternative views on the debate included the views of Neville Alexander in his selected works, 'Some are more equal'. Baruch Hirson also critiqued the position of Slovo.
The Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park has exceptional Natural beauty in its soaring basaltic buttresses, incisive dramatic cutbacks, and golden sandstone ramparts. Rolling high altitude grasslands, the pristine steep sided river valleys and rocky gorges also contribute to the beauty of this World Heritage Site.
Personal Information
Coline Williams
Born:
May 30, 1967
in Bonteheuwel, Western Province (now Western Cape Province) South Africa
Died:
July 23, 1989
in Athlone, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
Coline Williams was born on 30 May 1967 and grew up in Bonteheuwel, a township in the Western Cape, South Africa. The eldest of three siblings, Coline, her brother Ashley and the last born, Selina, were raised in a political conscious household—their grandmother encouraging their political awareness. [1]
Hashim Amla
Additional Date: August 8, 2019
On 8 August 2019, Hashim Amla retired from all formats of international cricket. Amla, a versatile batsman, made his international debut on 28 November 2004 in a test series against India in Kolkata, India. Amla broke various records throughout his international career; the very first of these was becoming the first South African of Indian descent to represent South Africa on the international stage. [1] In the 2012 test series against England, Amla became the first South African to surpass 300 runs in an innings when he scored 311 runs not out at The Oval, London. This record is yet to be broken.
After Graeme Smith’s (former captain of the Proteas) retirement in 2014, Amla endured a bumpy stint captaining the South African national cricket team, the Proteas--becoming the first Black player to do so in test matches. In January 2016, Amla stood down as captain following underwhelming team and individual performances. Amla remained an integral part of the team and his form gradually improved.
A stellar batsman in all formats, Amla made his debut in one-day-internationals (ODIs) in 2008 and has since become the fastest player to reach 2,000 runs, 3,000 runs, 4,000 runs, 5,000 runs, 6,000 runs and 7,001 runs in this limited-overs format. [2] In 2018, Amla was the recipient of the Order of Ikhamanga for his many record-breaking feats in the sport. Chancellor of National Orders, Dr Cassius Lubisi said of Amla, “He has brought pride to our country with his many batting firsts in the international cricket arena and remains one of the leading batsmen of our time.” [3]
Amla retires from cricket having represented South Africa in 124 Tests, 181 ODIs and 44 T20s (a limited overs form of cricket). In him the Proteas have lost a consistent and reliable performer on-field, and a role-model off-field.
End notes
[1] Press Trust of Indian, “Amla downplays his Indian connection,” Cricket Next, 9 December 2010, https://www.news18.com/cricketnext/news/amla-downplays-his-indian-connection-569234.html ↵
[2] For a more comprehensive list of Hashim Amla’s batting records see Jamie Alter, “Hashim Amla retires: Bearded wonder, barrier-breaker, record-setter and South African sporting icon,” Cricket Country, 9 August 2019, https://www.cricketcountry.com/articles/hashim-amla-retires-bearded-wonder-barrier-breaker-record-setter-and-south-african-sporting-icon-877574 ↵
[3] Siviwe Breakfast, “Cricket: Hashim Amla granted national honour,” The South African, 24 April 2018. https://www.thesouthafrican.com/sport/cricket/hashim-amla-national-order-of-ikhamanga/ ↵
Dale Steyn
Additional Date: August 5, 2019
On 5 August 2019, Dale Steyn South African cricketer announced his retirement from the Test format. He made his Test debut against England in December 2004. In spite of his love and preference for Test cricket, Steyn made the decision to retire in order to prolong his playing career in the One Day International (ODI) and TwentyTwenty (T20) formats. In a statement he said, “It’s terrible to consider never playing another Test again but what’s more terrifying is the thought of never playing again at all. So I will be focusing on ODIs and T20s for the rest of my career to maximise my full potential and ensure my longevity in this sport." [1] Though the timing of this decision was unexpected, it is of little surprise to avid cricket fans, as a recurring shoulder injury had greatly limited his time on the field. This injury even forced him to withdraw from the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup held in England and Wales.
A right-arm fast bowler and opener, Steyn currently holds South Africa’s record for the leading Test wicket-taker, claiming 439 wickets in 93 Tests with an average of 22.95 and a strike rate of 42.3 balls per wicket--the average refers to the number of runs a bowler concedes per wicket taken. Steyn is also the 8th highest Test wicket-taker of all-time. Compared to other bowlers with a minimum of 300 wickets, Steyn has the lowest strike rate. To put his injury woes into further perspective, Steyn attained his 400th wicket in July 2015. This feat took him only 16 634 balls to obtain--faster than any other bowler in Test history. [2]
Despite the toll injuries have taken on his body and playing career, Steyn is revered by both his contemporaries and his predecessors, and cherished by fans. Known for his aggressive bowling style and his ability to swing the new ball and the old ball on various pitch conditions across the cricketing world, Steyn is considered by many to be the greatest fast bowler of his generation and arguably one of the greatest of all time.
End notes
[1] Siviwe Breakfast, “Dale Steyn retires: Fast bowler calls time on his Test career,” The South African, 6 August 2019. https://www.thesouthafrican.com/sport/cricket/dale-steyn-retires-fast-bowler-calls-time-on-test-career/. ↵
[2]Mohandas Menon, “Dale Steyn - Fastest to 400 Test wickets,” Sport 360, 30 July 2015, https://sport360.com/article/cricket/40186/360stats-dale-steyn-fastest-400-test-wickets ↵
Although it was a small camp, Heilbron was unusual in several respects. This area in the northern Free State might appear flat and uninteresting but, the Heilbron district commissioner complained that nearby Viljoen’s Drift was ‘Just a lot of tin houses on both sides of the Railway the whole in the midst of a sandy desert’ - but it was the heart of the maize growing area. Coal mining took place at nearby Viljoen’s Drift and the Vereeniging Estates included relatively prosperous black tenant farmers.
Established in 1894 to the west of central Johannesburg, Fietas (today known as Pageview) was once the city’s "Malay location" and home to a large Indian community. In the first half of the 20th century Fietas was famous for its bustling main street, 14th Street, which was one of the most popular places in the city to shop for bargains, drawing shoppers from all racial and economic backgrounds. In the 1970s the apartheid government began the demolition of Fietas as part of its policy of forced removals and ethnic segregation, know as the Group Areas Act.
When six Dominican sisters left Ireland forever in the 1860's to establish a girls’ school in Cape Town, 'they were decidedly blessed. Guided by faith and dedication, they purchased the spacious and beautiful Springfield estate in Wynberg, then considered “the countryside” for 800 Pounds. Founded in 1871, Springfield Convent School is steeped in almost 150 years of cherished history. Springfield is today a leading Independent Catholic Girls’ School which welcomes girls of all faiths and backgrounds to classes from Nursery to Grade 12.
Personal Information
Fred Khumalo
Born:
August 4, 1966
in Chesterville, Durban, Natal (now KwaZulu-Natal)
Fred Khumalo was born on 4 August 1966 in Chesterville, Durban, Natal (now KwaZulu-Natal), and grew up in Mpumalanga Township close to the industrial area of Hammersdale, Durban. Growing up in the township exposed him to a lot of crime from an early age, which pushed him to focus on his education as a way to escape the violence and poverty that surrounded him.