Sentinel News takes a look back at the news that made headlines in 2022, reflecting on the moments worth remembering.
Crowds flocking to the beaches in January, following the lifting of lockdown restrictions, kept lifeguards on their toes, and on one day they did 48 rescues at Llandudno Beach (“Lifeguards feel the heat as crowds hit the beach”, Sentinel News, January 14).
In February, the City announced that the roadworks project in Imizamo Yethu was complete (“End in sight for IY roadworks,” Sentinel News, February 4). But pipe bursts, causing hours-long water cuts, were plaguing Hout Bay and with one pipe being fixed only for another to break, residents compared the situation to a game of Whack-a-Mole (“’Whack-a-mole’ water woes plague Hout Bay”, Sentinel News, February 11)
In March, residents raised concerns about children swimming in stormwater ponds, and there were calls for the City to beef up security at the ponds and post more signage (“Stay out of stormwater ponds, warns City,” Sentinel News, March 4).
In Hangberg, the Little Angels Creche reopened again after suffering two arson attacks (“Little Angels rises from the ashes – again,” Sentinel News, March 18)
The derelict state of an old fish-processing factory in the Hout Bay Harbour raised eyebrows as questions were asked about how it had been allowed to fall into a state of disrepair, with roof sheets, copper wiring, steel posts and even bricks being stolen (“Hout Bay Harbour: A vandal’s paradise,” Sentinel News, May 6).
In IY, the City was battling vandalism to substations and illegal electricity connections, all of which was placing strain on the local power grid (“Surge in wrecking of IY power grid,” Sentinel News, May 20).
Into June and still Hout Bay was battling with pipe burst, which became more frequent and destructive. In one case, a pipe burst split a road and sent water gushing into a Kronendal Primary School (“Hout Bay becoming a no-flow area,” Sentinel News, June 10 ).
Fear gripped Hout Bay as news of an increase in shootings and murders quickly spread. Eight men were killed in a two-month period in Imizamo Yethu (“Gear grips over IY killings”, Sentinel News, June 17).
There were more killings in August, this time in Hangberg, where three men were killed within 24 hours. Residents took to the streets to voice their anger (“3 dead in Hangberg shootings,” Sentinel News, August 12).
Also in August, questions were raised about how employees were selected for the City’s Expanded Public Works Programme with claims that some were repeatedly chosen while others were ignored (“Questions over City work programme,” Sentinel News, August 26).
People living alongside the Disa River claimed they had been forgotten by the City as their fight for basic services such as water and electricity continued (“’The City forgot about us’,” Sentinel New, September 16).
A fire in IY claimed two lives and left hundreds homeless. Several organisations came to their aid, providing food, blankets and clothing (“Two dead, hundreds homeless in IY fire,” Sentinel News, September 23).
In October, frustrations mounted as the pipe bursts continued, causing more water outages including one that lasted for three days (“Anger over three-day water outages in Hout Bay,” Sentinel News, October 28).
In November, a new book was launched which focussed on fisherwomen and the challenges they face when competing in a male-dominated industry (“Telling the stories of SA’s fisherwomen,” Sentinel News, November 18).
December got off to a tragic start for four families who lost everything in a fire in Hangberg. The community collected blankets, clothes and other essentials for the victims (“Double tragedy for family after fire,” Sentinel News, December 9).
