Dear Alan My grandmother had a home - just a holiday shack really - in Amsterdamhoek on the east bank of the Swartkops in the late 20s. My wife Lyn and I have lived in this valley for over 40 years now. From 1972 to 1991. At first in the village of Swartkops on the west bank in a wonderful wood & iron home – circa, 1900. Was an old hunting lodge. Then we moved to Bluewater Bay on the east bank. On our way home from church this Sunday morning we saw this flock of flamingos. Not as pink … [Read more...] about Our river teems with bird life
swartkops
R333 Closed to Public
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality wishes to advise that the R333 (the road running to the back of Despatch above the Swartkops River) will be closed to the public for some time. This follows a traffic accident earlier today when a large truck carrying fuel left the road and overturned, not far from the entrance to the Cuyler Manor Museum. The truck was carrying 20 000 litres of fuel in one trailer and 10 000 litres of diesel fuel in another. The driver sustained injuries to his back and legs … [Read more...] about R333 Closed to Public
Boat crewman abandoned by mates off Seaview
Daniel Heimann, NSRI Port Elizabeth duty coxswain, said; "At 13h02 NSRI Port Elizabeth volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following eye-witness reports of a boat appearing to be in difficulty in the surf-line off-shore of Bushy Park Farm, between Sardinia Bay and Sea View, Port Elizabeth. "Our NSRI Port Elizabeth volunteer sea rescue duty crew responded to the scene towing our sea rescue craft BOARDWALK RESCUER which we launched on-scene. "Nelson Mandela Bay Municipal Surf … [Read more...] about Boat crewman abandoned by mates off Seaview
Three men rescued east of Swartkops River Mouth
Ian Gray, NSRI Port Elizabeth station commander, said; "At 09h00 on Friday 26 April, NSRI Port Elizabeth volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following reports of a 4.5 meter Catamaran boat capsized, with three men onboard, a man estimated to be aged in his early 40's and two men estimated to be aged in their late 20's, at Blue Water Bay. Port Elizabeth. "Our NSRI mobile unit, the SA Police Services, Coastal Rescue, Mandela Bay Fire and Rescue Services, Blue Water Bay Surf Lifesaving … [Read more...] about Three men rescued east of Swartkops River Mouth
Saint Agnes 1960’s Confirmation Class
The image below of a St Agnes Church, Swartkops confirmation class in the 1960's comes to MyPE via Warwick Owen and Frank Atkinson - who supplied all the names. I think that Father Mathews may want to invite Frank back for extra lessons though ........ Of course car nut Warwick noticed the 105E Ford Anglia in the back of the photograph. … [Read more...] about Saint Agnes 1960’s Confirmation Class
The Flooded Swartkops
This image was taken from Bluewater Bay looking across to Port Elizabeth over Amsterdamhoek. The extent of the water flowing down and out of the mouth of the Swartkops River, past Amsterdamhoek can be discerned in that no sandbanks are visible at all. Uploaded by: Warwick Owen Warwick's Website: FITS - by Warwick Owen See more user submitted images here | Upload your Iconic Port Elizabeth image HERE. … [Read more...] about The Flooded Swartkops
Flood Images
On Sunday I took a drive along the Swartkops River to see what misery the bountiful rain may have wrought and I am sorry to say that all the usual suspects were hit once again - The rowing sheds and Redhouse Yacht Club, Sumcay, Groendaal, Missionvale, Soweto on Sea. Have you been through Missionvale recently? The number of 'new' shacks is astounding, it looks like the cemetry has been abandoned and it certainly makes one wonder how the city can cope with this burgeoning poor population - very … [Read more...] about Flood Images
76 people evacuated from flooded Swartkops waters
Daniel Heimann, NSRI Port Elizabeth Coxswain, said; "At 04h30 on Sunday 21 October, NSRI Port Elizabeth volunteer sea rescue duty crew, who have remained on high alert to assist with flooding during the heavy rains, were activated at the request of Disaster Management following reports of a Christian group, SAMCA, upstream of the Swartkops River cut off from mainland by rising waters on the Swartkops River. "Our NSRI volunteer sea rescue duty crew dispatched a forward team to investigate … [Read more...] about 76 people evacuated from flooded Swartkops waters
Bugger I Miss those Rowing Regattas
The peaceful hamlet of Redhouse will come alive this Saturday, 28 January, when buffed rowing athletes push themselves and their boats to the limit and excited supporters crowd the riverbank, urging them to move even faster as they compete for top trophies at the annual Grey/Zwartkops Rowing Club (ZRC) Regatta. High school and university rowing crews from Port Elizabeth (Grey High, ZRC and NMMU), Grahamstown (St Andrew's College, DSG and Rhodes University) and Port Alfred (NEMATO) will battle … [Read more...] about Bugger I Miss those Rowing Regattas
Stunning Groendal
On Saturday we loaded up the Chinese Racing Pig (our Bull Terrier, Jenna) and the Wolf in Training (our German Shepard, Tessa) and headed for the Groendal area in the hope that we could get close to the dam and get some images after the bountiful rain. As Ginno Fabri says; "The dams are now 427% full, I think!" Getting to the dam was not to be, unfortunately, but we did get a chance to explore an incredibly beautiful part of Uitenhage and have a chat to one of the Groendal Reserve rangers who … [Read more...] about Stunning Groendal
Tippers Creek and Redhouse Residents Could be in for a Wet Night
Residents staying on the banks of the Swartkops River in the Redhouse area are already beginning to park on the land side of the railway line as the approach over the railway line is rapidly filling with water. Low tide is at 3:18 pm and high tide at 9:58 pm. The incoming tide, water overflowing the Groendal dam (estimated at over 300 000 litres per second) and seepage into the Swartkops River Valley is expected to result in an anxious night for all residents along the banks of the Swartkops … [Read more...] about Tippers Creek and Redhouse Residents Could be in for a Wet Night
16mm Film Cleaner Sought
I have 16mm and 8mm cine film dating back more than 60 years about the boating activities on Zwartkops river. But I am struggling to find a method of cleaning the films so we can put it onto DVD. I have located a 16mm projector in Johannesburg, the 8mm we have. When I eventually complete everything I will have many hours of film of Zwartkops the way it used to be. But the problem is I still have not got a way of cleaning the films without damaging them bearing in mind they are more than 60 … [Read more...] about 16mm Film Cleaner Sought
