Richards Bay
Richards Bay is a coastal town on the East Coast of South Africa in the Province of KwaZulu – Natal. As it is some 200 km North of Durban, we refer to it as being on the “North Coast”. The town is approximately 200 km South of the Mozambique border and is home to the largest deep water harbour in the Southern Hemisphere.
The main export is Coal which is mined up country (Somewhere where the Bulls & Lions play Rugby. I think). Apart from the Harbour, the town supports many large & small industries. We have two of the Southern Hemispheres largest Aluminium smelters, a Titanium mining company and Paper Pulp making concern who’s one big contribution is the smelly air. There are currently plans afoot to build a Dry Dock facility large enough to handle Cape Size vessels and this should ensure that our Chinese population will grow.
Over the years the town has grown in leaps and bounds and one can still find new residential and commercial development happening daily. We have been earmarked to host some of the 2010 FIFA teams as a training / accommodation venue. And there are plans afoot to us becoming the permanent home of a South African team.
We certainly have the necessary facilities and business is looking forward to it.
There is only one way to say this. The weather is stinking hot and humid in summer but beautiful in winter. With the large expanse of the harbour, the place is a Mecca for aquatic sports and fishing. Our beaches are however rather plain and lack the beautiful rocks and tidal pools to be found all down the “South Coast”. The black sand found on the beaches is not dirt but Titanium which is being mined from the dunes. Visiting Anglers be Warned. It is unsafe to fish from remote beaches, either alone or in small groups. Beach Anglers have become soft targets for criminals who show no restraint to the violence they employ in robbing you of your goods or life.
As for Jolling, the place is a bit of a dud as far as the younger set is concerned. We have enough Restaurants and a few “Sports Bar” type places, but “hot nightclubs” are lacking. The most popular seems to be the local “lang arm” club which stays open until the early hours of the morning and is a major source of income for the breath police. On Friday and Saturday nights the local youth gather at either one of two general areas depending on their ethnic lineage. The “Wit oues” populate the Naval Island approach road, make bonfires, drink, fight, miss the rubbish bins completely and play loud music. The “Charos” invade the Small Craft Harbour waterfront, drink, fight, play loud music, dance, miss the rubbish bins completely, dice, make doughnuts and small piles of bottles everywhere.
Naval Island itself is the place to go for a “skelempie”.
The Chinese are very low key and I have not yet heard of anyone being Kung Fued. (Don’t know where they go for a skelempie).
Crime control in general is improving with the introduction of “Mountie” type, quasi policemen riding around on bicycles and who are equipped with radios. All this with the financial support of local business.
Although we are in the Province of KwaZulu- Natal, there is still a rogue element of ex Vaalies etc. who refuse to support the Sharks.
If you require any more information whatsoever, please feel free to contact me.
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