LOOKING back 20 years ago to the Greytown Gazettein 1998, bearing in mind the cost of living increase last week, a kilogram of pork chops cost R16; frozen chickens were R8,97 per kilogram and R7,95 would buy you two kilograms of rice!
Twelve cans of Castle Lager — R21,95 while a 750ml bottle of Vodka was R14,98.
A 410g peanut butter was R3,99 and 10 kg of mealie meal was just R14,95. On the motoring front — a 1998 Honda Ballade Encore demo would set you back R60 995; a brand new Polo Playa — R57 615; a two-year-old Jetta — R67 000 and a side by side fridge and freezer would cost you R3 999.
A tornado which swept through Mispah on March 2 caused unlimited damage — houses were destroyed, iron sheeting ended up on power lies and a 30m swath of tree chopping in a plantation. In those days, Greytown actually had a Resident’s Association. At a meeting in March a committee was formed to investigate how pressure could be put on the council through the withholding of rates to get the municipality to enforce bylaws, anti-litter campaign, traffic lights at corner of Bell and Sergeant streets, public toilets, the appalling conditions under which Tent Town residents lived and lots more. In property — 25 hectares with avos, sheep, timber, houses and boreholes — R300 000; in New Hanover a three bedroom house was R92 090 while in Wartburg a four bedroom house was R100 000. In Greytown R175 000; three bedroom house — R95 000. First winter frost was recorded on May 13. Rainfall was minimal — 0,4mm recorded in May.
