A town in a time warp

It's always 12 o'clock in Ladysmith. Time has been standing still in the KwaZulu-Natal town since March, when its historic clock stopped ticking.

Residents are demanding to be released from the time warp.

"People always joke that small towns are behind the times. Now we are a real joke. Our clock is always broken," Pat Moodley said.

Tour guide Piet van Rooyen has to think on the spot when tourists point out that the clock, on the town hall tower, is broken.

"I sometimes say that there is no money to fix it or that it can't be repaired. It is very embarrassing, especially when international tourists want to know why this iconic clock is not working. It's a very bad image for our town."

Resident Cheryl Pala said she was more disappointed than embarrassed.

"It's disappointing to see our town's history not being properly preserved and maintained," she said.

The town hall served as a hospital when Ladysmith came under siege in 1899 during the Anglo-Boer War. On November 30 1899, the Boers shelled the clock tower, leaving a gaping hole, which was only fixed in 1923.

Pieter Hurter said the clock was maintained weekly while he served as town clerk - from 1968 to 1980.

"A man from the electricity department took care of that clock like it was his own. He has since died and I suspect that there is no one else with his expertise," he said.

Hurter, now a councillor, said the issue of the clock had not been discussed in council meetings.

"The community is right to want to know what is happening. If it can't be fixed, tell them. Tour guides can then tell tourists that it's too old to fix and the residents may accept that it can't be fixed."

Emnambithi-Ladysmith Municipality spokesman Sipho Maphalala said the clock was an antique and the parts required to repair it were not easily available.

"The clock is currently receiving attention but proper and relevant equipment is still being sought," he said.