The first public meetings regards the Knysna Fire were held yesterday, June 13 2017. I recorded the Knysna Central edition at the Premier Hotel. All residents who weren’t there should listen to this!

Facts included:

• 485 houses and 150 informal structures destroyed so far. The count is incomplete as some places were inaccessible due to smoke.
• 30 tourism establishments destroyed.
• 1000 people from White Location needing relief but 2500 have taken donated goods.
• Will cost R30-million to restore services to Brenton-on-Sea.
• 75 extra SAPS were deployed in Knysna.
• Remarkably, we were assured that all areas will have services returned by Friday, June 23.

There is urgent appeal to businesses to supply long-term storage space for donations – contact Councillor Mark Willemse on 0793794095.

Today will see the closing of distribution centres. There’s the worry of rioting so communities are being informed by loudhailer and local law enforcement will be stationed at the previous depots. A new system will be installed per affected area.

There was obviously underlying tension, even desperation for those of us who will soon have nowhere to stay. We are on a ticking time bomb. My situation is nothing compared to a single mom of two kids who spoke out.

I’m proud of how the meeting was kept sane and filled with all the most important questions i could imagine and more.

The Municipality fairly deserves some criticism for past actions but this meeting was a positive step forward. From me, thank you.

Click ‘Play’ to hear questions about the handling of donations, relief to those who have nowhere to rent, pausing of bonds and rates, re-establishment of services, the failure of radio as a tool for social responsibility, post traumatic stress counselling, speedier clearance of housing plans, the need for greener replacements and warning systems, the removal of palm and pine trees, demolitions, rubble removal, security, unemployment etc.